Jim,
I really appreciate the detailed photos you provide. I read descriptions, but seeing them is so much more helpful.
As for Washy, all mine (2 each of filifera and robusta) are in pots and coming in soon. W knows my track record with these in the ground 😳
Can you detail tree fern protection on GOTE?
--Erik

That looks professional Jim 😀 . I love Washys, but I find them by far the most fragile between Trachy, Med. Fan and Needle. I fried my Robusta in a pot at about -6c (say 21f) this fall. The others, no problem. Mind you, the others were in pots, in the ground 😕 .

BTW, are those beauties Robusta, Filfera or, what do they say, "Filabusta"?

Duncan

That looks professional

Took the words right out of my mouth. Amazing job! 🙂

Jim! And you insist you are Zone 5b? Unbelievable! What's going on with your USDA zones, guys?

Very nice Jim!! Love the bubble wrap idea!!

Jim! And you insist you are Zone 5b? Unbelievable! What's going on with your USDA zones, guys?

Thanks guys!

Igor,I don't insist,really 😀 ,mother nature does,winter before last was -18(F)or -28c.
Record low here I believe is -30(F),-35c

I like posting the whole process as I think it's important to share our ideas,
at least until I delete all my post's and write a book 😉 -just kidding!

Duncan

I think the front one is Robusta and the back one is Filifera but I can't be sure.
I do have 2 Filibustas in pots.

Erik-

I meant to take a picture of the T.ferns but I forgot.

Really not to complicated,I did end up trimming the Cooperi(as much as I hated too 🙁 ),
I really felt like I needed them in the same size protection so I know what the temp is
without using 7 thermometers.

They are in styrofoam rose covers with 8-10 lights (depending on bulb size,c-7 and c-9 respectively)
and hooked up to a T-3 thermocube-I always leave one bulb out between the covers so I can see if they are on.

Good pics of the process, Jim.

These were the palms that got leaf cages last year?
Or only the smaller palms get leaf cages.
I really like the slat-fence (snow fencing?) idea...durable, quick construction but in my area I would've had to pound some metal ties from it into the ground because of our winds.

Too early to close the end panels of your cactus GH cage at your current temps.

Barb

Yea Barb,that is what it is,it was like $40 for 50',I thought a pretty good deal
and I can always add to it as long as it's secured to something.

One of the Washys was in an umbrella g-house with a tarp and a layer of plastic over that,
the 2 of these enclosures use only a couple more lights than the set up last year.

If you notice in the second pic,I put the thermocube on the north side about half way up,
there are 24 c-9 lights in each enclosure.

The cactus cover hasn't even been covered with the rain shield for more than 2 days,
only 2 days with rain in almost 2 months!

Sure makes life easy.

I think everything goes up today and tomorrow just to be safe-there may be rain
before we take our big temp plunge to the teens Wednesday,don't want no dang water sitting
in the crowns when the cold hits 😯

Yup, I remember that little umbrella GH.
After a while the plastic gets brittle? would the tarp over it keep the plastic supple with really cold temps? (obviously heated inside)
My little GH plastic has never been frozen and it's feeling less "bendable" every year.

Yes I noticed the thermocube halfway up, just inside the enclosure. Makes sense.
Surprised you need 24 C-9's but better to be over- than under-protective. (as my mother used to say 😆 )

Let's hope you get an easier winter than last year.

Where's our Billy? and his protection pics? :sleepy2:
Barb

Billy boy is a busy man,remember in addition to building his green house he still has to
move everything too-not to mention covering all his other stuff!

Bill thought I might need more lights 😯 ,we'll see,
I can always put more insulation,tarps,covers-whatever on the outside
because it sure as H ain't gonna be easy to open her up.

Probably be late Feb before that happens.

The pvc plastic isn't to bad,the only problem I had with it is when ice was falling
off the trees and it went right through it-it taped up easily though.

and get his website done. It'll be good to see that.
Thank goodness he's still young, carrying 500 plants into the basement is good exercise. (NOT!)

might need more lights

More than 24 on that palm, controlled by a T-3????
So you can BBQ your steak on top? :blob4:

ice was falling off the trees and it went right through it

as long as it's only icicles, not branches.

Barb

Thanks Jim- Very informative as usual!

Looking good Jim! Your insulation method is somewhat similar to mine (for trachies and large trunked yucca). My only Washy remains potted and has recently come indoors for the winter. I don't dare put a washy in the ground here as they grow faster and would become a real hassle to protect here in MN in no time.

My palm protection uses bubble wrap insulation also but it is the silver stuff that is sold as home insulation. It is only about 1/2" thick but is super efficient. It costs about $30 for a roll of 25'x4'. My enclosure takes 2 rolls but the stuff is re-useable year-to-year. Basically I added a second roll this year when I expanded my enclosure to accomodate the additional plants.

I build a frame driving 2x2x8' pine wood into the ground a little bit and stabilize it all together with 1x3 pine. It all screws together easily using a cordless drill. The roof is just criss-crossed supports of 1x3 wood and a layer of carpet stapled to it. It is strong and rigid. On the outside of the enclosure, before the insulation is mounted, is chicken wire all around for more support and protection from the wind pushing in at it. Then on top of the chicken wire goes a layer of old bed comforters and blankets. On top of that goes the bubble wrap insulation. Then on top of the bubble wrap goes a large boat cover which is tied tight over it all. The roof is covered in bubble wrap insulation on top of the carpet also. Aside from stapling in a few spots, the bubble wrap is sealed and mounted using high-quality duct tape. It looks a bit ugly until the boat cover goes on but works extremely well and will not come off until I carefully peel it back in the spring so I can re-use the insulation next year. Leaf bags around the outside base for added ground protection. The heating consists of one CFL 24W bulb in a reflector fixture (always on) and 2 strings of C-7 Xmas lights and a string of C-9s which are all on Thermocube 35f/45f. No lights on the ground in there, none actually touching any of the trees. They are just zig-zagged throughout hanging. So far this is working very well according to my remote thermometer but I still might add another light to the thermocube like a 50w flood or something just to be safe in the dead of winter. I will not make the mistake of over-protecting this year though! I'll snap some pics today and post them here.

your palms look warm already!