Palm/cactus protection over the years.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:04 am

Since I am lazy,I prefer to make it as easy as possible,really.
It has nothing to do with having over 60 palms/cactus to protect! LOL

Here are 4 methods I have tried and like,all but the
bigger "hoop" house are heated with X-mas lights...my favorite(:

All of them together.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

O.k. really 5 ways,there may even be a few more in there somewhere.

I covered my Sequoia with this umbrella greenhouse,
I love these things but they take a lot of heat.
This is what I used the first year for the first
2 Trachys I ever planted.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I have no name for this but it is kinda my favorite...
one layer of green plastic coated fencing with 2 layers
1" clear bubble wrap and a layer of opaque foam between.
I use a trash can lid with a burlap coffee bag in-between
for insulation,it can also be draped over the south side
if the sun is heating them to much..15-20 7wt(x-mas) lights.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Large "Rose cones" protected all my Tree ferns etc.
8/7wt bulbs all hooked into a thermocube/on at 35F/off 45F.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Washys cover this way-same double b-wrap,thermocube etc,
I will need to add 2' to these this year-and more x-mas lights.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I opened the top on these when I could.

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Heres what I did the first winter(-:
pretty wasteful but fun!
Now that the palms/etc have grown so much I can't afford to light up the neighborhood!-LOL

More insulation less lights these winters!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... ion013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... ion013.jpg" border="0" alt="12-5-08"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... ion011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... ion011.jpg" border="0" alt="12-5-08"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... ion010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... ion010.jpg" border="0" alt="12-05-08"></a>

Anyway,that is some of what I have done over the years
(not all though)hopefully this will give some of us some better
ideas on how to improve protection-like me!

Temps in the garden have ranged between -18F and 106F over the past 4 years.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:50 am

GREAT pics!!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:23 am

Thanks

I have tried some other things too.

My goal was to basically try everything over period of
3 years and see what worked,gradually moving
to less and less protection.
I had 50% success with leaf cages the first year
and it hit -18F so I think that it is great it even
worked....over the years you get attached to stuff that
makes it through and unattached to the stuff that doesn't

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:30 am

Good Idea, that is why this year I'm just going with one larger Windmill in the ground and bringing the others in the garage. I have one "seedling" plant that I put in the ground as well that I will use a wire cage, leaves, bubble wrap and small string of christmas lights to keep warm.

I've seen on the Banana site where people will fill leaf bags full of leaves and surround the banana's with them as a added measure of wind protecting so plan on doing that as well. Hell, it's basically FREE and can't hurt.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:49 pm

I wouldn't combine leaves and lights.....

Just mulch a few inches and heat.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:32 pm

Even if they aren't touching the leaves? I have Cedar mulch on it now. I should just add more of that mulch instead? then the christmas lights?

I have root ball wound with heat tape and about 1 foot of tape going up the trunk.

Maybe I'll just save the leaves for the Banana's I have out there instead.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:55 am

I was referring to not using lights and leaves as
the lights will do the job-regardless,make sure you monitor
the temps in the enclosure,thats the most important!

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:29 pm

Mulhall's has a 50% off of Pindo palms here. Do you have any, and if so do you overwinter them outside?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:30 pm

I like it, looks like a hobbet camp.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:21 am

If your asking me,I do have a Butia Eriospatha planted...great palm!

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:34 am

Yes, Jim was wondering if you have yours outside, and if you over winter it there with any luck.

The one in the pic was only $17.00 (on sale) but for at least this winter I will keep in garage with other palms I'm going to over winter there. May then decide in the spring if I'll plant it in the ground.

Scott

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:41 pm

I have had mine in the ground for 3 winters,
amazingly it has never spear-pulled and has finally
started growing this year with about 5-6 new leaves.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:08 pm

I'm impressed!! do you do anything different to it than you do your other more hardy palm tree's?

What side of the house is it on?

I almost bought two..one to experiment in the ground with, and the other forever in a pot and coming in every winter. I don't want to push it too much with the wife though. She is getting tired of me bringing "special finds" home, but how can you pass up stuff when it's 50% off or more?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:58 am

It is on the west side-these can take full sun.

It seems to enjoy fall weather like the Trachys.

It is hooked up to the same Thermocube (thermostat)as
the 2 Washys but it was not as well insulated and saw plenty
of 20F low temps over last winter.