Winter protection

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:38 pm

Yucca rostrata still looking good. We've had a low of 2 F so far with about 6 days straight of below freezing temps.

<a href="http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Sprin ... 0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 380f00.jpg" border="0" alt="yucca rostrata protection photo desertcover_zpsa1380f00.jpg"/></a>

I think this is an opuntia englemanni. It was drooping in this picture and now it's mostly covered in snow. Not sure if it will survive but I thought I'd give it a try.

<a href="http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Sprin ... 3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 5bd773.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo droopingcacti_zpsf55bd773.jpg"/></a>

Here's how I decided to protect the hesperaloe this year. We'll see what happens.

<a href="http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Sprin ... 2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 20faa2.jpg" border="0" alt="hepseraloe parviflora protection photo hesperaloe_zpsae20faa2.jpg"/></a>

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:46 pm

Here's a few more. This is my yucca gloriosa going w/o protection. The leaves were looking a little stressed during the long freeze.
<a href="http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Sprin ... 1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... bb8931.jpg" border="0" alt="yucca gloriosa photo ygloriosa_zpsbcbb8931.jpg"/></a>

Here's my yucca faxoniana. I'm going to move it next year.
<a href="http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Sprin ... 4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 809e84.jpg" border="0" alt="yucca faxoniana photo yfax2_zps2a809e84.jpg"/></a>

Here it is with it's moisture protection. I've been checking it and it still appears healthy.
<a href="http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Sprin ... c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 55818c.jpg" border="0" alt="yucca faxoniana protection photo yfax_zps2d55818c.jpg"/></a>

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:27 pm

I have done similar protection with good results.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:40 pm

Most of my desert stuff was protected like this last year and did fine. The only new things are the faxoniana and the hesperaloe. I was wandering if the garbage can would retain enough heat for it but it's getting too wide and high to protect with storage containers.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 11:05 pm

Very nice, thats exactly the same method im using for my cacti.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:05 pm

chadec wrote:Very nice, thats exactly the same method im using for my cacti.

Thanks! I'm always for the safe and easy method!

Henoh_Croatia · Post by **Henoh_Croatia** » Tue Dec 24, 2013 1:52 am

Well done! Here is my construction for rain cover.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Wed Dec 25, 2013 8:23 pm

Nice! I'm surprised that you need protection is zone 7b

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 6:32 am

Looks good....one of the biggest issues(possibly only issue)for cold hardy succulents(etc)
is winter moisture...you set up eliminates this and allows the plant to get fresh air.

Probably only need a thick blanket over them if it gets below zero-
Anytime an upright Opuntia starts to fall over in winter it is not a good sign
although it may live they tend to have issues once they get established
because the roots are to efficient-they really need to be bone dry heading into winter.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 12:25 pm

Jeff, spectacular y. rostrata.

Henoh, nice spot.
Your rostrata looks good too.

Barb

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:46 pm

hardyjim wrote:Looks good....one of the biggest issues(possibly only issue)for cold hardy succulents(etc)
is winter moisture...you set up eliminates this and allows the plant to get fresh air.

Probably only need a thick blanket over them if it gets below zero-
Anytime an upright Opuntia starts to fall over in winter it is not a good sign
although it may live they tend to have issues once they get established
because the roots are to efficient-they really need to be bone dry heading into winter.

Yeah, If it survives I think I might put a trash can over it next year. The soil is about 66% pea gravel and 33% sand. so it's not bone dry but it doesn't retain much moisture either.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:47 pm

Thanks Barb! I was thinking mine looks similar in size to the ones you have.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 4:42 pm

Yes, very nice rostrata. Mine suffered an attack by unknown pest, but will live. My opuntia lay down every winter and stand up every spring. I know their roots stay too wet though because my 7' yucca fell over in the fall.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 4:52 pm

my 7' yucca fell over in the fall.

So, did it survive?

We've often wondered about pests on yuccas.
From what I recall, everybody said bugs don't bother yuccas.
We're even hoping ants might become polllinators for those of us where yucca moths don't exist.
Any guess what might have attacked yours? caterpillars? grasshoppers?

Barb

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:22 pm

chadec wrote:Yes, very nice rostrata. Mine suffered an attack by unknown pest, but will live. My opuntia lay down every winter and stand up every spring. I know their roots stay too wet though because my 7' yucca fell over in the fall.

Did the rostrata rot? My opuntia seems to get up a little when it warms up above 32F.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:37 am

The rostrata is surviving and producing new growth. Yuccas are very prone to pest attack. The yucca afloifolia rotted. It was a branch I had rooted and shaped like a S by repeatedly digging it up and rotating it. I hav since ripped out all the roots. And will be planting something else there next yr. The yucca has been cut back to 3' and is readyto start over

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:45 am

Barb, not sure about yuccas but I have witnessed ants on agaves in bloom. Tony (Plant Delights nursery) and I had a conversation about the ants cross pollinating agaves in bloom in his yard a couple yrs ago. He felt very strongly for cross pollinating by ants. And I was all ears.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:56 am

not sure about yuccas but I have witnessed ants on agaves in bloom. Tony (Plant Delights nursery) and I had a conversation about the ants cross pollinating agaves in bloom in his yard a couple yrs ago. He felt very strongly for cross pollinating by ants. And I was all ears

Agaves ... probably very sweet nectar to attract ants.
By the way, got my 3 y.rostratas from Tony @ Plant Delights.
Fabulous seedlings on arrival, well grown.
Plus I love reading Tony's humor sprinkled throughout his catalogue.

Barb