Seems to have worked out just fine. Just took a day to construct and seems well worth it 8)

Opening a new spear today........... Hopefully I can take this down in 1 more month.

Also have a Cycas taitungensis X revoluta in there that seems to be doing well too 8)

[EDIT]

First day of Spring 3-21-07

A high of 80*F today and lows in the 40's forecast for the next two weeks, decided to take the shelter off and let it get back to growing 8)

The Opuntia in there rotted from too much moisture this Winter, The Cycas was OK ,but had developed a real shallow root system from all the frequent watering ( Potted it back up )

and as time goes on......

This was April, ( 2 nights of 18F )

After 12"+ of rain and flooding in May a case of crown rot had set in.......

Currently, after a bit of minor surgery it is off and growing again 8)

Amazing. I will try a method much like that on my Revoluta. Do you use X-Mas lights inside the enclosure?
If it works, I might try a Robusta again, but more than likely I will stick with Cycads as they seem to not hate the moisture in an enclosure as much as Palms.

Used a little 750W heater on it's lowest setting, kept it about 32-34F. In the cold snaps we had, it dipped down to 20 - 22F a few times.

I like using the enclosure because it does away with hunidity/rot problems ( common when things are wrapped). Haven't tried just using X-mas lights yet.

Steve

Sounds good. I think we got one of those here at work. The humidity problem is what killed me last year I know. The tree made it just fine and was really healthy looking when I unwrapped. But after time (a week or two) the spears pulled.

Great pics!
I have been thinking about adding one of these to my collection, but didn't want another potted plant.
Love the hot house idea!

Thanks Ben !

With everthing this one has been through I'm amazed it's still hanging in there 🙂

Steve

Not a great year growth wise but it's time to try and get it through Winter #2

This year just a simple wooden frame with plastic covering.
( With a small table saw this went together pretty fast ~ using 2"X3" framing)

The top and back wall are layered on the outside and inside.
( an electric stapler would be real nice to have ........... )

An old storm window on the front, will add some heat and keep my fingers crossed 🙂

What did you plan to do about the moisture level? How dry is the soil?

Allen

Allen, The front window will slide open allowing me access, still need to get the bottom sealed and the seams taped.
We are expecting storms today, be a good test to see if the plastic will hold up to the wind 🙂

Steve

Are you putting some Coonties in there too?

They are out back under the Pines in the "Cycad Cabin" 🙂

looks nice. Oh what we won't do to save a palm tree or cycad or tropical.

Alright Kansas!!

Hopefully the plastic holds up to the ice and wet snow..

Palmettoman Z6-Ajax, On

Palmettoman ~ with the double layer/air space on the top, I'm hoping the heat loss will be low enough that ice isn't a problem.
Anyways, I have my duct tape ready 8)

Oppalm ~ I can agree with that! My thinking is as long as the materials are less than say a carton of cigarettes, and it just takes an afternoon to put up, and it's only an extra $20 a month in electricity, and the fact that it might just be a little harder to justify these things as they get bigger...... 🙂

Steve