Tim,

Five degrees is huge, especially from the little lights.
good insulation, good job.

Maybe get a remote...you don't have to slosh back out there to read it :idea1: 😆

Barb

It was colder than I expected........low last night of 9.5F. The inside only dropped to 18F.....so 8.5F warmer inside than outside.

Reading at 7am this morning.
<img src= >

Low outside of 9.5F:
<img src= >

Low inside protection of 18.0F:
<img src= >

😯 that is chilly.
Maybe a big tarp thrown over top to create airspace between the layers?

Barb

Hi Barb,

tonight is suppose to be even colder so I may place more lights inside.

Tim,
Brutal having to scramble ... 😯
Good luck.

Barb

No scrambling here......that Yucca 'should' be hardy to -10F when dry. I think that Y. carnerosana is the form native to Mexico so I'm not sure if those southern forms can take the same cold as the faxonianas/carnerosanas native to Texas?? I'd be shocked if that Yucca received damage at temperatures above 5F. My Citrumelo is probably the least hardy plant in my garden that doesn't have leaves in the protection.

'should' be hardy to -10F when dry.

So you've got 20 degrees to go...

not sure if those southern forms can take the same cold

Since Mexico and Texas don't have the "high mountains" needed for real cold-hardiness in their native plants, aren't we too optimistic planting them in our cold zones?
Your area can probably get away with it, Tim, as you try to protect them from rain.
But at 50+ degrees latitude?
I don't have much hope here.

Except of course the Mexican feather grass that's coming up all over my place 😯

Barb

What do you use at the top?

I use burlap bags and I am sure there is a lot of heat loss that way.

Next time I come across some carpet padding(for free)I will cut out some better
fitting(insulation) pieces....I had my big Fortunei in a triangle box and was only
getting about +10F,I switched to one of my bubble wrap creations and it now
gives over 30F above the outside air temp..

Looking forward to burping them next week (or sooner) as temps rise back to 50F

carpet padding

Old carpets too!

Looking forward to burping them next week (or sooner) as temps rise back to 50F

Can't wait to see that big Washy again...

Barb

carpet padding

Old carpets too!

Looking forward to burping them next week (or sooner) as temps rise back to 50F

Can't wait to see that big Washy again...

Barb

Me too-not sure if I can get away with uncovering it as early though,last year it was 4'
and easy to throw something over-this year 8' and the leaves would need to be gathered up as well....

never stopped me before though 😛

the leaves would need to be gathered up as well....

Weren't the leaves tied like "pigtails" before you closed it?

Have you got your soil temp probe in the Washy enclosure?
Curious what your Washy's root temp might be 'coz I don't have a probe.

Barb

It got colder last night..........here's the results of the protection:

We dropped to 5.4F this morning. Inside the protection was 14.6F so not too bad......zone 8a/8b inside the protection.

Low temp outside protection:
<img src= >

Low temp inside protection:
<img src= >

Low temp outside at local school was 5F too.
<img src= >

Hi Barb,

Yucca faxoniana/carnerosana grows in Gallup, NM.......check those temps out. Is there a few in Farmington, NM too? I've seen them take like -20F in those areas. Does someone recall the specifics of those specimens?

Jim,

the top of my protection is not that tight....there are 1/4" gaps all over the edge. I'm really providing this protection to keep the moisture out.

Gallup NM January weather: http://www.weather.com/weather/monthly/USNM0121
Lows are comparable to mine sometimes, but it's the daytime highs, often above freezing, that we can't match here.

Your little lights are doing a better job than I would've guessed, Tim.
The ground beneath the enclosures is likely still emitting the last of its heat, too.

Barb

If I seal the top off better I'm sure It would help a few degrees too...........the cold is over......tonight back into the teens. 😀