Had to look

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:35 pm

...at the two Washies.
Thermocube hasn't kicked in at all in 5 or 6 weeks.

Either that plug is broken or the 2 rows of leaf-filled bags and insulation are doing their job.
Remote therm says its about 6 degrees warmer than outdoor temps.

Worried about moisture though:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8334247505/" title="001 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8334 ... 81af_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="001"></a>

Cut some openings:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8335316708/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8335 ... 4276_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="003"></a>

The only light these have had in 5+ wks is the flash

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8334259041/" title="007 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8334 ... 3ea3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="007"></a>

Other Washy:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8335311860/" title="010 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8335 ... 5337_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="010"></a>

Apart from getting suffocated, they look OK.
But 3 months to go...

I'm going to buy a box of this vapor-barrier tape, fabulous stuff for plastic.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8334249857/" title="012 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8334 ... 34f3_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="012"></a>

And the 3 yucca rostrata look just like this one; so far so good.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8334252209/" title="009 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8334 ... 9fd7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="009"></a>

Anybody else having a peek at theirs?
Barb

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:26 pm

it had to be done. I usually do the same thing a couple of times each winter. happy 2013.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:26 pm

Hi Barb,

your Washy and rostrata look great. You know a super cold blast will happen soon since you opened up those holes!

It appears winter will not happen this year in our area......no super cold blasts forcasted......yet.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:05 pm

it had to be done. I usually do the same thing a couple of times each winter.

Oh thank goodness I'm not alone in ripping these things apart, Kent

Good...I can do it again next month; thanks!

Would sure like to see how your stuff is doing!
And happy '13 to you too.

a super cold blast will happen soon since you opened up those holes!

Yup, Murphy's Law works here too, Tim.

Just think...if you get no real cold this month...it'll be February, longer days, more warmth.
This might be the winter you get NO winter.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:37 am

last winter was 'no' winter too. The local school reported a low of 5F last season. This season it's low was last night at 13F........my probe it 9.5F......kinda disappointed that my yard is cooler than the school.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 8:58 am

kinda disappointed that my yard is cooler than the school. icon_cry.gif

yeah, odd, since your yard is more protected.

Barb

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:53 am

my protected stuff looks pretty boring right now. My stuff at home has been covered since about the middle of December. I also have a few in ground palms at our lake house, which is about 2.5 hours south, a little safer zone 6. I am heading down there early next week to cover those palms for the winter. coldest temp there may have been around 15F (-9C). Its supposed to be 50F (16C) next Tuesday (Jan

. I'll head down for the day and button everything up.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:05 am

I am heading down there early next week to cover those palms for the winter

Take your camera please.
Bet they've grown nicely since we last saw photos.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:50 am

I had to take the big box my Trachy was in down as it only warms+10F over outside
and the walls were tripping with moisture-I like having removable tops on mine
so I can burp them on "warm" days...even when the temp is in the 30s and sunny
it can still hit 80F + in the Washy enclosure.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:21 am

had to take the big box my Trachy was in down

You removed the entire box?

removable tops on mine

I think all winter protection should have that.
The trick is how to do it on some "strange" construction like mine.
Will work on it for next year.

Hey...quick question.
My second Washy...the one with the white insulation...worried about it because of the brown and dry frond ends.
This one I think was bone dry.

Should I do what Scott does and water it?
The other pink-insulation Washy is near a roof drip so there was water near it until mid-November and it looks better.

Barb

Jeff_Ajax · Post by **Jeff_Ajax** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:18 pm

I'll be opening up my big guy early next week to look inside, check moisture and also put a remote sensor for a thermometer. It rarely turns off so I'm not sure if its holding just below the threshold for it to shut off or really dropping down in temp. My two small boxes are on 3 - 4 times a day max when it's cold out.

We have Sunday through Friday next week all above 0 temps during the day with a low -7 being the coldest night for the next two weeks almost.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:14 pm

Looks fine Barb-don't sweat it and don't let the plant either

I forgot to mention I put the big fortunei(one I removed the box from)
in a enclosure like the Washy is in

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:51 pm

don't sweat it and don't let the plant either

OK thanks Jim.

forgot to mention I put the big fortunei(one I removed the box from)
in a enclosure like the Washy is in

Thank goodness.
Thought you had kicked it out into the 4 winds...

Jeff, excellent you'll be above freezing for at least a week.
That's always a nice break.

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:59 pm

I peek all the time, but because mine are not heated, I wont know how they are doing for sure until it warms up a bit.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:29 am

I peek all the time

Don't blame you, with those gorgeous plants.
It'd kill me to see them all frosted and shivering

I'd be pulling the comforter off the bed...

Barb

Jeff_Ajax · Post by **Jeff_Ajax** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:07 am

I have a blanket on my needle to keep it warm lol.

earthworm73 · Post by **earthworm73** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:11 am

I want to peek at my washy in its enclosure so bad but I'll resist the urge. I have almost see through plastic around it the cage and on a nice bright day I can peer in from the outside. So far still green and if I am not mistaken looks like it put on some growth during the winter. I guess its not uncommon since I am sure on a sunny 40F day it can prolly get 30* or more inside of the enclosure. Maybe curiosity will get the best of me and I'll peek.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:18 am

Maybe curiosity will get the best of me and I'll peek.

Take your camera.

Washies don't like cold drafts ... so just a quick peek

Barb