Soil heating cables

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:30 am

I'm thinking of buying soil heating cables for my washingtonia robustas like Bill in MA has. Problem is, my robustas are already in the ground. Is there a way to install these things around existing plants where they are effective, yet I don't destroy the roots installing them? Thanks.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:23 am

I wonder (if they are long enough)if you could just push the shovel in about a foot and push the cables down and wrap around from a foot deep up near the top around to the edge of your protection.This may provide a break from the cold soil outside your protection but I think your right to be worried about damaging the roots if you get much closer.Be interested in seeing what you decide to do

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:00 pm

The sub tropical board didn't really offer you much info I see wxman. They won't even give me a login name or return any of my emails on there site, kinda annoying I won't mind posting every once in a while it I could help in some way.

Maybe you can post this question since I can't! How much root damage would would you do if you dug the hole palm up carefully? I quess it would depend on your soil how easy it would be to dig out. I wish it wasn't so late in the season since the heat cables will help for sure in the long term survival of your palm. I think if it was mine I would dig it up carefully once the cables where in my hand. I would mix the nicest soil mix ever if you decide to do it. let us know what you think.

Bill

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:13 pm

Hi Bill,

I'm not looking at digging it up per say. Is there a way I could trench the cables in around the palm? If I just put them 1 or 2 inches below the soil surface would they still work and radiate the heat down into the soil??

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:29 pm

I really don't think getting them down 1-2 inches will really do you much good, I no that's really not what you want to hear. The only problem with the cables is there not supposed to touch, this might be hard but not imposible to do without digging your baby up. Did you see the link I sent to Barb or do you want me to find it and sent it to you?

It would be nice to show the other board what you can do. Really how hard can it be growing palms in Atlanta? I think we could grow Cuban royals there. I probably would accually if I lived there

Bill

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:40 pm

Yeah, no kidding.

I never thought of the heating cables until I saw your post and I thought "why didn't I think of that??". I'm going to be replacing the white stones next spring with black lava rock, so maybe that will help extend the season a little. I don't want to dig them up at this point as I believe that will set me back at least a year while they recover. I'm probably moving from this house in a few years anyway and I'll try to dig them then and see what happens.

If I lived in Atlanta, I'd definitely look like southern Florida!! They are saying mid 30s here possible Sunday night. And tomorrow might not get out of the 50s! I hope not! I don't want to have to protect my orinocos! They should be able to grow at least another month. Man, this summer has sucked!! This year I'm adding a layer of white styrofoam over all walls of my enclosures except the south wall. That should help keep it warmer inside and help with the leaf burn on the plastic. So they'll be two layers of plastic with 1 1/2" air space in between, then layer of 1 1/2" foam on outside. Woohoo! I want to keep the inside of the structures 50-75F all winter and maybe I can get some growth in the cold season!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:00 pm

I think that sounds great other than Sunday. I would try the heat cables anyways, I thinks once you start digging around the Washy you'll discover that the roots are not that close to the surface anyways. You can always use them later any ways and most likely since we're doing this to palms the prices will go up.

With the orinocos I would suggest running the sprinkler over them if you're thinking you might get frost. Put something like a tarp or plastic bags near the bases of them and your majesty palm, they don't need that much water. Watch the temps though it might not be necessary at all. I figure I can grow my 13' basjoos this way til mid Nov this way. I guess the cables work that's my biggest yet and the summer like you said was crappy.

By the way I like the lava rock idea. Let me know if you need the link it was the cheapest place I could find and they shipped fast.

Bill

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:57 pm

I might put midnight black mulch in. Cheaper than stones!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:53 pm

Here's the link if you need it. http://www.growerssolution.com/page/GS/ ... econcables

You could also put a cloth over the bananas if it's not that cold, I was going to say that but my girlfriend was talking to me.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:18 pm

Yea,a sheet over the bananas is a good plan.We are likely to see an early frost the way the summers been.

macario · Post by **macario** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:18 pm

wxman I have used the heating cable and for me they really only helped keep the soil from freezing sold. I used those yellow halogen work lights face them towards the ground at the base of the palm and this worked better for me.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:29 am

Macario,
How deep did you have the cables in the ground? Mine are down 18-20 inches and in the spring they warmed the ground up at least 15 degrees higher then the soil around it. They're only 84 watts, I could see how the work lights would work though they make a ton of heat.

We haven't heard from you in awhile, what have you been up to? Have you planted anything new since the last pictures?

Thanks for the input.
Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:41 am

Bill,did you lay yours down and then add soil over?
I think some people have just wrapped then around the roots which only heats a few inchs around and the heat rises up.
For anyone trying this they should be layed flat horizontally under the palms roots so the heat rises to the top,warming the whole column.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:49 am

Yep that's what I did I figured it would be easier and work better. Here's a picture. I guess I have a picture for everything oh well hope they help.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:00 am

I thought I remembered you doing it thay way,that's going to be awesome!

I sometimes wonder if the soil could be kept at 75F and you protected a large well establised palm from the wind if you would ever need to heat the air around it?
It would be like having warm blood pumped into your body on a cold day.I wonder how fast a palm can pull warmer water up a well insulated trunk?
Probably not fast enough in cold weather,anyway that should keep whatevers over it very happy!
Which palms did use your cables under?

You and I and Barb should just call each other!!!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:31 am

I accually put it under all three of my washys, figured they would need the boost the most in winter/spring. One of these days I'll let you know about the ground temps. When my girlfriend and I get married and we sell our houses I'm going to build us one. I should be able to incorperate some interesting ideas into the house I would think. One idea is geo thermal heat, I could think of a bunch of fun ideas like a out door zone for my planting beds

It's no different than heating a driveway except that's what plow trucks are for. How cool would that be! Maybe using the discharge water somehow too. I can't wait to move!

Bill