How long does butia take subzero (by celsius) temperatures?

[serj]

Hello! I would like to know how long does butia take subzero (by celsius) temperatures? I suppose that the temperature must be in range between -3 -5 C.

[TerdalFarm]

Segiy,
I'll check area January temperatures, but my "Avatar" Butia has spent many consecutive days below 0oC the past three winters without heat. The thermometer I had in there had a low marking of -5oC and the alcohol was well below that level for days at a time.
It is not happy about this. My "avatar" shows what it looks like in August. Here is what it looks like in early April:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6G ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S7VBL ... GP1286.JPG" /></a>

I think you could grow Butia in Ukraine, but I recommend a "palm hut" and heat. For comparison, here is the Butia that spent the winter so protected:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1J ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S7VBb ... GP1297.JPG" /></a>

--Erik

[serj]

Erik, did you protect your butia `avatar` during past three winters? Or your butia was without any protection? What is the zone where you live?

[TerdalFarm]

Sergiy,
definitely.
This photo shows how.
Summary:
spray with fungicide,
pack loosely with fresh, dry hay
cover with large (~80 liter) plastic bucket (visible in the background, covered with old towels for extra insulation)
I also set water bottles in there (foreground) under the bucket to buffer temperature changes, as this Butia is in full sun.
I remove the bucket on warm days to let it dry out and replace the hay if it has become damp.
The chickens love to help scatter the hay....

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qt ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S3cnu ... GP1114.JPG" /></a>

[TerdalFarm]

Sergiy,
my "zone" is ambiguous. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says zone 6 on their old map, pre-global warming. A non-governmental group, The Arbor Day Foundation (they promote tree planting) recently (2006) put out a competing zone map that reflects climate change by moving zone north. http://www.arborday.org/media/zones.cfm
This puts me solidly in zone 7; Oklahoma is under that 7 in the middle of the U.S.
I garden as if I'm zone 7, but realize I may get a "zone 6" winter one of these years. However, even this winter, the worst in recent decades, was zone 7, if barely.
Are you really zone 6? If so, please protect your Butia with a heated "palm hut"! In fact, that's what I recommend for zone 7. --Erik

[JackLord]

I just unpacked my Butia and while alive, it looks frazzled like yours did. I protected it with a leaf cage but am thinking next winter might justify something more sophisticated.

[serj]

Erilk, thanks a lot for interesting information about USDA-zones in USA. My zone is realy 6a.

[TerdalFarm]

Jack,
have you seen pictures of the cheap palm hut I made for my large Butia (the one pictured with the dog)? I used scrap wood and plastic, so it cost almost nothing to make, and yet the results, as you see, are impressive for a first-winter. --Erik

[canadianplant]

Amazing you can make em survive like that...... makes me think i could pull something off .

From what Ive read, the butia can take quite a bit from sub zero. Its survival ( like most plants we try), depends on the temerature rebouding. It can take -12C probably all winter, as long as the day temps go above freezing....... Thats what ive read at least... Not jsut butia, but banana, palms, and others...

[TerdalFarm]

Interesting. That may be why the plastic "palm hut" worked so well. It functioned like a greenhouse and once the sun hit that south wall, temps soared each day, even if it was freezing outside.

[JackLord]

Jack,
have you seen pictures of the cheap palm hut I made for my large Butia (the one pictured with the dog)? I used scrap wood and plastic, so it cost almost nothing to make, and yet the results, as you see, are impressive for a first-winter. --Erik

Indeed yes. However, the towels obstruct the actual construction, so I cannot tell what it actually is made of. Nonetheless, the results speak for themselves, so point well taken. You did a great job protecting it.

Perhaps a large trash can with hay could be used? I used a leaf cage and that protects my Trachys quite well. The Butia, while not dead, still looks like it was hit by an atomic bomb.

[canadianplant]

Cameranz6 did just that i belive. In Nova Scotia. Ask him how he protected it. He gets more rain, but otherwise your climates arent to dissimilar.

[TerdalFarm]

Jack,
the towels were over the 20-gallon plastic bucket over the small Butia.
The large Butia had the cheap plastic palm hut I was referring to:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cw ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S3cnn ... GP1109.JPG" /></a>

[JackLord]

Ah, I see. Whaddy think? Should I build something like that or use a trash bin?

[TerdalFarm]

Jack,
I suggest something ugly like this vs. the trash can:
It let air circulate better to reduce rot;
It was easy to open when the temps got too high;
The palm got at least some light each day.

However, notice the blue cord in the right corner: I did run a plumber's heat tape in there, wrapped it around the trunk and spear, and covered that with burlap.
The big (5 gallon) water jug was mostly to buffer temp. swings. I did fill it with hot tap water a couple of nights for extra warmth in there.
Also, I added foam board to the top and north side for a little extra insulation.

--Erik

[JackLord]

I guess that is the answer then. Mrs Lord is gonna love that as the Butia is near the front yard- the southernmost point of our duchy.

Thanks for your help.

[TerdalFarm]

Ah, the Mrs.
My Butia hut was in the backyard.
The Mrs. loves showing the Butia off to her friends in the Summer when it looks fabulous.
She was happy to hide the plastic monstrosity my 10-year-old and I made with scrap materials for about US$0.
For a palm hut in the front yard, you might have to work on the aesthetics.
Can anyone chime in here and maybe post photos of front-yard-worthy palm huts?
--Erik

[JackLord]

Ah, the Mrs.
My Butia hut was in the backyard.
The Mrs. loves showing the Butia off to her friends in the Summer when it looks fabulous.
She was happy to hide the plastic monstrosity my 10-year-old and I made with scrap materials for about US$0.
For a palm hut in the front yard, you might have to work on the aesthetics.
Can anyone chime in here and maybe post photos of front-yard-worthy palm huts?
--Erik

It will past muster, for now at least. We have a large azalea blocking it. If it grows though...

Its not totally in the front but on the side yard visible from the street.