Keepint palm trees alive in winter

RSKY · Nov 7, 2015

Anybody have any ideas on how to keep Majestic Palms alive thru a Kentucky winter? I have five that are about six feet tall. The tags said they would not survive below 40 degrees. From what I have read they need a lot of light if kept inside.

I am open to suggestions.

RSKY

davesl708 · Nov 7, 2015

Not sure how many trees your talking about but maybe some green house plastic cover with a heat source like lights to keep the temp above 40 deg.

RobertBrown · Nov 8, 2015

Are they in pots?
Cause if they're not, you have an up hill battle.

I have done so many times and it's very common to see people here trying to keep sensitive plants alive through a cold snap in Florida.
I no longer try to beat mother nature and now I plant what she wants me to and my life is much easier YMMV.
Where you live I don't think you would see success using the techniques commonly used here. The sustained cold temperature can only be kept off the tree using insulation and some type of heat source. I suspect you have frost down to at least 12" too.

If they are in pots you might could move them into a warmer place and hope for warmer weather...
The really tough part is making it through a few mild winters by going through a lot of work, and then one bad winter and you loose it all anyway.

rgr33 · Nov 8, 2015

Around here, they wrap the trunk, top to bottom in plastic, and use a light bulb to supply a little heat. Seems to work. I tried one and just mulched heavily with straw. It died a slow death.

Big Barn · Nov 8, 2015

Lots of windmill palms here in the Pacific North West

.

I think they are the hardiest for cooler climates. I still have 5 around my house, but sold a cluster of two 19 footers from behind my shop a couple of weeks ago.

Terry

RSKY · Nov 9, 2015

Haven't checked this since I posted so a little update. The plants are in large pots and I have found a home for two at the middle school my oldest teaches at. They will go on a 2nd floor interior balcony. One will go to my mother's basement. Two will stay at our house to live in our garage until after Thanksgiving and the 40-50 guests leave. Then they will move to the sunroom. Gonna see how they thrive in different climates.

Hopefully my daughter will take four at the school but she has a brown thumb (every plant she touches dies) and I don't know how that will work out.

Thanks for the suggestions.

RSKY