Search found 56 matches

by Jeff_Ajax
Sun May 08, 2016 5:26 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Rough Winter
Replies: 3
Views: 4950

Still green in zone 5b... crazy! What was the lowest temperature you can remember from this year? We saw -25C a couple of evenings. The palm has seen up to -9 in the past with no protection at all. I leaned my rigid foam covers up against it to form a little bit of a windbreak. I'm pretty happy it ...
by Jeff_Ajax
Sat May 07, 2016 8:03 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Rough Winter
Replies: 3
Views: 4950

Rough Winter

So winter was actually quite mild this year but my busy fall meant I didn't get a chance to cover the palm properly. I wrapped it in moving blankets and a tarp which resulted in too much moister and mold. That being said she's alive and growing with 8 Flower Pods coming off it. Should I cut the flow...
by Jeff_Ajax
Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:59 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Amazing palm selection in Southern Ontario
Replies: 34
Views: 23132

Paul,

Why wouldn't you want to take one with a trunk? I'm pretty sure Mike has wintered one in Montreal.
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu Jun 06, 2013 11:33 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Amazing palm selection in Southern Ontario
Replies: 34
Views: 23132

Hey, what were those really large Queens and Windmills going for?
by Jeff_Ajax
Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:48 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: January Palm Photo's in Zone 5b
Replies: 19
Views: 7422

Very Slow lol. Even with warm ground temps all winter they would still grow slowly just not as slow. It would still be like watching a 500 mile race between 2 slugs lol.
by Jeff_Ajax
Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:08 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: January Palm Photo's in Zone 5b
Replies: 19
Views: 7422

Mike, you guys are a good 6-7 degrees colder then us during the cold snap. We are more or less back to seasonal on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday we are pushing 6 degrees.
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:42 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: January Palm Photo's in Zone 5b
Replies: 19
Views: 7422

The sabal did have a little going into the winter to begin with so I'm not too worried. Needle is very happy though.
by Jeff_Ajax
Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:41 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: January Palm Photo's in Zone 5b
Replies: 19
Views: 7422

Well, we are supposed to get a couple days next week of 4 and 5 degrees so as long as it doesn't rain, I'll be uncovering them and taking a look.
by Jeff_Ajax
Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:42 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: January Palm Photo's in Zone 5b
Replies: 19
Views: 7422

January Palm Photo's in Zone 5b

Ok guys, I took a couple photo's of my Dwarf Palmetto and my Needle Palm last Saturday before we had our cold snap pass through this week with -18 at night. Here they are.\\ My Dwarf Palmetto with a rose cone for protection. If the weather was above 3 celsius I removed the rose cone to get it fresh ...
by Jeff_Ajax
Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:44 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: "Growop"/Houseplants/Tims Yucca seedlings
Replies: 79
Views: 26375

Barb,

I built a Greenhouse to avoid inundating my house with plants and bugs lol.

Question about the Yucca's and even Agave's from seedlings, how long do they usually take to go from seeds to something say a Nursery would sell to you in a 3 gallon?
by Jeff_Ajax
Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:56 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

Wheelman, The greenhouse is attached to the garage and the garage door is not there. The garage itself is heated with a gas ceiling mount furnace. The garage has always been heated but this year I had to install a new one. We angled out towards the front of the garage more so the heat makes it into ...
by Jeff_Ajax
Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:07 am
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Had to look
Replies: 17
Views: 10469

I have a blanket on my needle to keep it warm lol.
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:42 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Inside the Greenhouse
Replies: 6
Views: 5201

Barb, It's a 10x8 with 10' walls plus the extra height for the roof which I needed to clear the Banana's I decided not to cut back. I'll enjoy it a little more when I don't have to fight my way through all the palms lol. Also just about taken care of my insect issue as well. It stays pretty warm ins...
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:50 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Inside the Greenhouse
Replies: 6
Views: 5201

Inside the Greenhouse

Ok, a couple quick shots of whats inside the greenhouse. I need to work on watering the plants more though. Inside the greenhouse has "Blood Banana", a couple big ones plus assorted smaller ones. 4 Pygmy Date Palms, 2 Canary Island Date Palms, 1 Brugmansia, 5 Hibiscus, 1 Sago Palm, assorte...
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:18 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Had to look
Replies: 17
Views: 10469

I'll be opening up my big guy early next week to look inside, check moisture and also put a remote sensor for a thermometer. It rarely turns off so I'm not sure if its holding just below the threshold for it to shut off or really dropping down in temp. My two small boxes are on 3 - 4 times a day max...
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:10 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Rescued Palms
Replies: 9
Views: 3953

I was quite pleased with myself lol.
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:09 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

Thanks guys. Mike, the big box has all 4 corners using 2x4x12 lumber. Rigid insulation is screwed to the supports with screws and finishing washers to hold the panel in place. The top piece is then attached to the tops of the 2x4's. The interior fluorescents are then attached to a 2x4x4 that I mount...
by Jeff_Ajax
Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:15 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Yet another new addition in the winter
Replies: 20
Views: 6197

At that price for the greenhouse, I would of bought 2 or 3 lol. I'm thinking of talking my sister into letting me build a greenhouse at the back of her place (more room then my house) and start growing some of my own plants to retail out.
by Jeff_Ajax
Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:12 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Rescued Palms
Replies: 9
Views: 3953

Thanks Barb. One was looking a lil worse for wear but they all seem to be doing ok in the Greenhouse. We are supposed to get up to 3c on Monday or Tuesday, I may use the opportunity to build the small extension on my greenhouse and move these 4 guys plus 2 Canary Island Date Palms I have into it. Th...
by Jeff_Ajax
Wed Jan 02, 2013 1:44 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Rescued Palms
Replies: 9
Views: 3953

Rescued Palms

I was walking out of my GF's condo building one day when the grounds crew there was pulling these out of the planters. I asked if they kept them or threw them away and the guy told me they just toss them. It was Nov 16th when I rescued them lol. I threw them in the back of my van I had with me that ...
by Jeff_Ajax
Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:11 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

Thanks, It should make it through the winter with very little issues, I hope.
by Jeff_Ajax
Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:37 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Mexican Fan Palm protection. Late Dec. check...
Replies: 4
Views: 2037

Superthrive? Nevermind, I read up on it lol.
by Jeff_Ajax
Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:33 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

If it warms up a little, I'm going to build an extension off the front to transfer the palms into it so I have some room to enjoy it lol. I have a bar set up in the garage with some chairs and a radio lol.
by Jeff_Ajax
Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:15 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

Greenhouse has some red banana that I dug up in the green house, a couple are 10' tall. I have 5 hibiscus in there, 1 sago, 2 Canary Island Date Palms, 4 pygmy date palms, a couple young Musa Bajoo, a Papyrus, some herbs, datura that I cut down and dug up to see how they do for fun, a couple castor ...
by Jeff_Ajax
Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:49 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

The Garden in the Winter.

Here are some pics of the Garden this winter. http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/740980_10152556620025001_1815831585_o.jpg This is the Windmill all boxed up, you can just make out the white rose cone for the Dwarf Palmetto. The Japanese Maple never gets protected. http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcd...
by Jeff_Ajax
Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:30 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

LOL.

It should do ok lol. I'll take pictures of my other two boxes. I have a waggie in a box and a pindo in a box. Each has one fluorescent light fixture.
by Jeff_Ajax
Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:54 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19919

Here is my Chinese Windmill Palm just before Christmas getting ready to be buttoned up for the winter. It has a thermostat set for 5c with 3 sets of Fluorescent lighting, two at the top and one at the bottom.

Image
by Jeff_Ajax
Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:46 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Protection for Needle palm in zone 6?
Replies: 28
Views: 12087

I currently have a blanket over the top of my Needle Palm. I've read that they can go down to -23 with no issues. I may get out and blow the snow off around it and just put a insulated box around it before we get really cold snaps. We've only reached -9c at night a couple times so far.
by Jeff_Ajax
Sun May 27, 2012 11:03 am
Forum: Cycads
Topic: Over wintering a Sago Palm outdoors.
Replies: 20
Views: 17607

So, what temperatures are you experiencing? What are your lows, what are the durations of below freezing temperatures? If I know what you are dealing with, I could give you a fairly accurate answer on what you would have to do to keep them alive. Our average temperature this past winter was 2.4 C, ...
by Jeff_Ajax
Fri May 25, 2012 2:41 pm
Forum: Wildlife From The Palm Gardens
Topic: Frog on a Leaf
Replies: 8
Views: 6208

Little frog, big hosta.
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu May 24, 2012 11:28 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: The over achieving 7 footer...
Replies: 17
Views: 6391

hardyjim wrote:Looks like a yard in the southeast U.S.

Nice selection and arrangement of plants/palms :D
Thanks Jim, took me a few years to end up with it looking the way it does. My backyard (pictures coming soon) still needs better placement and arrangements but I'll worry about that next spring.
by Jeff_Ajax
Mon May 21, 2012 9:10 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: The over achieving 7 footer...
Replies: 17
Views: 6391

All the palms were in very good shape. I moved the Needle to the backyard from where it was sitting in the pot. I have my Dwarf Palmetto planted off to the left of the big guy. I also moved one of my grasses and put a hardy hibiscus there. I should be finished my backyard by tomorrow and will take m...
by Jeff_Ajax
Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: The over achieving 7 footer...
Replies: 17
Views: 6391

Thanks for the comments. I finished mulching yesterday (gasp) and moved a Hardy Hibiscus to the front as well (can't see it yet). I'm pretty much done other then having to mulch down the side of the house where my ornamental grasses are. Now time to let it grow. http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...
by Jeff_Ajax
Sat May 19, 2012 7:17 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: The over achieving 7 footer...
Replies: 17
Views: 6391

Thanks for the comments, I'll be finishing the front beds tomorrow so I'll take some finished pics. I still had to regrade around the tree in the pictures I posted. Barb, Back is sore, good thing I had 2 other guys helping me move the big guy. I want 2 more big ones for next season for sure now. I'l...
by Jeff_Ajax
Sat May 19, 2012 3:54 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: The over achieving 7 footer...
Replies: 17
Views: 6391

Thanks Tim
by Jeff_Ajax
Fri May 18, 2012 6:05 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: The over achieving 7 footer...
Replies: 17
Views: 6391

Another shot of us moving it to its resting place. I took the picture.

Image
by Jeff_Ajax
Fri May 18, 2012 5:28 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: The over achieving 7 footer...
Replies: 17
Views: 6391

The over achieving 7 footer...

I received my delivery of Palms today from Mike. I managed to get the 7ft Windmill planted (more then 7 ft of course) and snapped some quick picks of the other items. The Pindo and the needle palm ready to go in tomorrow. http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/576534_10151903305080001_582380...
by Jeff_Ajax
Fri May 18, 2012 10:44 am
Forum: Soil
Topic: Spring planting of a windmill
Replies: 8
Views: 7991

Barb, My palms arrived today and I'll be planting the big one later today. I'm going to be using a quality triple mix and use your idea of adding the kitty litter vs the perlite. How much should be mixed in the soil, one 20kg bag per 1/4 yard or? Also, Paul, when you say mulch at the bottom of your ...
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu May 17, 2012 7:33 pm
Forum: Cycads
Topic: Over wintering a Sago Palm outdoors.
Replies: 20
Views: 17607

If I was downtown Toronto I could probably swing it no problem. Ajax, probably not.
by Jeff_Ajax
Thu May 17, 2012 7:30 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Tropical paradise in BLainville, Quebec, Canada zone 5a
Replies: 7
Views: 3927

Ben,

Looks good, did you get the palms from Mike?