Water or not

[Syano10]

Trachy is boxed up and temps are in the 20's for the high today but in my shelter it is 80. (I might join the Trachy)
The south side of my box is double layer of 6 mil green house plastic. Then boxed in with plywood and foam insulation( I'll post pics ) I have heater on thermocube( t-3).
but my question is with that warmth during the day will I need to water?Do I put up some plywood to cover part of the plastic to bring down temp? Any advice would help

[JackLord]

Trachy is boxed up and temps are in the 20's for the high today but in my shelter it is 80. (I might join the Trachy)
The south side of my box is double layer of 6 mil green house plastic. Then boxed in with plywood and foam insulation( I'll post pics ) I have heater on thermocube( t-3).
but my question is with that warmth during the day will I need to water?Do I put up some plywood to cover part of the plastic to bring down temp? Any advice would help

I think so. The question is how often.

Consult Dr. Franko's book. He recommends an occassional watering during the Winter, preferably when temps are up somewhat- whatever that means in your neck of the woods. All this cold, dry air plus the heating we give helps dry a palm out. He recommends using warm water which will irrigate the palm and also help warm the roots. Furthermore he says to spray with an anti-dessicant.

I paid scant attention to this and wondered why my Butia (the ony palm that gets any serious protection) had damage that looks more like dehydration than frost burn.

[Syano10]

Like a wilt pruf??

Anyone else use this product???

[lucky1]

I used wilt-pruf years ago, but applied it too late when leaves already were frosted by cold before protection went up.
The Naini Tal died, and I never used the product again.

The south side of my box is double layer of 6 mil green house plastic. Then boxed in with plywood and foam insulation( I'll post pics ) I have heater on thermocube( t-3).

I water my big Trachy in the heated plywood-hut 2 or 3 times during winter.
The ground at its base never freezes with a ceramic heater on a T-3.
5 gallons water, warmed in the house.

Look forward to seeing your pics.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/10765699804/" title="002 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/1076 ... 9d73_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="002"></a>

Barb

[JackLord]

Like a wilt pruf??

Anyone else use this product???

Yes, that is a good one. Give it a good spray before the protection goes up.

However, giving it decent winter waterings is more important. I figure I will give my Butia a decent dose of very warm water in the middle of the day every couple of weeks at least. Unless we have a super wet winter.

[wheelman1976]

I might be lucky with regards to where I am located (west michigan). We will get some thaws through the winter and with how I build my boxes (3 foot by 3 foot) I think the roots are able to get enough of the melt off that I have no had any issue with them looking like they needed water when I unboxed in the spring. My goal this year is to get them unboxed as early as possible even if that means going through some freezes, I hope it'll only toughen them up.

[hardyjim]

You could put some slats over the plastic to reduce the sunlight getting in...
80f isn't to rough but something cooler is better-I used to water my palms
over winter/or if I just planted it in Nov/Dec but only during a mild stretch where
I could vent afterwords,possibly even leave open at night if its warm enough.
I really dont bother with watering now unless it is a new/small palm or the blades look closed...
better to error on the dry side and keep a close eye then to just water.

[lucky1]

My Washies don't get water in the winter, just Big Boy Trachy in the plywood hut.

I can't get the Washy teepees open (and shouldn't try) because all the plastic layers are taped up tight.

Barb

[cuja1]

I used wilt-proof on my southern magnolias the first 2 years. I think I will use it this year as well.

[hardyjim]

I used wilt-proof on my southern magnolias the first 2 years. I think I will use it this year as well.

My experience with Wilt-Pruf is,that its better to build up a few light layers
rather then soak the plant,where it builds up can cause the leaf to suffocate.

just saying,I have made lots of mistakes and luckily learned one or two things...tops

[Stevea07]

Trachy is boxed up and temps are in the 20's for the high today but in my shelter it is 80. (I might join the Trachy)
The south side of my box is double layer of 6 mil green house plastic. Then boxed in with plywood and foam insulation( I'll post pics ) I have heater on thermocube( t-3).
but my question is with that warmth during the day will I need to water?Do I put up some plywood to cover part of the plastic to bring down temp? Any advice would help

Don't let it dry out completely or get to the point that the soil mix repels water. I regularly feel the soil below the surface to test for soil moisture. If you can just barely feel moisture on your fingers, it has more than enough. Also, I don't recommend warm water. You don't want to promote soft, new growth, that is susceptible to fungus and rot.

Also, I recommend lower day temps. 50 to 60F max is ideal. Your minimum objecive is to get it to 40F each day with a low of 20F or higher.

[hardyjim]

Your minimum objecive is to get it to 40F each day with a low of 20F or higher.

This is why a Thermocube(T-3)is such a good maintenance item
for keeping palms "heated" over the winter...on 35F off 45F = mean 40F

[Syano10]

thanks for all of the advice. seems that everyone has a trick or two that has gotten them through the winter. I will keep an eye on my trachy. I will vent on days I can. and if i notice some dryness/ leaves closing up. i will get some water in there.

[sashaeffer]

With my two I have it so I can easily remove the top only so as long as weather isn't going to be under 10F or blizzard like conditions I leave it off and open so it gets fresh air and it doesn't stay too humid inside the enclosure. Only takes a minute to throw top back on when a cold front is predicted.