Hi All,

Is anybody warmer than 4f? And no my weather sticker isn't broken like Jim's :?.

It had to come folks. That's Calgary for you. On the up side, my protective yucca (rostrata and bacatta) huts seem to really be doing the job. Last night we probably hit somewhere in the 6-10f range. Both of my huts hovered around between 30-34f. I used plumber's heat tape in both huts. I just turn them on for like an hour before bed, and it seems to hold the heat incredibly well. Some of this is due to residual heat still in the ground, I think-but overall I think it will definitely meet the warmth requirements. Now I'm starting to worry about the fact the neither of these huts allows for any light whatsoever. I was hoping to induce the kind of dormancy folks here seem to pull off with their palms. I know I can keep the harmful temps. off these plants, but what do guys think about no light for 3-4 months, before I can go to a lighter kind of protection?

Erik, hope it misses you guys!

Thanks!

P.S. Canadian, they're saying -23, for tonight, now 🙄 . 😯 😮 8) 😆

Duncan,
oh, wow!
we don't see temps like that except in December and January.
I don't have much useful advice on Yucca as our only one lives in a pot and W brings it in when it gets to freezing. Absurd, but the Yucca isn't exactly complaining. 😆
I'm glad you are using the plumber's heat tape. I swear by it, but always wonder why other's don't use it--like maybe they know something I don't. 😕
As for my forecast, it is still confused. The "split the difference" forecast has low 20s oF by this time next week. Except those will be lows, not highs! 😀
--Erik

Erik, brutal temps. indeed. Two weeks ago in the low 70s is but a distant memory.

Man we've had lots of snow too...at least I've got a path shoveled to the hot tub for tonight, which will be a toasty 104 😀 .

Yeah, agreed, I'm very impressed with the heat tape so far. Not sure about people's reluctance? Perhaps the small chance of creating a devastating fire
😯 😀 ! Just kidding 😆 .

Take Care,

Duncan

Hi All,

Is anybody warmer than 4f? And no my weather sticker isn't broken like Jim's :?.

It had to come folks. That's Calgary for you. On the up side, my protective yucca (rostrata and bacatta) huts seem to really be doing the job. Last night we probably hit somewhere in the 6-10f range. Both of my huts hovered around between 30-34f. I used plumber's heat tape in both huts. I just turn them on for like an hour before bed, and it seems to hold the heat incredibly well. Some of this is due to residual heat still in the ground, I think-but overall I think it will definitely meet the warmth requirements. Now I'm starting to worry about the fact the neither of these huts allows for any light whatsoever. I was hoping to induce the kind of dormancy folks here seem to pull off with their palms. I know I can keep the harmful temps. off these plants, but what do guys think about no light for 3-4 months, before I can go to a lighter kind of protection?

Erik, hope it misses you guys!

Thanks!

P.S. Canadian, they're saying -23, for tonight, now 🙄 . 😯 😮 8) 😆

Wow, cold! We still haven;t had a frost or a freeze yet here in So Jersey....At least by now we usually get a frost....????Although I know by mid december I wil be biting my tongue when we're in the low 20s at night.....UGH!

Man we've had lots of snow too...at least I've got a path shoveled to the hot tub for tonight, which will be a toasty 104 😀 .

Thanks for the reminder--hot tub needs servicing. Plan is to sit in it and look at palms in the heated, lighted, glass-fronted palm hut 😀

Man we've had lots of snow too...at least I've got a path shoveled to the hot tub for tonight, which will be a toasty 104 😀 .

Thanks for the reminder--hot tub needs servicing. Plan is to sit in it and look at palms in the heated, lighted, glass-fronted palm hut 😀

Still didn't fix it? I think you mentioned that back in September! LOL

Yeah, we've been broke. W has been unemployed since March. Just started a new job, as a helicopter nurse.
This link should take you to a photo from a few minutes ago after transporting her first patient:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31641398&l=04dbb9b1e2&id=1506588311
When the money comes in, and we dig out of debt, and I fly to Belize, then we can fix the hot tub 😆

Yeah, we've been broke. W has been unemployed since March. Just started a new job, as a helicopter nurse.
This link should take you to a photo from a few minutes ago after transporting her first patient:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31641398&l=04dbb9b1e2&id=1506588311
When the money comes in, and we dig out of debt, and I fly to Belize, then we can fix the hot tub 😆

WOw, sorry to hear that. Although Helicopter nurse, pretty exciting gig. Hope you guys are doing well soon! Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holidays.....
Mike

I'll enjoy them; she'll be working. Nurses work every holiday. 🙁

I'll enjoy them; she'll be working. Nurses work every holiday. 🙁

I hear that. My partners a nurse anesthetist...loooong hours!

Duncan, i lived in calgary for 2 years, i theres one thing i know, the longer the cold, the better and warmer the chinook is 😈 😈 😈

As for plants in dark..... all i have experience with, is my fargesia rufa, which had 2 or 3 months buried under leaves and snow, and came otu 100% fine.....

My sister isnt to happy witht the weather there right now LOL

Oh man that's cold, Duncan :sad11:

Re your Q about yuccas getting no light over winter, I'd be interested in that answer too.
perhaps post Q under Yucca topic.
Lots of our "desert folks" will know.

Enjoy that hot soak, take a shovel with you in case you have to shovel your way back INTO the house. 😆

Erik, congrats on W earning her wings...attagirl!
When are you heading off to Belize?

Yes..happy Thanksgiving to everybody south of the border! (ours was mid-Oct)
Barb

Hi All,

but what do guys think about no light for 3-4 months, before I can go to a lighter kind of protection?

Duncan It shouldn't be a problem keeping your yuccas in a dark for 3-4 month. From my own experience Yucca recurvifolia has been stored under a cover in unheated greenhouse for 3 month at least with no any damage at all. Dormancy is a key factor. If a temperature under your palm hut is below zero they must be OK.

Thats good to know igor....... now i dont have to worry about mine at all!!!

If you guys think duncan is cold, regina this morning-20, felt like - 32C............. same with saskatoon.......

Thats good to know igor....... now i dont have to worry about mine at all!!!

If you guys think duncan is cold, regina this morning-20, felt like - 32C............. same with saskatoon.......

Don't worry about Saskatchewan. They have no plus 15-20 in January as Calgary has occasionally. Cold is the Cold. Nobody pretends growing Yuccas in Regina, doesn't?