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View Full Version : 6 months for regrowth of Butia Capitata


Randy4ut
10-19-2009, 07:43 PM
I almost lost this butia this past winter, but was able to save it for now!!! Amazed at how much growth it put out in just 6 months...

Here is was in April 2009:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Palms%202009/100_3004.jpg

Here is as of today: October '09

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/2009%20Backyard/SiamRuby007.jpg

Abnshrek
10-19-2009, 09:37 PM
I have 8 of those, so its nice to see how they do north of here... The bases get 18-24 inches so hope you have enough room between palm and the walk around the pool.. Well the palm leaves will reach pool edge in several years..Will be really nice when you have a 10ft trunk in that spot. :v)

Randy4ut
10-20-2009, 07:51 AM
I have 8 of those, so its nice to see how they do north of here... The bases get 18-24 inches so hope you have enough room between palm and the walk around the pool.. Well the palm leaves will reach pool edge in several years..Will be really nice when you have a 10ft trunk in that spot. :v)

I realize they are all a bit close, but honestly, did not figure I would be able to keep them going up here. I started it as a 5 gallon and last winter was the first one that I had any cold damage to it. Guess I will just have to do some "selective" pruning when it starts pushing its frond in the way...

southlatropical
10-20-2009, 09:19 AM
Looking good Randy!

Abnshrek
10-20-2009, 09:57 AM
The fruit is really good.. it is way to stringy like a spagetti squash that's why they make jelly or ferment some hooch since it does have a unique flavor. Well I hope you have some good fortune keeping that one & any others. I take it it got much colder than 14F that they are suppose to be good to..

Randy4ut
10-20-2009, 10:03 AM
The fruit is really good.. it is way to stringy like a spagetti squash that's why they make jelly or ferment some hooch since it does have a unique flavor. Well I hope you have some good fortune keeping that one & any others. I take it it got much colder than 14F that they are suppose to be good to..

Hit 6F twice and below 10F for a handful of other days!!! Went about 48 hours below 32F at one stretch... It was the coldest/wettest winter I have endured since I have gotten into hardy palms and subtropicals... Hope this one is MUCH milder!!! LOL

austinl01
10-20-2009, 10:25 AM
That's some great growth! When you see a palm everyday you really don't realize how much they grow. Thank goodness for pics to compare.

Dalmatiansoap
10-20-2009, 12:17 PM
Beautyfull palm Randy.
I realy have no idea why are they so rare here? I ll have to do something about that:ha::ha:
Thanks for sharing
:woohoonaner:

Abnshrek
10-23-2009, 07:27 PM
Ok I have a Q? How long have you had that Pindo? How long since it was a 5 gallon?

Randy4ut
10-23-2009, 07:50 PM
Ok I have a Q? How long have you had that Pindo? How long since it was a 5 gallon?

I planted it out in the spring of 2005. I do not have a pic of it from '05 right now, but here is a picture of what it looked like in July '06...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Palms%202006/100_0960.jpg

palmtree
10-23-2009, 09:36 PM
Wow, great growth. Also glad to see all the growth it had from '06 to '09. My pindo is a little bigger than yours was in your july of '06 pic. If my pindo is going to be that big in 3 years, its going to look great (Im excited already)! Maybe if yours doesnt get too much damage it will even fruit for you next year (or the year after).

Randy4ut
10-23-2009, 10:31 PM
Wow, great growth. Also glad to see all the growth it had from '06 to '09. My pindo is a little bigger than yours was in your july of '06 pic. If my pindo is going to be that big in 3 years, its going to look great (Im excited already)! Maybe if yours doesnt get too much damage it will even fruit for you next year (or the year after).


It has sent out bloom stalks for the past three years, but they are always late in the summer. Same with my other two on the other side of the pool that are a bit larger than this one. They were planted out in the summer of '07 as 15 gallon specimens. These have to be my favorite pinnate palms!!! Best of luck with yours. BTW, where are you located, if you don't mind me asking? I see you are a Zone 7, but that doesn't tell me too much...

Abnshrek
10-23-2009, 10:40 PM
I have 4 that are about your 06' size and I cheated by getting 2-29 gallons so they are very simular to your current pic maybe a half foot shorter..

Dalmatiansoap
10-24-2009, 05:09 AM
Extra seed, someone??
:woohoonaner:

Abnshrek
10-24-2009, 08:12 AM
I did have a bout 2 dozen fresh seeds from a friends pools area. I planted a couple and gave the rest away. They have 3 & 3.5 ft of full trunks. I almost was given both of them.. <-sayin' aw shucks... lol

Dalmatiansoap
10-24-2009, 08:18 AM
So, no seedlings left? :(

Abnshrek
10-24-2009, 01:42 PM
So, no seedlings left? :(

Well have a couple waiting to sprout in pots, but they haven't come up yet. You said something a bout seeds. Hence the previous response. I'll be glad when they are my own seeds.. You know what I mean.. lol :nanadrink:

Abnshrek
10-26-2009, 09:31 AM
Yo I talked to one of my friends I gave seeds to and he has a half-dozen left. I should take posession of them sometime today.

Bananaman88
10-27-2009, 12:19 PM
Nice! Pindos are one of my favorites.

Abnshrek
01-06-2010, 01:34 AM
Hey Randy I hope it doesn't happen to us this year... Did you use any protection when it got that cold last year?

Randy4ut
01-06-2010, 07:33 AM
I was a bit late last year protecting, but I did something like the below with a slight variation. Here is what I have done to my three largest butias for this winter. After tying up the fronds, I cut the top and bottom out of 55 gallon plastic barrels and slid them over the palms. I then placed either a 250w heat lamp or two strings of C9 Christmas lights around the base of the palm. Next, I wrapped all three with heavy duty frost cloth. I used Thermocubes that turn on the heat at 20F and off at 30F. I am hoping this will provide enough protection for them. I will cover all three with a tarp if temps get down in the single digits.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Palms%202009/Butiaprotection09001.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Palms%202009/Butiaprotection09002.jpg

With frost cloth added:
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Palms%202009/Butiaprotection09006.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Palms%202009/Butiaprotection09007.jpg

I hope this works!!!

Dalmatiansoap
01-06-2010, 08:10 AM
Wow Randy, thats some work!
I hope they will do fine till spring.
:woohoonaner:

jmilligan1976
01-06-2010, 10:02 AM
Randy, The yard makes massive transformations from summer to winter....almost makes my back ache too.
I bet your neighbors (if they can see over your fence) wonder about the odd looking snowmen LOL.
What covers are shown covering the bananas?:lurk:

Randy4ut
01-06-2010, 10:18 AM
Jay, when they light up at night, it is interesting to say the least. As far as the diffence from summer to winter, is indeed a shock. I added about 6 more palms into the beds beside the pool last spring. Hopefully, in a few more years, it will not look so bare in the winter. It will be nice to have some green out there in the winter. I added a few Sabal minors, 2 Sabal 'Birminghams', and two Sabal x texensis 'Brazoria'. Small now, but should be nice and hardy in years to come... Man, you need to come down again but in the late summer this time!!!! Hope you are doing well!!!

Abnshrek
01-06-2010, 01:16 PM
I guess if one of your neighbors sees them before going to bed might think they are ghost's at first glance.. lol

jmilligan1976
01-06-2010, 04:25 PM
Randy, I as well have a bunch of seedling palms and bananas going with hopes of getting some monster pots for the deck and pool area. I have the new found luxury of a heated shop with natural and artifical light and 16' ceilings for overwintering. Let me know how your new palms do as I don't have a couple of them started yet and may give them a try.

P.S. I would love to be down there for the next 3 months with the winter we are having here......BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!:bananas_b