Yucca carnerosana protection temperature difference

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:34 pm

I placed a in/out temperature probe at my Yucca carnerosana. It appears the protection is providing a extra 1/2 zone in temperature increase. The protection is 2 layers of 4 mil plastic sheeting with a string of small christmas lights.

Overall protection:

Temperature difference at 5pm:

Temperature difference at 9pm:

Temperature at local school at 9pm:

The local school is reading the same temperature as my probe so I guess I can rely on the school's temperatures!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:22 pm

Tim,

Five degrees is huge, especially from the little lights.
good insulation, good job.

Maybe get a remote...you don't have to slosh back out there to read it

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:03 am

It was colder than I expected........low last night of 9.5F. The inside only dropped to 18F.....so 8.5F warmer inside than outside.

Reading at 7am this morning.
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 264848.jpg>

Low outside of 9.5F:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... F5B2E5.jpg>

Low inside protection of 18.0F:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 5F50F2.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:09 am

that is chilly.
Maybe a big tarp thrown over top to create airspace between the layers?

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:57 am

Hi Barb,

tonight is suppose to be even colder so I may place more lights inside.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 1:54 pm

Tim,
Brutal having to scramble ...

Good luck.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 6:44 pm

No scrambling here......that Yucca 'should' be hardy to -10F when dry. I think that Y. carnerosana is the form native to Mexico so I'm not sure if those southern forms can take the same cold as the faxonianas/carnerosanas native to Texas?? I'd be shocked if that Yucca received damage at temperatures above 5F. My Citrumelo is probably the least hardy plant in my garden that doesn't have leaves in the protection.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:47 am

'should' be hardy to -10F when dry.

So you've got 20 degrees to go...

not sure if those southern forms can take the same cold

Since Mexico and Texas don't have the "high mountains" needed for real cold-hardiness in their native plants, aren't we too optimistic planting them in our cold zones?
Your area can probably get away with it, Tim, as you try to protect them from rain.
But at 50+ degrees latitude?
I don't have much hope here.

Except of course the Mexican feather grass that's coming up all over my place

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:11 am

What do you use at the top?

I use burlap bags and I am sure there is a lot of heat loss that way.

Next time I come across some carpet padding(for free)I will cut out some better
fitting(insulation) pieces....I had my big Fortunei in a triangle box and was only
getting about +10F,I switched to one of my bubble wrap creations and it now
gives over 30F above the outside air temp..

Looking forward to burping them next week (or sooner) as temps rise back to 50F

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:15 am

carpet padding

Old carpets too!

Looking forward to burping them next week (or sooner) as temps rise back to 50F

Can't wait to see that big Washy again...

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:56 am

lucky1 wrote:
carpet padding
Old carpets too!

Looking forward to burping them next week (or sooner) as temps rise back to 50F
Can't wait to see that big Washy again...

Barb

Me too-not sure if I can get away with uncovering it as early though,last year it was 4'
and easy to throw something over-this year 8' and the leaves would need to be gathered up as well....

never stopped me before though

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:25 am

the leaves would need to be gathered up as well....

Weren't the leaves tied like "pigtails" before you closed it?

Have you got your soil temp probe in the Washy enclosure?
Curious what your Washy's root temp might be 'coz I don't have a probe.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:24 am

It got colder last night..........here's the results of the protection:

We dropped to 5.4F this morning. Inside the protection was 14.6F so not too bad......zone 8a/8b inside the protection.

Low temp outside protection:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... C592E3.jpg>

Low temp inside protection:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... B9FF56.jpg>

Low temp outside at local school was 5F too.
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 494201.jpg>

Hi Barb,

Yucca faxoniana/carnerosana grows in Gallup, NM.......check those temps out. Is there a few in Farmington, NM too? I've seen them take like -20F in those areas. Does someone recall the specifics of those specimens?

Jim,

the top of my protection is not that tight....there are 1/4" gaps all over the edge. I'm really providing this protection to keep the moisture out.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:41 am

Gallup NM January weather: http://www.weather.com/weather/monthly/USNM0121
Lows are comparable to mine sometimes, but it's the daytime highs, often above freezing, that we can't match here.

Your little lights are doing a better job than I would've guessed, Tim.
The ground beneath the enclosures is likely still emitting the last of its heat, too.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:53 am

If I seal the top off better I'm sure It would help a few degrees too...........the cold is over......tonight back into the teens.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:01 pm

more cold means another update.

Today's high was 13F and low was 5F.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 8DF5DE.jpg>
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 9B8B51.jpg>

the Yucca carnerosana protection seems to be doing OK.

Low temperature next to Y. carnerosana (still zone 7b

)
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 5E2A4A.jpg>

Low temperature inside protection was 15.5F.
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... A80A6F.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:38 pm

Presuming 15.5F is still OK for it?

Thought Low was 14.6...

Fingers crossed for a quick warmup, Tim.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:20 pm

Hi Barb,

there is not much data for these Mexican Y. carnerosanas.............I think it will be OK if kept about 0F.

Yes, the previous low was 14.6F...........I sealed up some holes and placed my seed germinating heat mat inside after the 14.6F event................seemed to work since this cold is windy.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:52 pm

If anything Mexican can live at 0F, then there's hope for some others too.

Good idea putting the mat inside.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:46 am

Low last night was -0.9F (-18.3C).......I was hoping for a zone 7 winter. LOL

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 6537BD.jpg>

Low inside the Yucca carnerosana protection dropped to 11.2F...........we'll see what happens in spring.
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... B21141.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:51 am

Poop!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:53 am

Its a rare winter that sees you guys get colder than here-not saying much though
the low so far in my yard has been 1F

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:56 am

so far in my yard has been 1F

Same here Jim.
2 mornings -17C = ~ 1F

Just think how great our "zones" would be without those drastic lows.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:33 am

I hear ya...........you guys/gals should be WAY colder than us.........our temps are generally buffered being close to the Ocean. Last winter was the warmest since I moved to Massachusetts at +5F (-15C). That was nice.........I'm afraid that my Eucalyptus may be fried now? It looked OK this morning but it was still freeze dried.

andym · Post by **andym** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:29 am

lucky1 wrote:
so far in my yard has been 1F
Same here Jim.
2 mornings -17C = ~ 1F

Just think how great our "zones" would be without those drastic lows.

Barb

I hear what you saying Barb but if you had to endure our horrible wet summers, you'd end up in a sanitorium

That being said Yucca Elephantipes "jewel" and Eucalyptus leucoxylon petiolaris are having a field day outdoors. My latest batch of snow has gone.... max low during that period was -4C

Strange weather.... lots of snow but NO clear skies which kept my minimums to a minimum so to speak.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 1:01 pm

endure our horrible wet summers,

Used to live in Vancouver, so I know what rain is...every day.

Maybe that gorgeous yucca structure you built should cover the entire yard.
That'd be wonderful for year round gardening, Andy.

Plus all the snow would slide off into your neighbour's yards.

Any new photos, Andy?

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:01 am

I took a peek into the protection today.......

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 580A18.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:15 pm

Looks great!

Look at your temperature!!!!!! 14C

You lucky duck.

He probably wants out of there.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:26 pm

yes......great day............all my garage plants are outside today and tomorrow.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:09 pm

Oh, for it to go on like your temps now...

Easy to take a winter when it's only a week long.

Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:10 am

Tim, this picture is a real piece of the Art! The yucca plant too BTW

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:29 pm

I removed the Yucca carnerosana protection today.............she looks fine.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 6e9db8.jpg>

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:18 am

Winter...what winter, looks like a keeper!

The the yuccas that did the worst for me this past winter were Y. faxon even the new "hardy" (covered) one I got from High Country Gardens, Hesperaloe parviflora, and the third most damaged Y. elata (younger ones).

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:14 am

Aaron, any evidences?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:52 am

igor.glukhovtsev wrote:Aaron, any evidences?

Yes, I think everyone has seen the Yucca faxon, the other I will post later.

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:07 am

TimMAz6 wrote:I removed the Yucca carnerosana protection today.............she looks fine.

What's a nice ... Monster!

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:04 am

Awesome plant.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:33 am

Looks great Tim.....it will spread out now though and make it tough to get into protection next year
as I am sure you know-will this one become hardier with age so you only need a top cover?

BTW-
We have been in the 70s the last few days(76F yesterday) and .70" of rain,I can see the biggest
Trachy has already grown a few inches from where I marked it!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:42 am

Love the fat trunk

Glad your weather's great, Jim.
Ours has tanked again.

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:48 am

I see Jim's in the 80's F, right on!

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Yucca carnerosana protection temperature difference

Yucca carnerosana protection temperature difference

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