Space heaters are usually between 750wts(lower setting)to 1500wts(higher setting),
whereas X-mas lights are (C-9) 9wts x 25 lights 225wts or (C-7)7wts x 25 lights 175wts.

It would be cheaper for you (initial cost)to but 2 space heaters at $15 a piece = $30
then to buy 6 strands of lights @$7 a piece $42.

The only thing is the space heater will cost more $$$ over the winter but should provide plenty of heat....
I think you would only need the lower(750wt) setting in each-
but there wcould be a greater chance of tripping your breaker(etc)unless you hook it up right....
maybe not on low-at 750 though.

I think with the size of your enclosures a space heater might work better than a bunch of
lights but next year you could make a smaller enclosure and only need one strand of lights.

My Washy enclosures were 4' tall and had 20 C-9 lights in each,this kept the 2
Washys above 35F all last winter on a Thermocube st up.

I think with the size of your enclosures a space heater might work better than a bunch of
lights but next year you could make a smaller enclosure and only need one strand of lights.

My Washy enclosures were 4' tall and had 20 C-9 lights in each,this kept the 2
Washys above 35F all last winter on a Thermocube st up.

Those doors that I used for the sidewalls were at the right price (FREE from a dumpster), hence the size, plus I got some room to grow into them. As they outgrow them I'll be forced to do more 2x4 framing which can then have less of a foot print.

Off to target tonight to see if I can find those $7.99 C9 strands!

Just got my Target C9's tonight. $7.99 per strand, mine had about 10 boxes of clear and 10 of multicolored and were just starting to put out the Christmas stuff.

Side note: I don't think we hit freezing last night but when I woke up this morning the thermocube had turned on my lights. Good to know those are working!

Thermocubes are awesome-nice to know they are working....
that said,never trust them~meaning~keep a close eye on the
temps in side the enclosures,esp on days where there are temps
that can do them harm.

I grabbed one extra when they were on sale at menards a while back just in case... but boy I don't I don't have to rip into the huts in the middle of the winter.

Sad note: Just looked at my fronds and saw when I pulled them up to tie them, one snapped at the base.... dangit it! Here's to good protection and that I'll actually get some new growth next year. Once I got mine in the ground this past July they pretty much just stayed stagnate, no growth at all.

I too just put my palm hut frame up. No walls or roof yet though. I wanted it to be ready in case I need to throw it all together quickly down the road. Our 2-week forecast looks fine but I'll be out of town for a week beginning tomorrow, back a few days, then down in Florida for another week. I figure when I get back at or around November 20th it will be time for full cover. At least that's what the long range forecast is showing... Mid/late Nov is about the normal time for covering in my yard. Though last year we got a foot of wet snow in Nov before I covered the palms. They didn't mind a bit!

I wouldn't worry about in-ground trachies until it looks like it will be getting under 20f at night unless they are very small and immature.

My enclosure is quite large cubic foot-wise. It houses a 7+ foot trachy, a 5.5+ footer, and a large trunked yucca of over 5 feet. All I use is a string of C7s and a string of C9s (clear) and a CFL fixture connected to a Thermocube. No extra mulch inside the enclosure. No lights touching any part of the trees or the ground inside. All lights suspended and zig-zagged throughout the enclosure. I do mulch around the outside of the enclosure heavily though. I use plastic leaf bags full of chopped up leaves and grass clippings. Just pack them tight against the enclosure all the way around it. Works like a charm, even at -20f it will maintain mid 30s inside.

Trachy(all palms I guess)are ll different in regard to how they take being moved/planted.

I have seen them not miss a beat and keep right on growing and in the case
of my B.eriospatha,it took 3 years for it to really get going.

I recommend watering the hell out of them. As long as they are properly planted in a decently draining soil, it has been my experience that in-ground trachies love tons of water, good clean non-chlorinated water. Back when I changed my watering schedule as an experiment, my trachies immediately responded with fast growth. Even though they always looked good it seems they grew very slowly. Then with much more frequent watering it seems they tripled in growth speed. I water almost every day during the summer now.

My enclosure is quite large cubic foot-wise. It houses a 7+ foot trachy, a 5.5+ footer, and a large trunked yucca of over 5 feet. All I use is a string of C7s and a string of C9s (clear) and a CFL fixture connected to a Thermocube. No extra mulch inside the enclosure. No lights touching any part of the trees or the ground inside. All lights suspended and zig-zagged throughout the enclosure. I do mulch around the outside of the enclosure heavily though. I use plastic leaf bags full of chopped up leaves and grass clippings. Just pack them tight against the enclosure all the way around it. Works like a charm, even at -20f it will maintain mid 30s inside.

I like your hanging lights idea.... I may do that now that I have three strands per tree.

My enclosure is quite large cubic foot-wise. It houses a 7+ foot trachy, a 5.5+ footer, and a large trunked yucca of over 5 feet. All I use is a string of C7s and a string of C9s (clear) and a CFL fixture connected to a Thermocube. No extra mulch inside the enclosure. No lights touching any part of the trees or the ground inside. All lights suspended and zig-zagged throughout the enclosure. I do mulch around the outside of the enclosure heavily though. I use plastic leaf bags full of chopped up leaves and grass clippings. Just pack them tight against the enclosure all the way around it. Works like a charm, even at -20f it will maintain mid 30s inside.

I like your hanging lights idea.... I may do that now that I have three strands per tree.

I may need to set up my sprinkler well pump with a hose bib so that I can do just that next year. Seems the sprinklers aren't getting enough to them? I was just thinking they were stressed from being just planted in July....

Newly planted palms are usually very thirsty until well established. If you planted correctly (well draining) it is nearly impossible to over water them. Our city water has chlorine so I have a bunch of 5-gallon buckets that I fill and let sit out for a few days before using it. That gets all the chemicals out. Except when we had a lot of rain early in the summer, my trachies shared at least 5-gallon bucket worth of water about every other day, sometimes more.

I do recommend zig-zagging the Xmas lights without them touching the trunk, ground, or any part of the trees. If your enclosure is well insulated that should keep them nice and comfortable. Plus it is less of a fire hazard...

My enclosure is a wood frame (2x2's) with a plywood roof. Then it is partially wrapped in chicken wire for additional support. The walls are old bed comforters stapled in place. On top of that is bubble wrap insulation (the mylar coated stuff made for insulating, not packing). The stuff you can get at Menards in rolls of 4' wide by 25 feet long. It's only about 3/8" thick but it is SUPER good stuff. The seams are sealed in with high quality duct tape. On top of it all goes a large tarp (actually an old boat cover) and it is secured in place by bungee cords. I have an access door attached with velcro and sealed in with duct tape. That way I can check in on them and water as needed during the winter. This enclosure might sound goofy but it is actually extremely easy and quick to put up and take down and incredibly effective. 50mph winds- no problem. several feet of snow- no problem. Double digits below zero- no problem. No noticeable increase in electric bill.

you must not have wind like I do... I'd have to tie everything down with stakes if I did 2 x 2 frames...
Mine will be wrapped with heavy plastic and then I think I'll shrink wrap them. I'm still thinking about how to hang the lights... going to have to put some cross pieces from door to do in there and drape them over in the way you describe.

I do 2x2 frames with plastic on inside and outside, then 1.5 inch foam insulation screwed to outside of the 2x2 frame. Leave the south side foam off to let sun in and get free heat.

It's all heated with a 750 watt space heater set at 40F.

Oldest trachy has been in ground since 2008.

You're lucky enough to have some protection with the house there... If I did what you have I would have to have lines tied to stakes in the ground to keep things upright! Mine are open to the west, right where the wind comes through, I'm hoping with the heavy plastic and shrink wrap that those will be adequate enough to keep the wind from tearing them up. Otherwise I will hastily be throwing up plywood.

Wheelman, that is what I'm planning for my first try at overwintering a Windmill. Mine sits against the garage on the south side so have some advantage there, but plan on using plastic, bubble wrap and Christmas lights. Already have heat tape in the ground and up base. It's been plugged in and working some mornings but we've had such a nice mild fall, haven't had to put plastic/bubble wrap up around the structure I build yet.

Scott/Omaha