By Karenfrance
Charente,
France 
Trachycarpus Fortunei
First week in April I planted 5 trachys...(unseasonably hot spring, no frost). I don't know how old they are but the trunks are about 40cm high and 12-15 cms in diameter. Since the whole garden was newly planted they were well watered every evening, along with everything else.
One of them, however is looking really poorly. Its original leaves are looking really straggly and faded. The two emergent leaves, which were there it was planted, have not emerged any further. They are still green, though.
We have had a lot of rain in the last two weeks.
Can anyone tell me if these palms just take a while to settle in?...have they had too much water?...is there anything I'm doing or not that I shouldn't/ should?
16 Jun, 2011
Answers
Thanks Sarraceniac,
They do seem to grow quite well (in other peoples' gardens!) here, although we do get some well below minus weather in the winter. I'm planning to protect them for the next few winters, just to be on the safe side...
As for the poorly one, I'll do as you suggest until the plant tells me otherwise, one way or the other...
...sorry to hear about yours, must be devastating to lose them after bringing them on for so long...
rgds, Karen
16 Jun, 2011
Sounds like they are 7 or 8 years old if they are trunking to that extent. I'd be inclined to just keep your poorly plant well watered and reckon that's about all you can do. Fortunately for you (he says enviously) you are in an area that should have mild weather (unless you pick up the mistral where you are) so you won't have the problem I got this year with an awful winter. Lost every one of my young palms to -15ยบ frosts. Oh to have a success rate of 4 out of 5 this far north. Good luck.
16 Jun, 2011