Stripping a Hardy Trachycarpus fortunei Palm Trunk for Tropical Effect!

[@thetropicaldream5933]

George you’ve got to be one of most lovable tropical gardening KZbinrs there is. Loving the videos as always!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thank you very much, that’s kind of you! I wouldn’t claim to be the most knowledgeable or experienced at growing every plant, but the journey is most of the fun and ‘loveable’ is definitely a new compliment I will graciously accept! 😃😂

[@emilm2331]

@@GeorgesJungleGardenenjoying the journey is the most important thing of any travel :-)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@emilm2331 It definitely is. I'm trying a few different kinds of videos soon and also incorporating a bit more of my photography so please let me know any feedback if you watch them, good or bad, I want to make the best videos I can!

[@thetropicaldream5933]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden that’s all that’s needed George! Your doing a brilliant job 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@thetropicaldream5933 Thank you very much and all the best!

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Another quality video 👌👌👌👌Thanks.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Cheers for watching so many of my vids, great to know they're being enjoyed!

[@rmac8737]

I giggled all the way through this vid

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, I'm pleased I made quite a niche and methodical subject moderately interesting!

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

Love the strongman training stuff also. I was a big Geoff Capes fan, loved the fact he could tear a yellow pages with his bare hands. Credit to you 🤜🏋💪

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Awesome! To be honest I'm more coming out of the other side of it, I've got no intention of getting heavier again right now but I'm still training what I want to do for fun. He was definitely an inspirational guy for a lot of people, impressive especially when you saw the other mountains he was competing against!

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

That's a great video mate. That's a cool looking trunk. Brilliant laden with plenty of amusing innuendo at the start😂👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks Mr Calzone, more just covering myself for the inevitable comments quoting me if I took things too seriously!

[@irismoles9369]

Thanks George

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks as always for watching and leaving a comment Iris!

[@PaulConnor100]

Great tips George I have been thinking of doing this with my Trachy's it looks awesome! 👊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Paul and nice one! It's definitely something to really think through before you do it and it can probably be done quicker than I suggested too. It's certainly a striking look!

[@ic8466]

i new you was an up and coming strong man!! ill be waiting to see you on worlds strongest man in the years to come. your the right age to get serious about it to. give them stoltman brothers a run for there money lol. fair play big man! and, nice trachycarpus too. you made it look easy.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks but it’s more the other way round, I only started when I was nearly 20 and whilst I’m very pleased with my achievements over 10 years plus (considering I’ve always trained without any additional supplementation like a lot of other people), it’s now time to focus more on the garden side of things, drop some body weight and just keep doing the training I want to do. If I got my biggest lifts (320kg dead, 145kg log press, 272.5kg squat etc) before I was 20 then it would definitely be something I’d push further for sure! I’ve got no intention of being 150kg+ again and unfortunately that’s what I’d need to be to be competitive. I’ve got nothing but respect for the Stoltman brothers, they’ve got the perfect mix of genetics, hard work and passion for the sport plus they’re genuinely decent guys and sportsmen. Tom especially has the potential to set records that will be unbroken for years and years to come and his personal journey deserves to be more widely inspirational!

[@ic8466]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden fair play G. you clearly have a plan! thats all good. and your right you cant do that eating program for ever, it takes its toll on the body. and the stoltman bros are genuinely some one i look up to, literaly lol well tom anyway! iv got autism and only found out a couple of years ago and dyslexia. its held me back all my life. doing the garden has helped more than my help with cptsd from the nhs. and to be honest thats a lot to do with the vids you and yorkshire kris have been putting up. so you help people more than you could ever know. im not kissing ass its just the truth. so for that i couldnt thank you enough. its you pair who gave me the confidence to just go for it, and it was the best thing i could of dun. thanks agen big man, i really mean it!!!!!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@ic8466 What an amazing comment, I'm so proud to hear my vids and Kris' channel have helped you out! I hope they inspire you to get outside more this year too, we're both just people playing about in gardens and if that has a positive impact then that's great. If you haven't already watched it, check out the 'I Spent A Day With Giants' KZbin vid by Yes Theory about the Stoltmans, very inspirational and you'll definitely enjoy it. All the best and I hope you have a great week.

[@ic8466]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden i will defo watch that. thanks mate you too!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@ic8466 Thanks!

[@regalportraits3921]

OMG love your humour - keep It up.... oops sorry meant good job!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks, I had to be careful how I worded things with this video!

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Be good for lining hanging baskets the old leaves.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That's a great idea thanks, I'll save some for exactly that!

[@Omlittlebuddha]

Looks fabulous George, I do love your channel, I learn so much 🙏🏻

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much for your support as always and good luck with your garden adventure this year!

[@TheLittleGreenBee]

Interesting and informative vid as always. No palms here yet so not something I need to think about but good to know where to look for how to if I do take the plunge.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much and I'm pleased you found it interesting to learn about!

[@yvetteclayton3773]

Hi George, that looks amazing, I will defo be doing that to some of mine, thanks for sharing and a HUGE thumbs up from me as always x

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Yvette! It’s definitely a bit of a love / hate look but it’s certainly very striking for sure 😃 All the best with your garden plans this spring!

[@elana137]

Haha dope video, matches your haircut.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

😂😂😂

[@shineamen3107]

Thank you for all these detailled informations. I would be pretty afraid to get some scars on the trunk. But it won't happen anyway, because the only palm I've got is a Chamaerops humilis Vulcano... It may take it ages to get a trunk, if ever!... So my fingers are safe as well to write this short comment. Cheerio George!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Enjoy the 'Volcano', they're lovely things and I might have just picked another up that will be featuring in a video at the weekend. Slow growing for sure but beautiful and like you say, no need to worry about your fingers! Thanks for stopping by Bernard!

[@maartendegroote5727]

I really enjoy the 'circumcised' trunks. I feel like it enhances the proportions of the palms.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It definitely does, it certainly emulates those skinny palms from the tropics!

[@Tminus89]

Hahaha don't take that out of context, ok I won't... Through you I found out stripping a trunk was even a thing at all, I will probably buy a Trachy later this year and intend to strip it at some point.. Wanted to know how it's done and saw your video as a first result :) Now I know, and knowing is half the battle... Thanks GI George 😆😁

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, happy to help! It's a striking look and it's actually coming up time to continue the process with my two stripped trunks as they've grown a good bit since I made this video!

[@2011-TTU]

Hello George , sorry for disturbing , George from Romania is writing 😅, I have a question , i have also a fortunei here where winter drops at maximum -10, it is recomanded to skin the trunk for a beautiful shape , or I shoud not skin it , because will be protected for the winter ? Thanks very much 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi George, no worries and apologies for my delayed reply! That's a tricky one to say for definite. In theory it may affect the hardiness slightly BUT in reality, the growing point is largely the same whether you strip the trunk or not and very old plants lose their fibre anyway. If you lived somewhere with regular temperatures down to -12 / -15 then I'd probably avoid it just in case, but if you drop to -10 max usually then personally I'd risk it if that's the look you want.

[@KH-bp4qr]

Great video! Is there a minimum stem hight which the fortunei should have before I strip the stem? I have two fortunei. One's stem is 60cm and the other one 40cm.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! There isn't as such but personally I'd probably wait until they're 1m plus so it looks better visually, you're not removing any green leaves and you're not risking any damage to the trunk while it's still establishing and widening. Probably not the answer you wanted unfortunately but I wouldn't rush into it personally.

[@Hlegzudas]

I live in a cooler Zone. I think leaving the hair on it protects it from harsh winters.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

If I was in a colder area like yourself I think I'd be tempted to leave it on too, any moderate increase in hardiness by leaving it on is appreciated!

[@undercrownhiphop9422]

I’m in Florida so no cold winters. But swampy area that soil stays wet for few days after it rains. More silt than clay

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I don’t have any experience of growing them in a high humidity environment so it may be worth checking with some local palm growers but a rich soil that holds onto moisture should serve them well.

[@bigtimer6834]

George would you recommend covering the palm in zone 7B growing zone?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, by covering do you mean leaving the fibre on or adding protection in winter?

[@bigtimer6834]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Yes. If you were me how would you handle the winter? I have seen those use Christmas lights around the base and fronds but you are very knowledgeable and trust your advice.

[@keithtaylor7736]

I have just pulled one of these from beneath my hedge. To my knowledge it ha been horizontal since we purchased the house 5 years ago. It is around 8 feet long with several leaf fans. The plant has been laying sideways along the ground beneath the hedge. We decided to pull it out to see if we could erect it in the garden. When it was finally dragged out we found that it has obviously been cut down as at the base is basically a trunk about 9 inches in diameter, no roots, just a sawn through trunk. The plant appears healthy with about a dozen fan like leaves. I assume it's been getting its nutrients from the main trunk being in contact with the ground as it has no apparent roots? Should we just dig a hole and put it in, or should we shorten the trunk a little first?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Keith, that's an interesting one for sure as Trachycarpus usually only have one trunk and root from the base - they need them to survive. Can you send a pic through to my Instagram or Facebook page as I wouldn't like to give you misleading advice if it's another plant. Thanks!

[@toont6749]

Can you keep these in pots forever ive just bought 2 and have nowhere to put them instead of pots

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, they grow faster and better in the ground but you could certainly keep them in pots for a lot of years. Repot every few years and use something like Palm Focus to keep them fed over the summer months but the main thing in pots is to keep them regularly watered and not let them completely dry out, especially when it's warm.

[@undercrownhiphop9422]

Are these good in soggy soil?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, they can tolerate quite damp soil yes and certainly prefer a good supply of moisture to a very dry soil.

[@markbillington4103]

Did this to mine several years ago and they are still sulking....

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Is it definitely related to the stripping Mark? I've got other Trachycarpus which have have sulked for various reasons (transplanted, planted too large etc.) but not the two which I've stripped.

[@0787george]

Max is the coolest wee dude. Why doesn’t max have his own wee garden yea.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

He basically does, the whole thing 😂😂😂

[@missdimples1982]

I think they look great with or without the hairy trunk (not taken out of context) 😂. It's not something I would do because I am a bit of a clumsy person, would end up with less fingers too

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Me too and don't worry, not taking it out of context! Believe me, there were a couple of sketchy moments during the sped up bit but lucky no harm taken this time!

[@slimytoad1447]

I've seen it all now, circumcised trees!!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

😂😂😂 One slip with that knife and it might not have just been the tree getting the chop!

[@okantichrist]

That fibre would be great for insulating any bananas you’re protecting.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That's a good idea for sure thanks, I'd probably need some more but I'm definitely keen on actually using it.

[@saltlifess6226]

I feel your going against the nature of the palm but to each his own.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I completely understand and prefer the natural look for most of mine but if my video helps others who prefer this look to enjoy growing these amazing plants and not buy some of the overpriced garden centre atrocities then I’m happy ☺️

[@saltlifess6226]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Agree, to each his own

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@saltlifess6226 Definitely! All the best with your spring gardening!

[@philippehoyez9398]

I don't like at all this idea of ​​"cleaning" the stipe of trachycarpus fortunei because it carries the risk of making it more vulnerable to cold and humidity. Let's not go against what nature has created. In Brussels, I saw several of them in a garden center and I found them awful!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I completely understand and respect your opinion, as I mentioned in this video I personally have seen some awful artificial looking carved trunks in garden centres over here, they’re definitely not to my taste. I genuinely prefer the natural trunks but enjoy having one or two of these for the variety and have personally not noticed any negative hardiness effects due to the process. As for going against nature, that’s a complex area but if people do want to create this look I’d rather show them it’s possible, can really add to your garden and try to steer them away from the awful garden centre specimens!