Hi. Wow that Washy looks great!!! I had a couple nights at 17F down here and many of the Washies that size browned out completely except the spear. You really know how to protect your palms!!!

Wow. Not only was the Washy protected, it even grew this winter!!

Beautiful washy! I need to try those palms out again, you can't beat their fast growth.
Glad to hear everything overwintered well, the growing season is really close. It won't be long now!
Thanks for sharing!
-Alex

Thanks you guys....best advice I could ever give in regard to Washys...
were gloves,they are like a combo of a say and a sharks mouth if you
reach in to the center and get snagged,I took my gloves off to untie a knot
and ripper my finger open on one of the teeth!~brutal!

Hey Jim!
What method did you use to protect your Washy? Whatever you did really worked well.

I use a thermocube(on 35F/off 45F) inside with X-mas lights

alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" height=50 width=150>

Hey Jim, Thanks for posting the wrapping picture. Ihave 2 questions for you regarding what you did...

1. The C-9 X-Mas lights were all the heat needed to keep it warm enough below 35 degrees?

2. I noticed that you used plastic as a wrap. I was always under the impression that you can't use plastic because it traps in moisture and doesn't allow the palm to breathe?

Hey Jim,

Do you think Washingtonia Filiferas have a chance living on the East Coast-specifically Long island?

This post was edited by Kokomo-JB on Wed, Apr 3, 13 at 10:19

Wow Jim, that washy makes my washy look like poo. I can't wait til mine get as big as yours.

Thanks guys....

Kokomo

The thermocube kept it above 30F all winter-the lowest outside temp was
-4F,there was some mold where the leaves touched the plastic-I
open the container on mild winter days to let moisture out.

I think they can live anywhere the soil doesn't get to wet and if they have summer warmth.

Prin
Be careful what you wish for-they get big fast!

Thanks! Maybe someone needs to do a cross between a Filifera and a Fortunei or a Sabal. If the right traits were carried through via the Fortunei or Sabal, the Filfera would be able to do well in the Mid-Atlantic's moisture rich environment. "Filitunei or a Filibal" :)

Even though I'm at least a year to 2 away from starting my nursery, I'm looking for candidates to cross to create what I will call "The Empire Palm" obviously named after NY-The Empire State. They will be the "Toughest Hombres North Of The Chesapeake River."

It needs to be big, like our Skyline so even though Waggies are tough- they are too short.

Jim, when my washies grow up I hope they are just like yours.

I have to get one so it can grow up like Jim's lol

KJB

Try to cross a Needle and a Fortunei...theoretically it can be done.

Thanks Chad-

It should have a monster year!

Mike

They are a fun palm to watch grow,massive leaves popping out almost as fast a as a Banana plant!

Given that the Needle puts out suckers, I bet a Med./European Fan Palm would be an easier partner to cross it with.

If I could create my Empire Palm (within reason-meaning that any pinnate leaf palm is out of the running-given the zone 7 habitat). I'd want it to have the height and growth rate of a Filifera, the look of a Sabal Palmetto, the leaf strength of a Waggy and the cold hardiness and moisture tolerance of a Needle Palm. If that fantasy could ever be reality then "Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Wind, Nor Ice, Nor Nor-easter, Nor Hurricane, Nor Blizzard Would Keep This Palm From Looking Its Best."
: )

Hopefully one day in the near future- in a greenhouse in Nassau County, I will put on some Barry White music and get that sub-tropical orgy going.
Bow-Chicka-Wow-Wow.
12AM and I'm talking about palm porn...I guess I'm officially turning into a mad-scientist. Help!!!

Duplicate post

This post was edited by Kokomo-JB on Sat, Apr 6, 13 at 0:07

I don't know kokomojojoe-

I have seen some tall guys with short girls so maybe a Needle and UnFortunei wouldn't mind hooking up and those Neddles might help in that case ;p

I married a Taller girl and it worked out so I can say you are 100% right based on experience!

Does that mean if the cross was successful you could have a Fortunei that clumps and puts out suckers?

Hard to say-it would be interesting to see how the leaves would look.