Winter Protection Methods

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:04 pm

Hello,

If anyone has any pictures to share with everyone on how they protect their plants in the winter please post them here. It would be great if we could share our ideas and proven methods.

Regards,
Jay

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:39 pm

Here is a simple way of constructing a cold frame. Jeff from ColdHardyPalms.net explains how to build one.

Here is a photo of me putting together my cold frame. I used a 2 foot long 2 inch pvc pipe that was put in the ground 1 foot. I put a second pipe 11 feet on the other side of the palms in the same manner and connected the two with a 20 foot stick of 1 1/4 inch pvc pipe.

Here is the finished enclosure with 6 mil plastic from Lowes. The plastic was 20 feet wide and 100 feet long and my cold frames were each 6 feet high by 11 feet wide by 45 feet long. It seems that the cold frame keeps my palms about 7 degrees warmer than the outside temperature.

Jeff says each one cost about $150- $180 to build and one takes about 4-6 hours to build once you get the hang of it.

Seems like any easy project to build.

Regards,
Jay

PlanesandPalmsGuy · Post by **PlanesandPalmsGuy** » Sun May 01, 2005 1:43 pm

Looks like quite a project! But a great idea none-the-less!

Pazuzu · Post by **Pazuzu** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:01 pm

I have used this same idea but on a much smaller scale, often protecting just one single plant.
I know that this forum and I are not really comparable, this is for folks in really cold climates and I am in FL zone 8B, where it rarely gets down to 20F, but believe me, one night in the low 20's is just as devastating to me as your whole winter is to you.

I have used the PVC greenhouse for many years. Sometimes I just build a frame around one plant that I want to protect, wrap it in poly, and put in a space heater with a 50 ft extension cord to the house! For ONE NIGHT!

WORKS!

nuff said

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:59 pm

That PVC house is a GREAT idea. I get PVC free at my work, so the plastic is all I would need. Using this, I could keep all my stuff I was going to pot plant, instead I could leave them PLANTED in the ground as long as the boss AKA the wife, sais it's cool.
Thanks a million!!!

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:58 pm

Following is a photo of a mini greenhouse I have built over several small cold hardy palms. Experimenting this year. They are still in their pots and I just dug them into the ground and then will dig them up and replant in their pots next springtime. I am using 2 -75 watt spot lights for heat. althouigh I have not had to use them yet. My intentions will be to turn on the lights, heat when the temp is forecasted below 10*F. So far so good. we'll see what happens when winter hits in Jan and the temp drops for extended periods.

Notice the use of 2 different types (black and gray) of duct tape.

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:34 am

heres a picture of my structure covered by winter. At the time of this picture it about 18F outside and a balmy 34F inside the structure.

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:38 pm

Op looks like you made your palm hut just in time. Looks good . What palms do you have inside?
John

macario · Post by **macario** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:10 pm

Hey oppalm I did the same thing as you just taller. It works great and when the sun is out on it all day it gets 60f + inside and for you celcius guys about 15c +. I got my butia inside and its loving it! still pushing a frond slowly out. My filiferas started to dry out so I started watering them and there growing also. Everything inside seems to be growing.

PALMETTOMAN · Post by **PALMETTOMAN** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:18 pm

Gr8 ideas boys!...

oppalm...try supplementing one of those spot grow bulbs with a heat light or flood light if its gets a little too cold...

a ceramic heater would also help....

the key is keeping the temps above the freezing mark (at night), so the soil doesn't freeze and you'll have passed the test...

by the way....what are growing in there?

macario...nice specimans!...keep us updated on how your palms are doing with your protection.

Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:59 pm

Those are cool guys. I have to do something like that for next winter.

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:37 am

Macario - nice job. your palm hut is looking good. I will make mine bigger next year, but not your big. Your palms look great inside the hut.

palmettoman I will try your suggestion of a heat lamp/light. I think that makes more sense.

My palms are planted in the soil in their pots. I will dig them out next springtime and move them back into the yard. Planted in the palm hut :
1 - Rhap Hystrix - needle palm - about 18" tall
2 - Sabal Palmetto - about 12" tall
1- Trachy Takil - about 12' tall
4- Trachy Fortunei - about 8" tall ( seedlings)
2- Louisiana Palmetto - about 12" tall

just working on experimenting this year to see how things work. My big problem so far has been the wild temperature swings inside the hut. I have a min/max thermometer inside and on a sunny day it can go from 80F during the day to 30F at night. so far everything looks good inside. I open the side during the day, but it still heats up. I'll make some adjustments when the snow melts.

macario · Post by **macario** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:58 am

Oopalm so far I have found the palms dont mind the temp swings at all. As long as the ground dosent freeze they like it. I also found though that I have to water them when the soil gets a bit dry. For me its once a month but yours maybe be different. The hut works so well im putting my W. filiferas in the ground and using small huts on them next year. I think ill try pvc piping and some plastic.

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:27 am

I use some dry burlap tucked into and around the growth spear during the coldest weather. I remove it once the weather breaks, which is mostly a couple of days at best. No heat cables or artifical heat sources. Never any winter damage even during one night a few years ago down to 13.5 fahrenheit (-10.3 celcius).

Cheers, Barrie (Vancouver Island)

PALMETTOMAN · Post by **PALMETTOMAN** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:00 pm

oppalm,

Thats what its all about man..experimenting and then applying it permanently..I have given this GR8 thought...For us who are cursed with those cold continental winds (ie:wind chills)...and if they are kept at bay...and the root zone does not freeze...you are in business...I don't think the temp fluctuations matter....unless the temps go up high and then drop at night and the spears or ground freeze up etc...keep an eye on those low temps...have a ceramic heater ready for those cold nights...

Finally in studying various methods and applying the supplemental heat when needed, I have concluded that if the palms gets planted in a raised bed (1-2 feet), with a good mixture including sand in your soil, that would help with the root zone or ground around the palm not likely to freeze up and less likely to cause root rot....etc....

Nice work oppalm....

Keep us updated dude...

Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:07 am

I thought I would provide an update on my palm hut temperatures. Last night was cold in Kansas City. My outdoor thermometer said 10F was the low in my back yard. I tuned on the 2 spot lights in my palm hut at about 10:00 PM, it was 18F in the hut when I turned on the lights. This was the first time I used the supplemental lights this season. Well this morning when I checked my min/max thermometer it was 23F in the hut, and the low was 18F, which was the temp when I turned on the lights last night. I think thats pretty decent warmth from 2 spot lights. I think I am good to go this winter.

PALMETTOMAN · Post by **PALMETTOMAN** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:15 pm

oppalm,

Sounds like you've got it down...

You've had a good test at it to... with that blast of Arctic air...

I'm aleady looking forward to spring..!

Keep us updated oppalm...you too Macario...

Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:28 am

My palm hut had it's first real winter test last night in Kansas City. The high temp yesterday was about 20F (-6C). When I got home last night from work I threw and old winter blanket over the palm hut to retain some heat. kept on my eye on the min/max thermometer (inside the hut) and turned the spot lights on inside the palm hut at around 9PM when it was 9F (-12C) outside and a balmy 18F (-7C) inside the hut. This morning it was 2F (-16C) outside and 19F (-7C) inside the hut. The only heat is generated by 2 - 75W outdoor spot lights. I am pleased with the results. I had no idea what to expect and I'm thinking my experiment is working out pretty well. I also have Trach Fortunei on the side of my house that was covered with bath towels last night and we'll see how it fared in a few weeks. We have just one more night with lows near 0F (-17C) and then our temps head back up and the light will no longer be needed.

I did the best I could with the F to C conversions. I think I did alright.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:03 am

Sounds like that is working out well for you

I am ready for some warmer weather, this morning was .9F / -17.3C
My robusta hotel seems to be doing OK, haven't been able to take a good look inside with all the ice but I think the heater is still working

~ need to get some more wireless thermometers.

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:41 pm

With my Robusta, I have been running the X-Mas lights at night, then no lights during the day as I was hopeing that the Sun would keep it warm. I had not checked the tree since Thursday night when the ice storm hit. I just checked and at 3:30 today, when I stuck my hand in there, it was HOT, not just warm, but HOT. I think keeping the lid on and not opening it up every day has helped, but now I am worried about fungus althou it was not all that humid in there.
Oh well, wish me luck.

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