Mid-Winter Update with Pics!

16 years ago

For the first time since Christmas, our temperature has poked above freezing. Currently 34.2F outside. Decided to go take a look at my palms outside to see how they are doing. The boxes are kept warm with a space heater set on the low setting at 45F. Heater seems to run 20-30 seconds on, 5-10 minutes off. Electric bill seems unaffected. Much better protection method than Christmas lights and heat lamps running wild like I had last winter. No need to have palms at 60-65F when its 30F outside (but I needed that 30-35F gain for the 0F nights).

Took the lids off today for awhile to let the moisture escape. Here are some pictures.

Trachycarpus Fortunei:

Washingtonia Robusta:

Little over two months to go and they can be free again, maybe earlier for the trachy. This will be their third summer in the ground, so I'm hoping for a leap year! Last year the robusta put out 10 fronds and the trachy put out 6.

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Comments (5)

denninmi
16 years ago
Wow, they look good.

You've had some colder nights than we have had here on the other side of Lake Michigan. I'm 25 miles NW of Detroit, the coldest night we've had was around 2 in my backyard, which is actually pretty good for this area. We usually hit -10 to -12 most winters at least a few times. Of course, it's FAR from over yet.

Now, a question -- you said that it isn't costing you much for electricity. How are your electric rates there? The reason I ask -- when I tried to use an electric heater in my lexan and brick greenhouse in years past, with a controller set around 40 degrees, it was running me $300 a month for an 8 x 12 space, with rates around $0.11 a kilowatt hour. Just wondered if your electric is a LOT less than here, or what. Of course, you're also heating a VASTLY smaller area, which makes a big difference, too.

My palms are all in the greenhouse again, but VERY well protected, and I've got CFC lights in the enclosures with them. And, I did run the spaceheater four nights. I can afford to run it a little bit -- I figure I really only need to protect them on those nights when temps dip below the single digits, which is generally maybe 15 nights out of the whole winter.
wxman81
Original Author
16 years ago
Enclosures are R7.5 foam and two layers poly. Electric is $0.11 KW/hr here also. Heat loss is very minimal, and that's the key. Think of your house. Would you pay $1500 to heat your house? Heck no. Houses are insulated well, and you must insulated you enclosures just as well. :)
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brooklyngreg
16 years ago
They look great! You must be pleased. Its worth the extra effort. I like those fiberious strings on the Robusta fronds, sabals get them too.

What are they "poly layers" you mention?
tropicalzone7
16 years ago
I agree, they are looking really happy! They dont look like they have seen below 25 in that protection. Your protection seems to be keeping your palms really happy, and soon you will be able to see them again. I feel like this winter is almost over, but in reality we are only ablot half way done with the coldest part of winter. But thats the down side to sudden winter warmups, you start to think its spring (and so do the plants)!

Good luck!
fr8train
16 years ago
Wow, your plants really do look great. I have a similar enclosure for my large butia this winter, a lot like artictropicals, I'm really hoping it and all my other palms pull through. We've already hit -10F here.

Looking forward to updates..