Redneck Mini Greenhouse – Will it work?

[ThePalmNovice]

Hello everybody, I’m new to the world of palm trees. A few months ago I moved to Central Florida (Zone 9B) and for the first time in a long while had a yard to plant in. Thinking it would look cool I bought a palm tree at Lowes to grow. Then another. Then another. Then… well I think you get the idea. In no time I’ve become a fan of all things palms.

Researching into the topic more however I’ve discovered the USDA Hardiness Zones. When I got my palm trees I didn’t pay any attention to their cold hardiness, naïvely believing Orlando was hot enough for anything tropical to grow. Fortunately most of them are hardy for my zone, with the exception of a Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (Bottle Palm) and three Adonidia.

Both are small and have been in the ground for less than 4 months. Fearful a winter frost might get them I’ve constructed what can only be called a rednecks attempt at a removable greenhouse. I used bits of scrap plywood lying around and nailed them together into a small square frame. Then I duct tape cardboard, paper bags, black plastic bags, and a beach tarp together to cover it up.

The result looks nothing short of a monstrosity.

 

[ThePalmNovice]

 

The question is will this work? If the temperatures get around freezing will this protect my Bottle Palm from dying/frost damage? If so I’d like to build a bigger one to protect the Adonidias. However is this thing sturdy enough or will the cold air just leak through? Would it work if I put old Christmas lights underneath to provide heat? Finally is this thing counterproductive and risks harming the tree? Share your thoughts and comments below.   

[BS Man about Palms]

JUst a standard 60 watt bulb in there will likely be enough to help. For sure a 150W halogen will keep it toasty! Good luck!!

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

I suggest using a few pieces of 1/2"pcv to make a hoop over the palm and them use the tarp or better yet clear plastic. 

[Jungle Jas.]

 Yes clear plastic would be much better, clear bubble wrap would be better still as it has slight insulation properties.

Edited January 1, 2017 by Jungle Jas.
more information.

[Jimhardy]

Should work and with a little heat

from the homeless that are likely to move in,it

should thrive!

 

"Your gonna get hop ons"

[Laaz]

[Las Palmas Norte]

Should work until the wind takes it down.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Ben in Norcal]

It started out in relatively promising fashion...until you just dumped a bunch of garbage on top. 

[Laaz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BNgRpRuWGs

[BS Man about Palms]

Spencer, Just to let you know. The snarky posts here mean you have been accepted into the group! Welcome!

 

[Alicehunter2000]

and the good thing is your just starting out......I can sense an obsession in the making. 

[ThePalmNovice]

9 hours ago, BS Man about Palms said:

Spencer, Just to let you know. The snarky posts here mean you have been accepted into the group! Welcome!

 

Aw thanks.  Don't worry I've been laughing too at those replies. When it comes to looks this thing deserves all the ridicule it gets. I think my neighbors hate me for putting that up, especially with several houses for sale on my street.  Fortunately it only has to go up on nights when the temperature drops below 40F. As long as it keeps the plant alive it works for me. Otherwise it can be disassembled and put into my shed out of sight. 

9 hours ago, Ben in Norcal said:

It started out in relatively promising fashion...until you just dumped a bunch of garbage on top. 

Well your right about one thing. Aside from the beach tarp that actually is all garbage. I needed to make something fast and so constructed it out of left over house supplies headed for recycling. When I get more time I think I'll rebuild it with the suggestions everyone gave me (use PVC pipes, clear plastic, bubble wrap, etc.). Plus I can easily reach this with an extension cord so adding in a small light should be no major hassle. Thanks for all the advice everyone. 

7 hours ago, Alicehunter2000 said:

and the good thing is your just starting out......I can sense an obsession in the making. 

Thanks. Yes at first I thought my interest would die down once everything was planted, but the more you learn about palms the more fascinating and enjoyable it becomes to have them.

Edited January 3, 2017 by ThePalmNovice

[Jimhardy]

I really have no room to talk with the hideous

things out in the front yard covering my palms...

 

I like the idea of being able to put it in the recycling

bin after covering,my extra covers are scattered all over the basement.

 

Really miss ln living color....that was quite the Sunday lineup back in the day.

[Alicehunter2000]

 

Thought you would enjoy this thread

 

[Alicehunter2000]

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/47075-some-pics-of-my-garden-in-southeast-iowa/#comment-723232

 

Thought you would enjoy these threads

 

[JT in Japan]

Having a covering overhead is on thing, but as some

[JT in Japan]

...but as someone else said, the wind is your real concern. A couple of flexible tent poles hooped over the palm, and a clear plastic sheet clothes pinned to the hoops, and you've got a simple, cheap, likely wind proof tent-structure that will withstand the next two months.

jt

[Jimhardy]

Yep...just make sure you pop the top

or you can easily see 120F+ plus in there

which will make you wish it had only seen the cold....

there is some thermal value in what he has too

using cardboard then plastic........

that you dont get with plastic as much.

[Alan_Tampa]

Plastic is bad idea. Use frost cloth in its place. That way if you leave it covered you won't have palm soup on a sunny day. 

[GottmitAlex]

"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in."

[ThePalmNovice]

Yikes! Checked the forecast and it looks like lows in the mid 30s are possible tomorrow night with winds at 20mph. Looks like the time to test this thing has come. Tomorrow I'll gather up as much material as I can and rebuild this thing with all the suggestions you've all shared with me. I did find an old wool blanket and what I think is a white fabric sheet in the shed. Perhaps that will work? Here's hoping for the best. 

[Alan_Tampa]

I have so covered plants with a light dressing of coastal hay. 

After cold is past just pull away and let decay at base of plant. Enriches soil.

You could pack your structure with it as well. 

[ThePalmNovice]

 

Well bad news and good news. Bad news is I discovered why building this thing with scrap plywood might not have been such a good idea. Went to set it up and discovered the wood warped and sagged in the rain and is now too bent over to use. 

So what I had in mind went out the window. Good news is I found a big plastic garbage bin that manages to fit (if barely) over the palm. I bunched up the leaves, wrapped the trunk with an old and pillowcase, and flipped the garbage bin upside down to cover the plant. Then I covered the bin in a wool blanket and finally a trash bag to hold it on tight. The result is this.

Not to pretty but it might be an improvement over the last one. In the back I didn't have time to build anything for the Adonidias so the only thing I can do is wrap them up with a tarp, bubble wrap, and old bed sheet. Hopefully that will be enough protection as its leaning against a fence. 

Edited January 8, 2017 by ThePalmNovice

[BS Man about Palms]

The interesting thing you will find is if you do get below 32F or frost, where sheets or thin coverings touch the leaves, you will get burn. The covering takes the heat from the leaf to get it cool enough to frost there. If you can in the future, just covering higher above without touching leaves is better. Also as noted earlier, be aware if you sunny and in the 60's, be careful to not cook your plant, open it up.

Also, my bet is the Adonidia's are more fragile than the bottle.

Good Luck!

 

[Ben in Norcal]

43 minutes ago, BS Man about Palms said:

The interesting thing you will find is if you do get below 32F or frost, where sheets or thin coverings touch the leaves, you will get burn. The covering takes the heat from the leaf to get it cool enough to frost there. If you can in the future, just covering higher above without touching leaves is better. Also as noted earlier, be aware if you sunny and in the 60's, be careful to not cook your plant, open it up.

Also, my bet is the Adonidia's are more fragile than the bottle.

Good Luck!

 

Good advice. Sheets or coverings that touch the leaves are bad, bad news. The only damage I have ever taken on my kings are when I covered with sheets.

[Las Palmas Norte]

No wonder that fell apart ... Oriented Strand Board - OSB will not hold up to moisture al any level. Invest in some PT (pressure treated) lumber if that's your preferred type of material. PVC pipe also has been used in constructing a protective framework.

Cheers, Barrie.

[ThePalmNovice]

Well the cold spell has passed and the Bottle Palm/Adonidias made it out just fine. A few leaf tips got slightly bent and now look droopy but otherwise there healthy and happy. Not sure if I really needed to cover it up as we only got a low of 36, but at least it provided a lot of protection from the wind (wind chill was in the 20s all night). Next time though I'll want to build something bigger as the plastic can was a tighter fit than I wanted. And certainly I'll get something better for the Adonidias so they don't get frosted. 

 

Edited January 9, 2017 by ThePalmNovice