Spring outlook, as per the weather network

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:06 am

There is the link to the spirng forcast for canada. It is actualy almost exactly what the almanac is predicting. Most of enviroment canada is saying a "delayed spring", with below normal temps generaly, but when you really look, the "below normal temps" are only 1 - 3 C on average, not enough to really say in general its a cold spring.

( sorry for the bad news Barb

)
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/s ... topstories

And here is enviroment canadas article:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story ... witter&at_

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:14 am

Yup, just like last year.
Poop.

Spring was February in 2011 and 2010.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:15 am

I know, this time last year we had NO snow, 12C days, and my bamboo was totoaly uncovered and not worried about.... Damn Canadian springs

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:47 am

lucky1 wrote:Yup, just like last year.
Poop.

Spring was February in 2011 and 2010.

I hope not, I have a lot of hurt plants in need of some sunshine.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:56 am

Not the sunshine thats bad here ( sunniest city east of the praries), its the slow warm up so far. I think we should go celt style and sacrifice some bulls LOL

**** i left my Fargesia Rufa uncivered at night when we had a freak windstorm. -35C windchills at night ( temp -18C). Concidering what it went through, the leaves arent to bad ( although they are half crispy cause of the winds), no top kill, culms are a healthy green. One tough bamboo

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:18 pm

Somebody here, years ago, said plants don't "feel" windchill, only humans.
I didn't agree then, still don't.
Because although leaves aren't made of SKIN, they are living breathing tissues with cells.

So... -35C windchill overnight on the newly uncovered Fargesia.
Might need an obituary.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:29 pm

Its the drying winds that get them, not the actual windchil.

Windchill is when the air is cold and dry enough to blow away our natural layer of body heat we have. Plants arent warm blooded, therefore no windchill.

But as you say, the leaf tissues are sensitive to wind, only because it sucks the moisture out of the leaves.

The stems are fine, still the same as normal, no extra softness, or toughness, same colour as in the summer. It was blocked from the harshest winds. I put it in the spot specificaly because it will damper most of the north or northwest winds. Its also been for the last 2 weeks or so.

Most bamboo drop their leaves in the spring anyways. Its how they replace the silica in, but the soil. It may effect the number of culms i get, but 1/3 is still under leaves, and the leaves look much better then the exposed tops.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:11 pm

lucky1 wrote:Somebody here, years ago, said plants don't "feel" windchill, only humans.
I didn't agree then, still don't.
Because although leaves aren't made of SKIN, they are living breathing tissues with cells.

That was me, I have changed my mind sense. After looking at plants with an inferred light, you can see most plants hold some heat.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:31 pm

Aaron, I do recall now that it was Barrie as he explained "ambient".

Cool finding re infra red light and plants holding heat.

Edit: Jesse, wow, your sticker says -4 F :verycold:

Yikes!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:52 am

lucky1 wrote:Cool finding re infra red light and plants holding heat.

Thanks for the spell check.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:53 pm

That isnt that bad for this time of year. Im not liek the praries right now

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:33 pm

Nobody's like the Prairies now... :lickice:

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:46 pm

Supposed to be a 'normal' spring here... Not sure what that means. Noticed my first 'spring' flowers today, the snowdrops have started to bloom in good micros here. There were a few in early January as well, but these ones out now really are, for me anyway, the start of spring!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 5:15 pm

Hopefully that means I wont be to far behind you. Im hoping the snow to be gone in 2 or 3 weeks. When that happens, the Early bulbs wont be far behind.

Great bamboo weather for me this week !!!