Hemp palms are native to the Chinese high mountains. They therefore cope well with low temperatures here. Nevertheless, frost damage can occur after very cold winters. These are usually not a cause for concern, but can also be prevented.
How do you identify and repair frost damage to a hemp palm?
Frost damage to hemp palms appears in brown leaves or leaf tips. In spring, remove completely brown, dried out leaves or shorten brown leaf tips. To avoid damage, protect the palm tree in a sheltered location and use materials such as burlap or coconut mats to protect the leaves from severe frosts.
What frost damage can occur?
If brown leaves or leaf tips appear on the hemp palm after winter, it is definitely frost damage. This is no longer a concern. Even though hemp palms can tolerate temperatures down to minus 17 degrees, this does not apply to the leaves. They freeze to death when temperatures fall below minus six to ten degrees.
If the heart of the palm tree is also frozen, the frost damage cannot be repaired. In this case the hemp palm dies.
Cut brown leaves after winter
You can cut off the brown leaves of the hemp palm in spring. But make sure that they are completely brown and dried out before you reach for the scissors.
Short brown leaf tips with scissors if the sight bothers you very much. Often the interfaces also turn brown later.
When you remove the leaves, there must always be a leaf residue of four to six centimeters left. Do not shorten the leaf directly on the trunk.
Prevent frost damage to hemp palms
Frost damage to the hemp palm can be prevented if you plant the palm in a protected place in the garden or place the pot in a suitable place on the terrace or balcony.
In an unprotected outdoor location, you should spread a mulch of leaves or straw under the palm tree.
Wrap the palm tree with burlap (12.00€ on Amazon), coconut mats or similar materials to protect the leaves from severe frosts.
Prevent frost damage caused by wetness
More than cold, winter wetness causes frost damage to hemp palms. Cover the palm heart so that it is not exposed to excessive moisture.
It is better to place hemp palms in a pot in a slightly covered place.
Tip
Hemp palms are hardy down to minus 17 degrees. When overwintering in a bucket, temperatures should not fall below minus six degrees. Alternatively, you can overwinter the hemp palm in your apartment.
