2010's Epic Freeze: African Oil Palm Suffers Lethal Blow!

[wisgrdnr]

It took over six weeks (after Jan. 10-11, 2010 near-freeze event) for my venerable African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) to appear that it's in final "death throes" but sadly, nature is taking away this beautiful specimen's life force away from its spiney heart spear. Maybe, or maybe not!

Earlier this season, after a necessary & heroic post freeze trimming, to excise a fallen heart spear that appeared in only after late January, the 12' tall specimen (with seven feet of clear trunk,) sadly presented today with its heretofore "healthy" secondary terminal verdant spear found fallen over and savagely skewered by the palm trunk's own vicious spines.

I trimmed the now semi-thatched plume & lifeless off as best I could with only a "Made in China" pole pruner, and as it was uncharacteristically hot and dry this AM, I proffered a generous "shot" of my most favoured broad spectrum anti-fungal systemic, Subdue-Maxx* into its heart region.

Perhaps fortuitously, a heavy rain band entered this area about a hour after treatment and the precipitation bathed the palm's core with ample wetting, to send the Subdue-Maxx* deeply into this cold-maimed palm's heart.

This sturdy Elaeis guineensis, that even survived Hurricane Wilma's onslaught, will need all its life forces to overcome the evidently lethal cold that humbled this otherwise well-armed palm! Good luck to you, dear palmy friend! Godspeed as you attempt to mend yourself; I can do no more for you at this time.

Paul

*Registered trademark of SUBDUE-MAXX systemic fungicide
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