What temps does the heat tape thermostat turn on/off at? Does the tape warm up the air around the tree enough to trigger itself off or is the built in thermostat triggering off based on the temp of the tape itself? I guess I'm having a hard time figuring how much the the tape affects the enclosed air inside....

I think the tape heat at around 45-50c or 120F. Don t forget with the wrapping, you don t have much space to heat ! Even with the box method the heat tape works. I have a 10 foots box at one of my customer with a 24 foots heat tape and the palm had no dommage last winter.
The thermostat in the heat tape work with the ambiant air. Not the temperature of the tape. Depend of the exterior temp., it can take few or lots of minutes to warm enough the enclosure to turn off the thermostat.

Ben

Is there any brand of heat tape that performs better for you?

I have tended to be energy wasteful, and just leave the CFL's burning all winter due to past losses with thermostats that failed, and stories of failed heat tapes and defective thermo cubes in the early 2000's, but perhaps that's all in the past, as most here seem to have great success in recent years, so the products seem much more reliable now.

Any source or brand names for the tapes you use and have great success with would be appreciated.

I use the brand EasyHeat with their own thermostat. And don t forget to not overloop the tape, it can t touch itself.

Ben

Finally have the chance to get to my palms this weekend... I don't think it's been cold enough to do any real damage, but still wish I'd protected them sooner. Whoops.

Always enjoy the pics and comments everyone!

I'm sure in time I'll have to use the heat cable when in the ground palms here get too big to build cages around. Most though I installed a 6ft heat tape in the ground when I planted the palms. It's thermostat stays inside the enclosure so may never come on if thermocube does it's job, but at least if it fails OR we get some un heard of cold temps where the Christmas lights can't keep up the heat tape in the ground is to me a 2nd tier of protection.

I'm sure in time I'll have to use the heat cable when in the ground palms here get too big to build cages around. Most though I installed a 6ft heat tape in the ground when I planted the palms. It's thermostat stays inside the enclosure so may never come on if thermocube does it's job, but at least if it fails OR we get some un heard of cold temps where the Christmas lights can't keep up the heat tape in the ground is to me a 2nd tier of protection.

Scott, I do exactly the same thing. When in doubt, fire up the heat cable. Mine is 100 footer and used around the base of multiple palms and roots as a back up.

Do you ever fire up the soil heat cable in the spring to speed up the early season growth?

Do you ever fire up the soil heat cable in the spring to speed up the early season growth?

In the Spring, I apply a few shots of warm water to each tree with Epsom salts, as the salts also prevent freezing. No need to plug the cable in at that point, just for extreme low temps.

Hi 905,

Interesting your comment on the warm water in spring. I was just reading a fellow on a UK forum doing the same thing. He gets 8 stems per season on his Jubaea when others over there get 4. Could the warm water or soil heat in spring really double the growth? I note some good with black plastic on tomatoes in spring, and my palms grow faster with black rocks or pavers on the soil in spring, warm water sounds even better to get the soil and the palm roots fired up for the season.

Curious if you have noted any growth improvements with your warm watering in spring.

Do you ever fire up the soil heat cable in the spring to speed up the early season growth?

Heat tape can't be manually turned on since it's controlled itself by a built in thermostat.

Curious if you have noted any growth improvements with your warm watering in spring.

Great question, can't confirm nor deny. Lol. However, my Sabal Palmetto put on a good half foot of growth in the early half of summer along with my Pindo somewhat, then tapered off with some consistent but slower growth in the dog days of Summer. I will be able to see this Spring if that's the case. I also give everything a shot of warm water each month starting end Dec. until end March when everything unwraps.
Believe it or not, the more I ignore them, the better they behave....

Scott, my heat cables are manually plugged in. I went for the least expensive model 😉 This is why when I do plug them in, it better be worth it outside... I hate the cold.... disgust