Hasty frost protection for 2 Washies 3 Y. rostrata

damir · Post by **damir** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:12 am

from my experience and many others NYLON as protection for palms,yuccas..... is very bas solution. just nylon. the better way is to wrap the palms in some other material like cotton,old t-shirts,sheets.. just wrap it 3 or 4 times around the palm,and then you may put the nylon cover on that, to protect it from rain,snow,ice,and it keeps the soil dry under it,what is very good for overwintering. even if heated inside, the parts of palm leaves that touches the nylon will show damage very soon,what is not good. under it, when just nylon is over, the steam can not get out and fungus may appear and also kill whats inside. just want to help and share my experience. and the garden looks great barb!!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:21 am

Good points from all of you, thanks.

Going to be a hell of a job to add more lights (5 plants are all on a continuous string of lights), and pull/suspend another string in each Washy igloo.

Anybody got a sky hook? so I can hang from it?

Maybe I'll just open the basement window...the woodstove is down there

Barb

damir · Post by **damir** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:55 am

here is my largest trachy fortunei wrapped inside "this". few lays of some cotton , looks like wool, in tube. then i put the nylon bag on it to protect it from rain,cold... simple as it looks.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:01 am

Damir, yes that would work in a 7A zone.
But my zone needs heat from C-9 Christmas lights.

Nice picture! Thanks.
Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:34 am

lucky1 wrote:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6308802619/" title="DSC05065 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/630 ... 46b714.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05065"></a>

Barb

Something like this is what I would do for the yuccas, then a small hole or 2 near the top as a vent (some place where water wont leak in). Keep them dry is best. I hate to give winter advice if something was to die.

PS never enclose anything with trash bags, they have chemical gas that can harm your plants.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:43 am

Something like this is what I would do for the yuccas, then a small hole or 2 near the top as a vent (some place where water wont leak in). Keep them dry is best. I hate to give winter advice if something was to die. icon_neutral.gif
PS never enclose anything with trash bags, they have chemical gas that can harm your plants.

So you feel yuccas need light in winter, Aaron? I wasn't sure.

hadn't heard of the chemical gas thingy before...wow, that's terrible.
I just have leaves in trash bags to help insulate the ground.
the clear plastic is recycle bag rolls..would that have the nasty chemical too?

Gotta make some amendments for sure...
Fortunately it's not too cold yet, have a bit of time.

Thanks!
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:46 pm

The cooler you keep them,the less light they need.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:48 pm

lucky1 wrote:[hadn't heard of the chemical gas thingy before...wow, that's terrible.
I just have leaves in trash bags to help insulate the ground.
the clear plastic is recycle bag rolls..would that have the nasty chemical too?

Gotta make some amendments for sure...
Fortunately it's not too cold yet, have a bit of time.

Thanks!
Barb

I would feel bad if I gave bad advice so take it with a grain of salt.

I believe that the clear plastic is much better, I use plastic that is for windows covers, ya the cheaper stuff. I'm sure they don't need light when they are growing so slow, but I have not tried it.
I think the best thing you could do is try a few things until you find what works for your area.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:49 pm

hardyjim wrote:The cooler you keep them,the less light they need.

Very true.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:17 pm

Good tips everybody, thanks.

try a few things until you find what works

it's hard for me to sacrifice plants, even for research

Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:14 pm

OK, now they're waterproofed

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6421579509/" title="DSC05148 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6421 ... 13e9_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05148"></a>

Fingers crossed for what's coming in the next 4 months.

Uncovered this yucca rostrata that hasn't seen fresh air in 1+ month. Looks pretty good.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6421579493/" title="DSC05145 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6421 ... 2cb1_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05145"></a>

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:19 pm

Just as long as they have good air flow they should do good.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:22 pm

Will open things up as weather allows.
Thanks!

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:29 am

I try to open my enclosures whenever possible,the last
three winters,that has meant once in the middle
and then only close to the end of winter.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:57 pm

Well here it is 2 months later and I lied.
I didn't open things up (couldn't without taking most of it apart)...

But...on a sunny day with the remote reader on a sunny windowsill

Yes, that outdoor temp is INSIDE the protection.
The remote reader finally worked today!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6790462809/" title="DSC05318 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6790 ... a6f9_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05318"></a>

Jumpin' junipers! They're going to cook in there!

So today I took a box cutter, opened the tops and "windows"...can tape them shut again when it gets colder.

A rush of "sauna" air came out!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6792076039/" title="DSC05355 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6792 ... 6e01_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC05355"></a>

One's got some fungus ... wonder why

Spots all over one frond, brown areas on some other leaves. Spear looks great.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6792076083/" title="DSC05352 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6792 ... 6b75_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC05352"></a>

Other one, no spots, no problem and spear looks great too:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6792076059/" title="DSC05351 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6792 ... 0a24_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC05351"></a>

You guys are right! They need fresh air often to get rid of the moisture buildup.
Hope these little guys will be OK.

Will wrap structures differently next year for sure.

Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:08 pm

Cool! Looks like aliens landed in your garden!! Whoa!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:16 pm

ha ha, Mike.
H says "thank God we're on a hill and nobody can see that mess while driving by."

And I say: "what mess?"

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:21 pm

lucky1 wrote: ha ha, Mike.
H says "thank God we're on a hill and nobody can see that mess while driving by."

And I say: "what mess?"

right, i feel your pain...

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:30 pm

Cool Barb

You are going to have to up your game big-time next year-Washys grow fast!

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:09 pm

Barb with those kind of warm temps those Washy`s will be growing crazy.

It looks to be warm for the next week and beyond. Those Washy`s will be getting plenty of fresh air and light.

John

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:27 pm

So you think 29C 84F inside the protection didn't do them any harm? apart from the fungus on one?

How on earth can an insulated structure's inside get to 29C on a sunny day??????

same temp inside at the windowsill.

Time to shave my legs...shorts soon

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:37 am

Hi Barb,

29C is warm....your plants look nice and warm. The Washy looks great. It's almost Feb.......sounds like spring is just around the corner now. Is your Wollemi outside or inside?

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:50 am

TimMAz6 wrote:Hi Barb, It's almost Feb.......sounds like spring is just around the corner now.

Oh, yeah! Can't believe that temperature is inside of your Washies protection!
Tim, unlikely this Arctic Block will has been hanging around my poor Asia endless. Sooner or later it should start moving down to the West hemisphere. Sorry for that guys!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:38 am

igor.glukhovtsev wrote:
TimMAz6 wrote:Hi Barb, It's almost Feb.......sounds like spring is just around the corner now.
Oh, yeah! Can't believe that temperature is inside of your Washies protection!
Tim, unlikely this Arctic Block will has been hanging around my poor Asia endless. Sooner or later it should start moving down to the West hemisphere. Sorry for that guys!

Noooooooooooooooo! We will NOT accept it, Igor!! You can keep it. LOL

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:56 am

sidpook wrote: Noooooooooooooooo! We will NOT accept it, Igor!! You can keep it. LOL

No, I can't. I'm tired! Four days with AVERAGE temperature minus 20-minus 22 C! Guess what? I hope all my plants including Fuchias, Aucuba, Bamboo, Ivies and etc. will survive.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:29 am

Hi Igor,

if we are warm someone must be cold.....this year you have the cold!..........and please keep it!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:50 am

Is your Wollemi outside or inside?

Still inside, Tim.
Murphy's Law has always dictated as soon as I haul tons of stuff outside, cold air descends.
My back just can't handle all that

up your game big-time next year-Washys grow fast!

You too, buddy!

Just so you don't have to cut leaves off to get them inside.
One thing I wanted to mention, Jim, to consider for your next larger cages is deer fencing wire.
Comes in 100 foot rolls, 6 feet tall, just needs 3 metal posts for a "cage" support:
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/pr ... 02b85.html

And I'm definitely going to build my Washy structure differently so I can get into it and vent it on warm winter days.
Who'da thunk it

for a Canadian winter!

with those kind of warm temps those Washy`s will be growing crazy

John, now I realize why you made your clear plastic 2x4 GHs "tippable".
Smart (actually I was thinking of yours as I began to tear away at mine

)

Igor, aha! so that's where the cold originates...your place!

I was blaming Siberia and Alaska.
Guess that proves the old saying "what goes around, comes around".

Hope it gets milder for you soon, but send it somewhere else please.

Gonna be sunny here again today, no frost last night

Barb

Edit: Weather sticker says -1C

my thermometer says +2C ... hmmm.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:14 am

I just noticed my weather sticker says 53F.....with full sun now......this is crazy. I bet my greenhouse is roasting inside! I should have opened up the side today.....I thought temps were suppose to be cooler.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:00 am

Nice when the weatherman is wrong, to the Plus side.

Yup, you saw my interior protection temps from a sunny day.
Your stuff could be cookin' too, especially a clear GH.

The sun feels wonderful, already packing quite a punch for last day of January.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:19 pm

Barb

I have more of the redwood fencing-I will just build on the the one on the bottom.
4' sections,unless I only need 2' per year- then I just use the 2' green fencing

As you mentioned though,the metal posts are key.

Nothing is covered up now,it's all opened as we may pop 60F + again today!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:26 pm

build on the the one on the bottom

Obviously you tie the two fence heights to the posts.
How sturdy is that for snowload?
Not that you've had any this year

I'm never using that floppy fencing again, though once tied/braced it hasn't even leaned in a storm.
But it also took me half an hour to cut my way into it too

We'll see your shoes inside the opened up GH ...

Don't forget the sunscreen.

Great sunny day here again, not as warm as you, but it does feel like spring.
Birds are chirping and chasing each other around.
Dog poop is starting to show in the back yard.

Enjoy your warmth Jim.
Barb

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:30 pm

Barb that fungus should go away now that they are getting ventilation. They are probably a little confused as to what season it is being 29c.

I used 2x2 frames for my palm huts so they are light enough to lift during our spring like temps. Cheap yet strong. Soon this winter will be a distant memory for everybody.

John

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:40 pm

So I don't have to spray the fronds?
OK, good news.

I think I figured out why it was so warm in there, when no C-9's were on day after day:
woodstove in basement, below ground, has been on for 3+ months, warming the in-ground concrete walls.
And all those black leaf-filled bags keep the heat right under the protection maybe.

2x2...so they are light enough to lift

Good idea for your lakeside sheltered spot, but we're in such a windy area, they'd end up a mile away.

Will combine some of your techniques with changes for next year.
Thanks!

You're probably wearing flip-flops at the lake already...

Barb

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:43 am

Looks good Barb. I couldn't get washies to thrive down here in Wisconsin.

Hit 54F yesterday, with an overnight low of 44F. Spring is almost here!

I have 30s/40s for next two weeks. Normal high is right around 30.

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:55 am

Crazy , ain't it? 65 F here today!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 3:18 pm

Thanks Tim, hope they do as well here in summer

Wow both of you have great temps...above normal is good

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:47 pm

Very impressive, Barb!
Those will be giants in a few years. I'm glad you put them in the ground--and protected them.
You saw what happened to unprotected W. robusta down here in a super mild winter.
And actually, I lost on of my two potted W. filifera indoors last month. Rotted. Not sure how, but the point is, you should be extra pleased with how well yours are doing

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:00 pm

Thanks Erik.

Yeah, I was surprised to see the Washy filifera a goner on the farm.
With their love of heat, and the good soil there, very surprising...but too little rain.

Strange that your potted one died; Erik.
Could it have dried out too much in the pot?
I'm sure you'll give extra attention to the twin.

Next year I'll back off a bit withall that batt insulation, and underlay foam, and plastic, and etc etc.
And then we'll get -40

coconutmike · Post by **coconutmike** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:37 pm

Looks good Barb another 6 weeks until spring
cheers
mike

PalmsNorth.com

Hasty frost protection for 2 Washies 3 Y. rostrata

Washy

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