This is a new product this year Cameron. I wouldn't expect to gain 9 degrees in our climate but Dr. Franko is no joke so it has to work to some form. I will try it this year, I think it will do the most good on my S. magnolias. I still need to do my homework though, people like us are needed for these products to be supported so I gotta try it.

Bill

Sounds almost too good to be true.
Wonder what it's made of...a salt product? nope, if they say it doesn't harm plants.
A silicone-type film? that'd choke the leaves eventually.

Interesting claims.
Barb

Barb have you ever tried wilt-pruf? I think my Southern Mags are going to need something being totally expossed this winter. I just emailed dupont about there frost blankets they sell at lowes. I asked if I could wrap it around my Lil Gems to reduce winter burn from sun and wind. Will see what they say, I'm not really interested in taking it on and off if you know what I mean 😆

Bill

Haven't tried wilt pruf, but many years ago some small spruce were getting burned from winter sun.
The next Fall I sprayed on some kind of anti-dessicant, but didn't reapply it after rain/snow.
Until this year, I had only yucca filamentosa outside in winter.

Will look forward to your posting their reply.
Barb

Well here is duponts responce. "The Frost blankets needs to be removed anytime the temperature reaches 65 or above." A little more vague then I was hoping for, they didn't really answer the question about the winter burn but it can't hurt the frost cloth should help I would think.

Bill

Freeze-pruf from Dr. Franco Palms won`t grow here and other myths. Now working as the dean of plant biology for the university of Alabama I think. I would like to see verifiable proof it works before I buy it. Sounds good though.

John

Interesting reply, nevertheless Bill.

There are papers in press. Francko himself came to defend the product on the Southeastern board last week or so. He said they have been sucessful getting W. robusta through 17f without harm (22-23 usually fries them)... Something like 5f is the usual added benefit.

I've got 3 bottles that I'll be trying this coming winter. I am curious to see how it all works... Though, from what I understand you need to reapply every 6 weeks. Oh, and it needs to be above 10C for best absorbtion.

Something like this has to be tried,there is a video on their site where they put some flowers in a freezer and it protects them.he has been working on this for a while so,it wouldn't surprise me that much if they did find the right combo.This stuff would be fun to try on a Trachy or Sabal that you wanted to expose to as much winter weather as possible!

Hey Bill-
I have tried Wilt pruf,I don't think it was under the best conditions.I would recommend using it after the plant has seen some cold so that it's natural defenses could kick in first.

Sounds almost too good to be true.
Wonder what it's made of...a salt product? nope, if they say it doesn't harm plants.
A silicone-type film? that'd choke the leaves eventually.

Interesting claims.
Barb

Kind of thinking the same thing. If it does what it says I would buy it. I wonder if it would work the same on cactus?

Folks, let me answer some of your questions about FreezePruf, and then as you have good experiences with it I hope you'll email me and share. The Liquid fence forlks are creating a new website that will have LOTS of data and testimonials on it, but it is not comepleted yet. You CAN go to http://liquidfencenews.com for news articles of interest about the product.

FreezePruf contains 2 cryoprotectants. One is a low molecular weight compound that penetrates cells and lowers their freezing temp. The other is a high molecular weight compound that stays outside the cells, drawing water from the cells in a non-destructive way and thus further lowering the freezing point of the cells and lowering the freezing point of the extracellular water. That 2nd ingredient also protects cell membranes from ice crystal damage when it gets cold enough for ice to form. There is also are another ingredient that strengthen cell walls directly, a high-potency antidessicant (reduces water loss and keeps formulation from washing out for 4 -6 weeks) and a plant-specific surfactant to get it into the leaves, flowers, and fruit.

ALL of the ingredients are either in human food products or used to grow fruits and vegetables so there are NO toxicity issues - you can spray food plants and eat them with no worries. It works on folage, flowers, AND fruits. And, believe me, if that were not true the regulators in each of the 50 states would NOT allow us to say it!

What is unique about FreezePruf is BOTH an antifreeze agent that adds a couple weeks to the fall and spring ends of the growing season for tender plants AND it is a "Zone extender" for hardier plants - - all the way down to plants that can tolerate, say 5 F.

I have an extensive data set for palms, ranging from subtropicals like Washingtonias to very hard palms like Trachys. And uniformly, FreezePruf adds 4 - 6 F to both the temperature that damage first occurs AND the temp that causes foliar mortality. Sprayed on the spear leaf, it drips down into the crown cavity and also protects the bud tissue. As some of the posts indicate, we have reported extensive data in the patent application (including a LOT of field data) and the upcoming journla submission will inlcude three years of field work in addition to lab work. Specifically, with Trachys, it lowers the first damage temp to around 5 to 6F instead of 10 to 12F.

So... this is NOT a 'miracle' product - - you will NOT be able to overwinter intact bananas in Zone 7 or get a Washintonia through anything below about 15F without servere burn. But it WILL add the equivalent of about a 1/2 USDA Zone to your plants, AND it can be used in conjunction with other winter protection (e.g., holiday lights, blankets, whatever) - - and give you the extra 5 F edge.

And it WILL keep those bananas and tomatoes from taking a dive when the first frost hits in fall - - or that late frost in spring when all your stuff is out and growing. For some of the high-water-content tropicals we did get as much as 9.4F improvement in cold tolerance, but for most tender tropicals that are toast even after only 15 min or so at 32-33F, you can experience several hours at 30-32F with only minor margin burn and even an hour or so at 27-28 F and 2 -3 total hours below freezing.

The proof is in the doing, so give it a try and please tell me how it works for you!!

It is hard for me to keep up with all the web boards and still do my "day" job (I'm Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Alabama), but I ALWAYS repond to emails promptly!

Best,
Dave Francko
dfrancko@ua.edu

it WILL add the equivalent of about a 1/2 USDA Zone

That's a considerable gain...in my case would physically equate to a 2 degree Latitude move (Okanagan to, say, Vancouver).
Which is all I can hope for.
Heater in the palm enclosure could kick in at colder temp too, saving $.

Have your excellent Palms Won't Grow Here, written when you were at UoO.
Hey, bet you've heard this before: your pic resembles Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel) 😉

With your endorsement, I'm buying FreezePruf.
Barb

Thanks for taking time to reply Dave,I was really interested in the effects on Washy's and Trachy's specifically so,very good.
This stuff would be great to try on palms that I really want to expose to as much "winter" weather as is reasonanble,as it would be cool to have some Trachys that you can leave uncovered
more often.Whats more fun then blowing peoples minds when they see your palms exposed in the middle of winter!

That hotel in Iowa would've been a real test.