I'm going thermometer shopping this weekend 😀

Yup, I bet having 5 or 6 remote thermometers within close proximity would give you wonky readings here and there.
And then you'd have to be outdoors even more than now just to check on them, so what's that worth?! 😥

what made you decide to plant your old Trachy outside this year? Far be it from me to tell you how to run your palm life but why not plant a different trachy outside this year and learn the proper outdoor wintering techniques before planting the big girl outside? Just a question.

Sorry, Kent, I forgot to answer your question:
I had been waiting for global warming, but since California and all things north of that on the West Coast are moving NORTH, there's no better time than now.
I guess an analogy would be: What/for whom am I saving the good dishes for? 😆

At 32, the Big Girl is gettin on; time to see what she can finally do outdoors (if properly protected in winter).

I've learned so much from your winter protection pictures and advice on this forum that I'm willing to risk starting with the Big Girl. Might be a plus, too, because of her age?
And I'm confident you folks will assist in advice for winter protection. 😉

three things ;

1. first of all Barb it appears your thermomemter might be broken , its reading in celsius. 😆 just kidding.
b. There has been enough documented winter protection methods posted over the last couple of years that I feel confident that you (Barb) can overwinter your Trachy just fine.
c. I'd offer to help dig the hole but you are a long way away from me and I believe you have a tractor that could do a better job than me anyway.

Good luck.

When I buy thermometers I try and find the ones that all agree on the temp 😆
The reason I have so many is that I'm trying 5 different kinds of protection with 18 somewhat different covers so,I neede to know what the differences between them are so I get the general idea if they are all within proper temp range,now that I have oserved them all for a while I have a good idea what the temp is in each one without necessarily looking at all of them but I do anyway 😉

Kent, I'm still not used to Celsius...slow process in an old brain. 😆 😆
Temps in C and F are my preference.

I agree with you on the winter protection methods posted here.
I would never think of trying it without having seen everybody's pictures.
Good stuff.
That--and the "mystery warm spot" in the ground beside the house--assured me it's possible here.

I'm leaning toward a leaf cage which probably means I could only use plumber's tape or Christmas lights around the palm tree's base. But plumber's tape can short out.
There wouldn't be any room to place a ceramic heater inside, or even an outdoor spotlight.
A heater or outdoor spotlight might be a fire risk too (dry leaves) 😕

Are pricier thermometers generally better than the cheap ones?
Barb

Barb, the mini christmas lights will probably be your best bet to wrap your palm. You have plenty of time to think and rethink and worry.

I have had excellent luck with the cheap wireless thermometers. I paid about $10 each for my 4 thermometers and trust their accuracy. I have had them for 3 years and just change the batteries every fall when they go to work. I also have an Oregon Scientific thermometer and spy satellite tracker (about $100). Works great.

I made up the part about the spy satellite tracker. 😆

Barb, the mini christmas lights will probably be your best bet to wrap your palm. You have plenty of time to think and rethink and worry.

I have had excellent luck with the cheap wireless thermometers. I paid about $10 each for my 4 thermometers and trust their accuracy. I have had them for 3 years and just change the batteries every fall when they go to work. I also have an Oregon Scientific thermometer and spy satellite tracker (about $100). Works great.

I made up the part about the spy satellite tracker. 😆

Kent,
I figured the Christmas lights might be the best best, too.

Good to know that the relatively cheap thermometers work as well as the pricey ones.

spy satellite tracker

You're just tracking that rainbow 😀

Barb

You guys make me laugh,thanks.
Barb the cool thing about protection is,the more insulation the less heat needed,my washys have house insulation and styrofoam lids and only 3 c-7 bulbs raise the temp at least 30F,another nice thing about x-mas lights,(o.k. a couple)is that they are cheap easy to put where you want,pretty much waterproof although I wouldn't try them under water and you can always unscrew a few if its to hot and the other way round

although I wouldn't try them under water

😆 😆

yup, I remember how warm my "practise protection" for the Y. rostrata got.
But it was only early October.
He just about fried during only one night.

Felt I'd have a heck of a time adjusting the temps, so I chickened out and repotted it. 🙄

Jim, you make a good point about quality/thickness of insulation.
So an R-500 value wouldn't need bulbs at all 😆

Barb

I may have to move to a spot 6' underground if I get another utility bill like the last 2,I think it stays 55F or so under there,or maybe oppalm has some extra space under his leaf pile 😆

Jim - come on down, there is space under the leaf pile, this morning it was a balmy 42F (5C) under the tarp. If your a big guy you toes might stick out one end, just make sure you have two pair of socks on and you'll be fine. Our long range forecast calls for temps in the 50'sF (10's C) all next week. Gonna be nice. On Sunday, I am hauling a bunch of cold hardy stuff outside under our covered patio, see pic below.

"Jim - come on down, there is space under the leaf pile, this morning it was a balmy 42F (5C) under the tarp. If your a big guy you toes might stick out one end, just make sure you have two pair of socks on and you'll be fine"
To funny 😆 .
That is a bold move moving stuff out now,I think this March will be a wild one! and April will be above avg.
We have not had a single month with above avg highs since Nov 2007! 😯 Heres to an above avg April! Cheers 😛

I have no pans to leave anything outside permanently, but as long as the temps stay in the 50's and the lows in the 30's , I'll leave them out. Nothing like some fresh air and a little humidity to snap life back into the palm trees.

Amen, we got in the 60's a couple of weeks ago so I hauled all the palms and bananas out side for 2 days. Wow what a difference. You just can't beat Mother Nature. I can't wait for spring 😀

Oppalm,did you have a little quiz one time with a simular patio pic with a fountain in the middle?
I wish I could move all my plants out,there is to many of them,my plan is to move them into the covered greenhouse around March 10 which looking back at some weather records is usually the time when the temps don't drop below 20 anymore,the only prob with that is it gets hot in there and if I open it up to much it becomes a sail,but I think it will be a good place to faze them into more light without burning them.

Welcome to the forum hatfam 🙂