Winter protection

[cuja1]

It's a little late to be posting this but I thought I'd share anyway.

Yucca gloriosa
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... e4fbb8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-6_zps30e4fbb8.jpg"/></a>

needle palm
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... acbec6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-5_zps56acbec6.jpg"/></a>

Y. rostrata
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... acbec6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-5_zps56acbec6.jpg"/></a>

rostrata, a. parryi, and various cacti
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... acbec6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-5_zps56acbec6.jpg"/></a>

hesperaloe
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 9c109c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-1_zpsc39c109c.jpg"/></a>

Brackens Brown Beauty
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... e65b4d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-7_zps13e65b4d.jpg"/></a>

Edith Bogue
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 643dd4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-8_zpsd8643dd4.jpg"/></a>

so far so good! It's only gotten down to 2 degrees so far this year so it's not really a test for hardiness. I'm o.k. with that though.

[cuja1]

let me try that again:
yucca rostrata
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 38c013.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-3_zps2a38c013.jpg"/></a>

yucca rostrata, parryi and other cacti
<a href="http://s1250.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... fc04d1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo protection13-2_zps4cfc04d1.jpg"/></a>

[lucky1]

Never too late, Jeff

Curious whether you have a remote thermometer in that rostrata (or other) protection?
Temps would be summerlike on a sunny day.
And how long it's been in the ground.

Good that you haven't received much winter yet.

Barb

[cuja1]

Barb,

There's no extra heat source for the rostrata. I monitored the temp in the fall and it seemed about an extra 20 degrees (F) warmer under the tubs on a sunny day. This is the first winter outside for the rostrata, cacti, and agave. It's kindof a test year to see if it's worth making a larger desert scene this spring.

[lucky1]

kindof a test year to see if it's worth making a larger desert scene this spring

I'd guess that's a "go" for spring

Re my remote thermometer (not heater) question, was wondering what the minimum temp was inside the rostrata box so far this winter.
But you haven't had much of a winter until this week.

You've got some very nice plants, Jeff, of good size.
Hope they sail through winter for you.

Barb

[cuja1]

DOH! How did I misread that? I bought a remote thermometer for the needle palm but it wasn't working right so I took it back. I need to try again. I would imagine the temp was close to 2 degrees in the box because that was the night time temp. I noticed with that once the sun went down, the temp inside the tubs were pretty close to the outside temps. It'd be nce to check though either way.

[lucky1]

but it wasn't working right

I've had trouble with those too.
Discovered you should never purchase the nearest one on the shelf...generally been dropped by the public
The ones further back work.
Unless they're LaCross.

I've been trying to keep the cold plastic from touching rostrata leaves.
Might make a big difference when cold hits.

Gorgeous magnolia.
Barb

[cuja1]

I was wondering if I should tie up the leaves like Tim does. Thank you for the advice on the thermometers, I hadn't thought about people dropping them. I also glued styrofoam to the "roof" of the tub in hopes of keeping condensation from falling on the plants. I don't know if it's actually made a difference.

[lucky1]

I think tying the leaves is a good idea, especially when unprotected from snow/rain.
Guessing it keeps the center drier/warmer.

<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_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="009"></a>

Anything that keeps plastic from sweating/dripping would be beneficial.
Some people use burlap to absorb moisture.

Barb

[wxman]

Wow, everything looks great!

Do you know if there's anywhere in the Chicago area I can get a Brackens Brown Beauty or Edith Bogue that size?

I live up by Milwaukee and would make a day trip south to buy a nice specimen.

Thanks,

[TimMAz6]

looks good..............keep them dry!

I only tie up Yucca leaves when the protection method requires it...........sometimes the leaf head is too big to fit into the protection.

[cuja1]

wxman,
I'm actually about 200 miles from Chicago in the center of the state. From what I've read on the internet, people have gotten Southern Mags in Chicago. I bought my Edith Bogue at a nursery here in Springfield. Another nursery close by ordered the BBB for me. I think it came from Monrovia. Supposedly they even had larger ones than mine they were selling. This is the second winter for both magnolias. Fortunately we've been blessed with mild winters the last 2 years. Some people have discourage this but we watered our mags almost daily in the spring and fall to get them established.