First Snowfall - Trachy Protection

[hilashes]

Hi everyone, sorry I've been out of the loop, I've been busier than usual and keep thinking I need to get on here and post an update and get caught up with you all. Hope this finds you well.

I took some pictures of the palms today, as our first snowfall hit and it's really coming down! As some of you may know it's been bitterly cold here in the west than normal, thanks to La Nina. Overnight has been -10C and highs of -5c! hubby still hasn't had time to make the second shelter for the other Trachy so I did my best before the Arctic freeze. I wrapped the center leaf with layers of burlap, then worked outwards so it was wrapped to the outside and to the trunk. I gathered the fronds and tied them up, added a little cover (not really thermal) and then toped it with an extra large orange garbage bag (intending to let a bit more light inside rather than what a black one would allow). When it got to below -5C I wrapped the entire trunk to the ground with a big blanket. We haven't had any precipitation until today's snowfall so I covered the blanket with plastic to keep dry.

The other Trachy is cozy in it's hut (I wrapped it pretty much the same way, minus the garbage bag). I'm crossing my fingers as this is the first real winter for my babies.

By the weekend we're looking at our temperatures to go back to seasonal 9C with typical west coast rain and apparently into the next 10 days.

Here is the link to three pics I took. I put a thermometer in the hut to compare temperature readings outside. Only a couple of degrees higher.

http://picasaweb.google.com/hilashes/Fi ... directlink

Thanks for looking!
Heidi

[wxman]

I don't know if I would have wrapped the actual palm inside the hut. I'm fearing rot issues, but that's me. Mine are just tied up in the huts but air is allowed to circulate around them.

[hilashes]

Thanks for that wxman. I'll unwrap them, as the temps are going up now anyway. Our temps were so cold I was afraid it wouldn't be warm enough inside unwrapped.

Heidi

[Paul Ont]

Heidi- Trachys are generally OK down to -12 to -15C. I don't think it got that cold in Vancouver city proper (Harbour was ~-6.5C). The only real challenge for them out there is the dampness. If it gets cold and then wet, and then cold again, you could have issues with rot... It being a La Nina year, there is an increased chance for some serious cold spells.

Good luck and keep up the updates!

[hilashes]

Thank you Paul...good to know! I'll keep the tree unwrapped then. Will definitely keep you updated!
Heidi

[canadianplant]

I can see why you wrapped it. Compared to what you guys get normaly, you got alot of snow and really cold temps ( form the outside looking in it isnt that cold to us, but fo you guys its brutal and rare weather). Trachys should be able to take anything the weather can throw at it there. Granted..... I think its a good thing you put a hut over them initialy, becasue of how fast the temps dropped there. Since its warming up there, i would totaly uncover it.

Personaly id be more worried about bamboo and eucalyptus in those temps, and with the heavy snow then the trachy.

I dont grow any trachys ( yet), but I know the estabolished ones are tough as nails.

[hilashes]

I can see why you wrapped it. Compared to what you guys get normaly, you got alot of snow and really cold temps ( form the outside looking in it isnt that cold to us, but fo you guys its brutal and rare weather).

Thanks Canadaianplant, you've got that right!

I'm so glad to be getting all of this reassurance especially during this unusual weather. you're right also about the palm being more hardy when they're established.. this will be their second winter season and I think they really got a head start on becoming established last year in our warm El Nino! Really prepared them for this year I believe.

I appreciate your input!

Heidi

[igor.glukhovtsev]

Heidi, you were awaken so earlier today! Thanks to your post our former Soviet Union palms community forum's administrator Serj let guys know how it's not easy growing Trachys in the zone 8a/b! You take care! I wish the worth is behind already!

[hilashes]

wow thanks igor.glukhovtsev - I'm glad I'm actually helping others out there at the same time! feels great!

While we are in for a longer and colder than average, more snow than usual kind of winter, we seem to have a bit of a break in temperatures for now. Fingers crossed!

Heidi

[igor.glukhovtsev]

wow thanks igor.glukhovtsev - I'm glad I'm actually helping others out there at the same time! feels great!

While we are in for a longer and colder than average, more snow than usual kind of winter, we seem to have a bit of a break in temperatures for now. Fingers crossed!

Heidi

That what I mean exactly! The worth weather expected is coming up here, to Kazakhstan, soon. I even can't predict what's gonna happened here in January and February. The absolute minimum at my place was registrated on the February 27th of 1951 (minus 37C!) Since that time we are OK! Minus 30 we've seen three times only. The average min during the last 40 years is minus 21 C...

[lucky1]

Only a couple of degrees higher

If they had been newly planted this summer, they'd probably need supplementary heat for -8C.
But since they're in their second winter, there's been a lot of root growth and you should be OK.

I'd open two sides, still protecting from future NW winds.
Plus it's easier to pull it shut in a hurry when la Nina descends again.
Otherwise, as your temps increase, a sunny day (I know it's rare ) could really ramp up temps inside the clear plastic.

Thanks for posting your pics Heidi.
The little one must've loved all that snow
Barb

[wxman]

I posted kind of quick last night because I was on my way out. But what I was trying to get at, is if they are wrapped inside an enclosure like that, if the fabric or material wrapping them becomes damp and wet, that moisture will sit on the palm all winter. Whereas if they are just tied up but have an airgap between themselves and the enclosure, any moisture that is on them can evaporate back into the air and they shouldn't remain consistently wet. I know in my enclosures that the inside of the walls looks like a tropical rainforest all winter from the clash of cold winter air and warmer air in the enclosure. You can see the same results on your windows on cold winter days. But since my palms have never been wrapped tight, I've never had rot or mold issues on the palm itself even though its pretty moist in there.

For your minor cold snaps that you get there, I would just wrap the palm with mini Christmas lights (100 per 3 feet of palm) from ground to top of the fronds and put the enclosure like you have over it. The heat will emit from the bulbs where the palm needs it--right around the trunk and fronds. If you look at my thread, I actually protected four trachys with this method and I am getting 20 degrees over ambient temps which should be plenty for you.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[hardyjim]

Looks good Heidi,nice to see you back posting!

My first Trachy was fine in winter down to 10(F),it was kept very dry though.

[hilashes]

Barb - Hi! I opened one side to let the air circulate, but I might open it up on one more side too. You're right, it is easy and quick to close it back up if needed! Little one REALLY loved the snow, but it won't be around long, as it has been raining and will be steady for another day. She is not happy about that!

wxman - thank you, that was very informative! I have unwrapped the Trachy in the hut completely and even untied the fronds. I find the rain can get inside a bit if I have it opened, so I'm trying to keep air circulation going and rain out carefully. There IS however a 1/2" space between the roof and plastic I left for ventilation (thanks to Barb's suggestion! ). I'll look at your thread, I have a lot of catching up to do so unfortunately I've missed valuable information!

Jim, thank you - my Trachy was kept fairly dry for a long time before the freeze hit, although having the sides opened for that time allowed a bit of rain in. It still is drier inside which I'm relieved about. It's the other Trachy I'm worried about. It's all covered in plastic and as wxman mentioned the coverings getting damp and staying on the trunk all winter - I'm a bit worried about rot. This is my first winter challenge for sure!

igor.glukhovtsev - The weather we just got hit with is worst on record in 50 years.. sounds like the storm you're expecting too. Our weather is supposed to turn bad again around February again and until then I have no idea what it will be like. Sorry for your extremely cold temperature coming your way! It won't be that cold here but more likely around -10C - -17C throughout the season. We'll see what happens.


Thank you all for being so incredibly helpful!
Heidi

[BILL MA]

Nice work Heidi, they look nice and happy in there. The pictures wouldn't work for me until today for some reason, Strange.

Bill

[hilashes]

Thanks Bill - what do you think about the palm without the hut, being wrapped like that right to the ground at the trunk with plastic over it? The snow is melting fast and it's mild but I don't want to unwrap it in fear of rain getting on the trunk...then I wrap it before another freeze....won't that cause problems with possible rot?
I wish hubby would get that second hut up! eesh!

Heidi

[TerdalFarm]

Heidi,
spouses are great. I couldn't do this without W!

Bill certainly knows a lot about palm huts, so I'm looking forward to his input.

My $0.02 (but only worth $0.01) is to keep the hut. It keeps rain and wind off. If it was down here, I would add water containers. This doesn't cost anything--just fill old soda and milk jugs. They warm up by day and release warmth at night. Probably more important down here than up there, but I know Bill does that too at his latitude.

As for the wrap, I too worry about rot. My guess (and that is all it is) is that you'll be safe for a few weeks. I think my problem with trunk wraps is that I leave it on too long. But again, I'm a novice and make a lot of rookie mistakes.

--Erik

[hilashes]

Thanks Erik - forgive me for not being clear, but I when I said " without the hut" , I meant the palm that still doesn't have a hut built for it.

I always welcome your $0.02, we're all learning together, even us rookies I'll have to see what Bill says about the 'hutless' palm.

I HAVE thought about the jug thing too. Still lots to think about!

Heidi

[wxman]

Heidi,

Are you handy... could you build a hut? Lumber and screws and it's done. Maybe take the bull by the horns and not wait for the hubby to do it, lol. I would get the wrap off the trachy ASAP as you do not want the bud rotting, it would then be lights out to the palm for good.

Tim

[hilashes]

Thank you Tim - if you hadn't told me that, I definitely would have been in trouble with trunk rot. I didn't realize how tightly layerd it was until I unwrapped it just a minute ago. I'm glad it's breathing!

I'm not handy enough to put another hut together. I think it will be okay, at least I have only the one to baby intead of the two! I've got the fronds tied up for any last minute plastic cover to keep the rain out.

Heidi

[BILL MA]

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner Heidi. I think Tim gave you good advice about getting the plastic off of it, moisture would build up in there for sure and drip into the crown = Bad Chances are your temps won't be all that bad in the near future so I personally would just cover it when it rains until your husband can bang you together a new hut.

Tell him not to worry because in a few years you guys won't need to do anything at all to them.

Bill

[BILL MA]

Erik,

No pictures yet man, Sorry! My girlfriend left my camera at work all last week I planned on posting some on Thanksgiving. Not really much to see hut wise yet anyways because none of them are up yet Just a couple of frost cloths and blankets on the washies, I'm toughening everything up. Two nights in a row with low 20's and maybe 8 hours or more below freezing.

I did a 2:30 am scan this morning since I couldn't sleep and was wondering what they looked like at 23f. Antifreeze in the fronds was working for sure.

Bill

[TerdalFarm]

Bill,
Antifreeze in the fronds? Do you mean the K thing? Or the natural antifreeze?
As for photos, your iPhone works. Anyway, we are all looking forward to your photos/videos when you get the chance. --Erik

[BILL MA]

Iphone got wet on Thanksgiving morning and is dead as a doornail!!! I haven't gotten around to getting another one yet, not sure if a 4 is worth the money that's why I haven't replaced it, 3gs is all I need most likely.

Trust me I'll have loads of time to post pictures when all this stuff is done

Bill

[hilashes]

Thanks for the reply Bill! All is well so far and will update on any changes in weather, etc.

Will be nice to see your pics when you post....antifreeze in the fronds hey?? sounds interesting!

Heidi

[ScottyON]

Looking forward to seeing them Bill! How's the back??

[BILL MA]

Hey guys,

I didn't mean anything special about antifreeze in the palms, I was just referring to the color they change when it's cold out. We had a really good frost going with are low 20's last night. All the fronds had frost all over them and they had that cold palm color in the fronds, that's all I meant They looked super happy again when the sun came out, tough buggers

As soon as the huts are up I'll take some pictures, as of now nothing is cover except the washies and sago with just a frost cloths and a few sheets and blankets. Palm house covering should be here Friday or Saturday so I can finish them up. I just order the covers today

Back is fine Scott, only took a day or so after hulking the 600 pound trachies around to feel better

Bill