Barb,
oh, the snow! The ice!
I forgot what those look like. I went out to protect Trachy today and couldn't make myself do it. So warm. Surely my forecast is wrong? 😆
Anyway, thanks for the update. I'm new to the "palm hut" thing (2nd year) and also worry about over-heating. Please keep the updates coming. --Erik

Couldnt you crack the door open or put in a slidde vent system to let it cool off? I was thinking of my bamboo, i maight have to unvover them a day or 2 before the cold depths of winter owns us..

couldn't make myself do it.

don't blame you...it just takes a little longer once it's -5 F 😆

crack the door open or put in a slidde vent system to let it cool off

My whole idea was to have everything automated: heater w thermocube, remote thermometer so I wouldn't have to trudge out there in -26C wind chills. Forgot about the sun shining on the clear roof. Maybe a 10% clear roof would've been a better idea.

Sounds like a couple more days of brutal cold, and then a warm up...AHHHHHH!
Barb

HMMMMM, then id cover the roof a bit till it cools off, just throa a tarp ontop to difuse the light......

Hey barb your palm should be fine. It would get to 75 in my enclosure with the sun beating on it. You should put a hamock inside for you to enjoy on warm days 🙂 It was so warm on the bottom and cold on the top it used to rain in my boxes.

Mine does the same too Barb. It's about 5c at night then with day time heating it's up a little past 10c. Never had any problems with that yet! I also thing the snow will melt around the sides and if it rains I think it's still getting to the roots. I wouldn't worry too much!

😯 -17C barb that was a quick drop wasnt it:S Vancouver doesnt look to warm either...

Yeah Barb, it'll be fine. Mine do the same thing. 40F at night and gets up to 70F on sunny days. Snow melt usually seeps under for water. But if you are worried, dump a 5 gallon bucket of water in there once a month or so over the winter to keep things from getting totally parched. That's what I do.

But it'll save me having to water the roots 😆

Leaking down one wall inside where the plastic roof segments were joined, froze solid and backed up, dripping inside even with a big slope. Plastic roof didn't crack, but it could, so it's not a great material for roofing. May have to replace with a plywood roof next year...certainly won't use OSB (like the walls).

<img src=" " width="500" height="375" alt="DSC04120" />

Things look OK inside, except my miserable attempt at using spray foam.
Did you know that a blob of that stuff runs like a "Slinky" down a vertical surface?
And onto shoes, fingers, hair, clothes, the dog...
<img src=" " width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04118" />

Those weren't ALL gaps...just had to use up the can :laughing3:

Yippppeeeee, it's above freezing!
Barb

Barb,
thanks for sharing details.
Our new palm hut uses similar roofing material, vs. the OSB over insulation last year. I'll let you know how it works.
We have not had really cold weather yet, but it hit 80 oF in there by 11 am when the sun was shining in. W built the roof on hinges to let me prop it up by a foot to let heat out. Here's hoping heat is the problem not cold!
I bought a can of that spray foam but haven't used it yet. Thanks for the heads up re: dogs 😆
--Erik

I agree with the others. I think your temps will be fine. You may need to water once or twice a month as needed. But I think as long as you are not getting direct sun hitting the tree , you will be fine.

But isn't the whole idea...eventually...to have hardened off the palm so well during winter as it grows deeper and deeper roots that it'll be able to take our winters unprotected?
I doubt this palm hut will be tall enough in 10 years...then what?

Allowing a 30-degree variance from outside probably won't result in it ever "taking our winters".
I wanted to keep mine at just a few degrees below freezing at night, and just a few degrees above during the day.

Anyway, sunshine and mild temps melted roof ice. Heater is off.
It was 0C 32F today and inside the hut was...well, nice and comfy, but not 30C 😀

Barb

Kent,
I watered the palms in my hut today as it was warm (60 oF), dry and windy. I'm not sure how much/often to water in there over winter.
Barb,
very good point. Paul seems to know plant physiology/gene expression better than the rest of us. Hopefully he'll chime in.
I keep thinking about this broad topic, too, but really don't know if exposure to cold this year will help next year. I let my seedling Sabal see 24 oF in case that helps them for the future, but again have no idea. Have you found any internet sources on this interesting topic?
--Erik

any internet sources on this interesting topic

no, but I'll keep searchin' 😉