Temporary Trachy Wrap

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:26 am

Palm hut goes up this weekend.
If weather stays mild, will leave the door open.

But in the meantime, protecting the spear after the hailstorm the other day.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6308784227/" title="DSC05062 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/630 ... be6b65.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05062"></a>

Barb

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:21 am

Looks good. How many years until it outgrows the palm hut?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:40 am

How many years until it outgrows the palm hut?

Wondering that myself, Erik.

Here's pic from last Fall's installation.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5105393534/" title="DSC04036 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1059/510 ... 25b18a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04036"></a>

Wondering if we should do a concrete footing and then plunk the palm hut on top to give more height.

Will post a pic Sunday.
The comparison might give some idea how much time there is.

Barb

wheelman1976 · Post by **wheelman1976** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:36 pm

out of curiosity, did any of your lower fronds snap at the bottom when you pulled everything together? I had that happen to one frond, hopefully no more!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:03 pm

Yup, I heard a loud "crack" but no petioles seem to have snapped off.

Last year H held the fronds while I wrapped the bungee cords.
A heck of a lot easier with help.

Wonder if it's better for you to just cut it off cleanly than leaving it damaged.
Losing one leaf shouldn't threaten the palm.

BTW, did you/will you apply some epsom salts and potassium to the palm's soil yet?
Potassium helps palms (basically any plant, even grass) get through winter by making it better able to handle cold (but only somewhat).

Barb

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:12 am

Can Potassium be bought all by itself?

Barb, that is a GREAT pic of you two building your palm hut. I assume you keep the walls pre-assembled??

Have been meaning to ask you. Is your husband as enthused about your Palm hobby as you are??

When I brought two more home last night I didn't even get the expected "eye roll" from my wife. She knows it won't do any good.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 6:05 am

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

IT seems to early to be worrying about this sort of stuff! LOL. I wont worry about my stuff for a few weeks here. The only things i need to really protect are my bamboo, and the trachy seedling which I totally forgot I planted. Not sure how Im gonna protect it....

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:20 am

Early if you know what your doing exactly! lol

I'm a newbie so want to be prepared with all the information I can learn from members here. I watch the forecast like a hawk, so other than having my structure framed, I want to wait till the last minute before closing everything in.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:30 am

Can Potassium be bought all by itself?

Yes, I found a small box of 0-0-40 at a farm supply place called Grower's Supply.
Retail nurseries here didn't have it.

you two building your palm hut

The guy in red is a carpenter, H is hidden behind the palm.
Walls were pre-assembled w 2x4s and rigid styro fitted between studs.
Walls are screwed into railway tie base (which is starting to rot now...darn).
Top section with fiberglass roof is lifted on and screwed to the walls.

Heated by an electric heater on a T3 thermocube 35F on, 45F off.

Changes I'd make: would use exterior grade plywood versus OSB (sawdust glued into boards)

and a concrete base with a proper top plate.
Will probably have to do that next year.
Palm hut materials & labour cost $700.00 two yrs ago (yup!)
Winter sun angle doesn't allow much sun in, might add a plexiglass window next yr on south side to help with solar gain.

Wall sections are really heavy, takes 3 people to move panels to/from barn storage 400 feet away.

H is now interested in palms... probably because he's met John (okanagandesertpalms), who is even more palm-crazy than me!!! (Hi John)
The "training" took a long time

Your wife will learn to love the tropical look in summer...and maybe help you plan for winter.

You brought two more home? Attaboy!
Look forward to seeing them.

Jesse, is your planted trachy seedling close enough to house to put some lights around it, and an insulated box surrounded by bags of leaves?

Forecast for tonight is -8C (17 F)

High time to get the hut in place.

Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:30 am

Its no more then a foot away from the foundation, in a microclimate. The snow there melts a month before 95% of my yard, so it stays pretty warm. Its going to have at least 2 feet of leaves on it, and im hoping a small styrafoam box, plus the snow.

I planted it on a whim, and have about 12 or more replacements if it fails. Im doing it to see what i can get away with. Only way to know is to try, and I have the means to do so. I wont protect with lights untill I have a large enough plant to work with. At that state, im going to do what you guys do with the huts and heat tape, or possibly what arctictropical does in utah, wooden insulated boxes with 5 light bulbs on 24/7.

The thread reminded me that I planted one is all... thanks

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 5:17 pm

Great protection work, Barb! Your area is starting to get cold! It has already dipped down to -4 C here the other day. I might try potassium this year as well.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:25 am

Cameron, yup, those damn Arctic outflows sliding down into B.C.
Every bloody year.

-8C 17F last night

Poop!

Re potassium (the K, in N-P-K), the "raw" form is basically Potash (wood ashes from a woodstove...same thing).
But probably works slower than the chemical so I only use a half-shovel load of wood ashes on top of Clematis each spring.

Barb

macario · Post by **macario** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 3:48 pm

I hey barb I think It will be 2 years and you will need bigger palm hut

CTPalm · Post by **CTPalm** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 3:54 pm

Looks like it put on a lot more growth this year. Bigger hut indeed!

Paul

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:17 pm

Mike and Paul...I was hoping more than 2 years, but it really did take off this year.

Barb