heat cable and thermocube

Discuss greenhouse related topics and outside weather protection methods.

Moderators: lucky1, Alchris, Kansas, Wes North Van, Laaz

Post Reply
Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

heat cable and thermocube

Post by Beny » Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:57 am

Does someone tried to use heat cable wrapping on the ground and around the trunck and foliage to protect palms trees inside a styrofoam box ? Im thinking to try this instead using bulb light and heat cable at the feet of the trunck only.
If i use a thermocube with a 40 feets cable that give 200 watts of heat, thermocube setting on +3c off at +7c. I think it will be ok...



lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:49 pm

Hi Beny,

Erik (Terdalfarm) used heat tape ... hope he'll chime in here.
I couldn't find the post with all his photos of the types of cable, etc.

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

canadianplant
Clumping Palm
Posts: 2399
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm

Post by canadianplant » Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:00 am

If I remember his posts, the heat tape worked on the ground, but some of the plants died back or had damage to the foliage? I also vaguely remember him wrapping some trunks in the tape with better success...
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>

Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

Post by Beny » Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:07 pm

Ok thx guy s...thats why a make a air chamber with 2x2 to prevent the heat tape to touch directly the palm tree, thats keep the heat tape 3-4 inches from the trunck and foliage.

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Thu Nov 08, 2012 8:52 pm

to prevent the heat tape to touch directly the palm tree
I know we discussed this several years ago, but thought we all decided that heat tape NEVER gets warm enough to damage a palm.
It'll get to ... what? guessing 40F and shut off?

It's C-9 Christmas lights, leaning up against fronds/trunk, that'll fry a palm.

I don't think heat tape ever would, but would like to hear everyone else's ideas please.

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
TerdalFarm
Palm Grove
Posts: 2983
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
Contact:

Heat Tape et alia

Post by TerdalFarm » Mon Nov 12, 2012 12:07 pm

This thread gets to some of the discussion:
viewtopic.php?t=3462

including the link to this video which is more of a summary/overview of methods:
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GlUKrxCVVgw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Direct link here:
http://youtu.be/GlUKrxCVVgw


In brief, I think pipe heat cable is a great solution: cheap, easy. If I lived in zone 8 (such as Dallas, Texas) its all I'd do. Wrap the product (every hardware store sells it, not expensive, uses very little electricity) around trunk from base up, extra around spear base. Avoid overlapping. Wrap that with burlap/hessian to keep the heat in. Will not get too hot, but also will not let the "pipe" (=trunk) freeze.

If it is quite cold, or windy, you'll lose the foliage. I.e., if you live in zone 7 or worse. So, I like C9 lights on the fronds, connected to a thermocube, then the fronds covered with burlap/hessian, then plastic covered (for the worst). See video.

In Oklahoma, this is all needed for just a few weeks, late December (about when I fly to Belize) into early February.

I also use plastic jugs filled with warm tap water changed out every evening during the coldest weather. All covered up, again for the worst.

Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

MUMMYWRAP PROTECTION UPDATE

Post by Beny » Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:06 am

Just to let you know , i verified my 2 Trachy under mummywrap protection. And for now, no dammage yet, everything is green. :lol: We had 2 night under -18c and temp.. during day is -3c to -10c. The temp. probe inside mummywrap never indicated temp. under +1c. I started to protect them in mid november.
Ben

User avatar
TerdalFarm
Palm Grove
Posts: 2983
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
Contact:

Post by TerdalFarm » Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:59 pm

Excellent! Glad to hear that. Look forward to photos.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 3 guests