Palm protection zone 5a

For cold hardy palm tree enthusiasts.

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

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

Palm protection zone 5a

Post by Beny »

Here s some Trachycarpus, Chamaerops humilis and Butia protection i did in the last days near Montreal, Canada. The talest box are Trachycarpus Fortunei. I used 2.5 inches styrofoam with PL glue, 2x23 watts and 12 feets heat cable all pluged in a thermocube set at 2c off at 7c. I wrapped all the palms with a arbotex and tied all fronds together before. Ill post more videos on my youtube channel.

Ben
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


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 »

Beny,

Man oh man, those are some gorgeous palms.
Hard work on that protection!

Gotta ask: what is that black tool (with a handle) to the left of the Chamaerops humilis?
Driving me crazy as to what that is :?

Surprised to see CFL bulbs...thought they weren't warm?

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.
wheelman1976
Seedling
Posts: 277
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:48 pm
Location: West Michigan

Post by wheelman1976 »

link to your youtube channel?
Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

Post by Beny »

Hey Barb, the tool its not mine. Its at the customer, its not for the palm protection. I think its to remove dog shit, seriously. Wheelman, there s the last video on youtube, will post more this weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VUwz5qA ... R4CBYZCrhw

The CFL do the job when using styrofoam box and heat cable on the ground. Thats built the heat slowly inside the box. Don t forget, during the day, we have a solar effect inside the cage. So in the day even at -10c outside, the temp. inside is more than +5c. So all the lights still off. Thats why its better to plant the palm at a sunny location.

Ben
User avatar
hardyjim
Palm Grove
Posts: 4703
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:00 pm
Location: Fairfield Iowa 5b

Post by hardyjim »

looks good Beny
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
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 »

better to plant the palm at a sunny location.
Yes agreed.
But my Trachy couldn't stand our hot dry desert winds, so it's now planted on the East side of house.
Many many days in winter are cloudy here.
I think its to remove dog shit, seriously
:laughing7:

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

mummuywrapping technique

Post by Beny »

Just unwrapped my 2 Trachy this afternoon and both palms look great. Even with a low of -27c last week. For now, its the best and easiest technique to protect hardy palms here in zone 5a near Montreal. I started to protect these palms in mid-november.
Check my new video on youtube...it look good for the future, will be able to protect palms as tall than 20 feets :D

Ben

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQRIGO1a ... R4CBYZCrhw
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 »

Good job, Beny.

-27C = -16.6F :lickice:

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.
sashaeffer
Large Palm
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:09 am
Location: Omaha, NE

Post by sashaeffer »

Thank you Barb for posting the temp conversion! was bout to Google -27C lol
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fin ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... edState=NE" alt="Click for Omaha, Nebraska Forecast" height="90" width="160" /></a
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 »

posting the temp conversion!
I still need to see both myself... :lol:
<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.
coconutmike
Seedling
Posts: 254
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 7:17 pm
Location: montreal zone 5b

Looks Good Beny!

Post by coconutmike »

Looks good Ben -keep it up. Here is my muumy wrapped palm and seedlings mid-January before the cold snap
http://youtu.be/U33YcPOYo6E
mike
Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

Post by Beny »

Just checked my both Trachy under mummywrap, and saw the small one looks had a fungus problem...not sure it will survive. The soil is not frozen, both heat tape work. I dont understand whats the problem, cause the biggest one looks good, a few burn tips, maybe ill lose 2-3 fronds. Both have the same protection, but a month ago i think the T3 was not working well on the small one, the probe indicated a morning -14c, the temp. doing outside....thats maybe what cause the fronds freeze :?
Ben
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 »

Got a photo, Beny?

I think the ONLY problem with mummy wrapping palms is that there isn't much airspace between the palm and the cover for moisture to land somewhere else.
It can't go anywhere but ONTO the palm maybe.

I hope it survives.

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

Post by Beny »

Thats make sense for me too. Cause it really looks like having a moisture problem. If its the case, will have to find a method to keep more air space inside. The one having that problem, its the method i used metal post to give more air space, but its too tight and there s no more space than the big one ( i did nt use post ).
If using 4 woods post by the hight of the palm then put a small plywood at the top and then wrap on, i think it should be better. That s gonna keep at least 6-12 inches of air around the palm tree.
Ben
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 »

keep at least 6-12 inches of air around the palm tree.
That would work, but then maybe the heat tape won't be enough.

Might have to add C-9s? for the 6-12 inches of cold air?

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

Post by Beny »

Will check that on monday, will be +5c here (WOW), will unwrap palms and take pics...but the heat tape is enought, temp. never went down under -2c even at -27c outside.
Ben
Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

Post by Beny »

There s some pics of my smaller Trachy with having a fungus problem i think. Im using the same technic than my taller one who has just few tips burned. I don t know whats going wrong with the smaller one. I was using a old arbotex to wrap it first, but im not sure that s the cause of fungus problems. The mummy wrapping is not hermetic and some air can go inside for a bit of ventilation. Like a said before, the T3 was nt working for a night i think, the probe indicated -14c a morning in december and then, the cable started to warming up again...

Ben

Image

Image

Image
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 »

I think fungus is the least of its worries.
some air can go inside for a bit of ventilation.
Yeah, if the tape was off, and cold air blew through it, that might be responsible.
Maybe also because it's a younger palm?
So sorry, Beny.

Can a cable be tested to see if it's got a wiring short?

Maybe it'll surprise you by pushing out a spear, even in July.
Hope so.

Thanks for the pic update.

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
TimMAz6
Palm Grove
Posts: 2789
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:15 am
Location: Massachusetts USDA 6b

Post by TimMAz6 »

It's hard to tell by the photos but the leaves look damaged from cold.......did the leaves ever get lower than 8F (-13.3C) for prolong periods or a quick drop to 0F (-18C)?
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MA/Seeko ... igwx"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... eekonk.gif" alt="Click for Seekonk, Massachusetts Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

Post by Beny »

When i was in vacation during the weeks of the 21 january, the low here was during 4 night in a row between -25c and -30c, but my biggest Trachy at the front of my house has the same protection and still healthly. Maybe like Barb said, its a young plant and the temp has droped to -14c one night inside. I remember than i moved the tarp the day before and thats meybe disconnect a bit the thermocube. I fixed it after recordered this low temp. and now it s working well....aniway :?
Ben
Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
Contact:

Post by Beny »

There s some pics of my test experience on my biggest Trachycarpus Fortunei. I unwrapped it today and saw more burned leafs than i thought last time. The heart is green but lot of damage du to overheating i think. I placed the themocube at the base ( 1 feet higher from the ground ), i think its better to put it at the base of the crown instead. Cause the T3 was a lot of time under the snow level and maybe that s what cause a reading of temperature at the level of the base trunck. So, with the effect of the sun, the temp. inside the mummywrap where is the foliage was higher than at the base. The T3 continue to heated the cable because it takes the temp. at the base.
Sometime, the probe inside indicated +21c , but the average is -3c to +12c.

So, i think the mummywrapping system could work when placing a T3 at the base of the crown, heat cable plugged in and wrap around the truck and foliage, plus another heat cable on the ground with his own thermostat, not plugged on the T3.
We had a low of -30c 3 weeks ago.


Image

Image
Post Reply