Mid-Winter Plant Update

Okay, so I have taken pictures of some of my main plants or some of the plants that have surprised me. Keep in mind my lowest temps have been 2f, 2f, and 3f this winter and two of those nights we had at least 3-5″ of snow. I also have not done any kind of protection.

First up is a pink Oleander that bloomed for me off and on last summer. I planted it in June or July and it has went without protection. It has surprised me by how well it has handled the snow and our one small ice storm. I expected it to burn to the ground the first time we got below 20f. I actually have two of these in two different locations but this one is the largest one.

 

 

The next plant is a Trachycarpus wagerianius X fortunei. This palm showed no sign of growth disruption when I planted it in the spring. It kept pushing out frond after frond after frond. When it finally stopped growing it had one frond that had begun the open and another spear at the base. Both of these have pulled unfortunately. Still I think this palm will do fine and spring right back into action. The first picture was taken on Monday, 17 Januray and the second one was taken today, 20 January. Since monday it has been above freezing everyday, mainly in the 40’s and has rained.

17th

20th

Then the next Windmill is one that I first bought in fall 2007 to plant in my Kentucky yard in 2008, but I moved to Florida. I planted it in 2008 in Florida and it did nothing. Finally, in May 2009 it started to grow and continued to push out fronds until I December. After it had already slowed down I dug it up and potted it until this spring when it was planted at my new house in Kentucky. It did what it did in Florida, nothing. The partial pushed out spear stayed still until October when it started to move a little and then another new spear made an appearnce at the bottom of the old spear. Unlike the above Windmill, this palm’s spears’ have not pulled and remain in there firm. I think it will bounce back as well.

17th

20th

There you have it. I could be very wrong and come spring they all three croak on me, but for now all looks well.