Tropicdoc 473 Report post Posted May 27, 2013 Question... do you get leaf burn where the fronds are touching the plastic within those cylinder type set ups.... if you have a little heat inside? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moose 1,506 Report post Posted December 19, 2013 Hey Jim - the Moose would love to see your garden all winterized. Got any new pictures? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 23, 2013 Tropicdoc- Yea...if they stay against the enclosure to long they will burn or worse turn black with fungal growth- I pop the tops when the temps allow and this keeps that from happening...always they are better off stuffed in the covers if need be...because there is no alternative. Moose <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/IA/Fairfield.html?bannertypeclick=miniDial"> <img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniDial/language/www/US/IA/Fairfield.gif" border=0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 23, 2013 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 23, 2013 (edited) Winter Sequoia Edited December 23, 2013 by Jimhardy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alicehunter2000 754 Report post Posted December 24, 2013 That's just wild....here I am bumming about it being in the mid 30's tomorrow. Everything looks so healthy in the summer...must have killer soil. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mauna Kea Cloudforest 292 Report post Posted December 24, 2013 What kind of heaters are you using? You might want to consider using the reflective bubble wrap instead of clear bubble wrap, as it will reflect the heat back inside and save you lots of energy. However, the clear stuff does have the advantage to let light in during the day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sabal Steve 905 Report post Posted December 24, 2013 Unreal! Quite possibly my favorite thread ever. I grew up in Chicago and never thought it was even a remote possibility to accomplish what you have. Really incredible. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 24, 2013 (edited) Thanks you guys...I was thinking about that foil bubble wrap... may be able to throw a sleeve in there for the Washy group next year as I need to come up with more cover with the same amount of heat. The clear covers do let it warm up,it is 0F out now and in the 40s in the enclosures. Thanks Steve-it can be a pain in fall/early winter when the weather does not help me to be interested in plants anymore...slog through that and you have a pretty good set up(for Iowa-lol) March through Nov! Here -hopefully- is another thread I just posted on last nights event. Edited December 24, 2013 by Jimhardy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 24, 2013 Latest from Ice Station Zebra Not trying to pull the stripes over your eyes but we are locked in to winter...got rid of the last snow the day before this one. This Arctic carpet rolled out in front of the polar express's delivery from the north pole....looks like it was -16F at the airport north of here and -10F in my yard in town-what a great micro-climate I have here!-lol Before it snowed I reinforced the Washy,Nainital,Princeps,Fortunei,Martianus(already pretty fried-spear is growing though)FortxWag and the bigger Waggie. The Princeps stayed 57-60F all night,this should be warm enough to keep the leaf tips touching the enclosure from burning.. <a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/user/orbea641/media/orbea641020/100_7718_zpsf84930b9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm220/orbea641/orbea641020/100_7718_zpsf84930b9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_7718_zpsf84930b9.jpg"/></a> Stiff Sequoia <a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/user/orbea641/media/orbea641020/100_7719_zpsd59fe692.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm220/orbea641/orbea641020/100_7719_zpsd59fe692.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_7719_zpsd59fe692.jpg"/></a> Temp was staying above freezing(37F)last night in the cactus enclosure with 4-5" of snow,1" bubble wrap and PVC clear plastic(this cuts down on the drips) insulating it...I turned on the heat anyway,you never know how cold those outer edges get,although they are covered in snow. <a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/user/orbea641/media/orbea641020/100_7720_zpsebc92554.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm220/orbea641/orbea641020/100_7720_zpsebc92554.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_7720_zpsebc92554.jpg"/></a> <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/IA/Fairfield.html?bannertypeclick=miniDial"> <img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniDial/language/www/US/IA/Fairfield.gif" border=0 Thanks for looking! <a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/user/orbea641/media/Spring%202012%20continued/100_6974_zps17b751c1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm220/orbea641/Spring%202012%20continued/100_6974_zps17b751c1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_6974_zps17b751c1.jpg"/></a> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 24, 2013 (edited) Sorry,wouldn't let me go back and edit the above.... Edited December 24, 2013 by Jimhardy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 24, 2013 I use C-7 & C-9 x-mas lights and a 1500wt space heater in the cactus enclosure... with the snow and the bubble wrap the cactus enclosure stayed in the upper 40s while it was -10F. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Explorer 15 Report post Posted December 29, 2013 Nice collection. But no Chamaerops. A vast grower, certainly in your hot summer climate so they should grow very well there. And they can take some frost as well, till about -10 C. And compaired to lets say Sabal minor Chamaerops is a much better looking palm. And grows allready with lower temperatures! So more fronds in a year then Sabal or needlepalms. Alexander Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted December 29, 2013 You probably cant see it but there is a C.Cerifera in between the Y.gloriosa and the var Aloifolia. I am very impressed with Cerifera,one of the hardiest palms I have! I could not seem to find a good picture but if you look close you can see the Cerifera in the lower right corner to the right of that cut out square in the backing of the Cactus cover. <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/IA/Fairfield.html?bannertypeclick=miniDial"> <img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniDial/language/www/US/IA/Fairfield.gif" border= Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moose 1,506 Report post Posted January 6, 2014 Jim - how you doing with the latest weather events? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted May 23, 2014 Moose.... I was in Mesa Arizona from Jan 5th to April 15th....good winter to leave, I think the temps averaged below freezing for 3 months,something like 12F/30F Dec/ 6F/24F Jan/ 6F/25F Feb many,many nights below zero and even some days below zero with temps as low as -19F. The Sequoia is dead and so are the Butterfly bushes,even the native Rose Mallow barely survived and is well behind schedule. Even March saw -9F with snow and cold,I am sure the late cold along with the more intense sun in March really finished off anything that could have survived the winter-luckily 4 the palms,etc the power stayed on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alicehunter2000 754 Report post Posted May 29, 2014 That sucks about the Sequoia, would be great to see some pics when things start popping again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylemtncruzr 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2014 Beautiful yard! Do you like how you don't have to decorate come October 31st? Haha! Looks cool at night with those soft lantern auras. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Explorer 15 Report post Posted August 30, 2014 A pitty of the dead Sequoiadendron. Here in The Netherlands and also farther east in Germany they are full winterhardy. And winters can be very cold here sometimes, certainly in Central Europe. Alexander Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted October 16, 2014 Not enough mulch around the trunk probably. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted October 24, 2014 Some pics from a few days ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted October 24, 2014 somor Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted October 24, 2014 last Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kypalmer 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2014 Wow that's amazing! I love seeing the growth that has been achieved. Great looking garden! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Funkthulhu 391 Report post Posted October 27, 2014 Bravo! Bravo! Always love to see your photos! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sashaeffer 465 Report post Posted October 29, 2014 Yes, Jim sets the bar in our area of what to shoot for....and learn from no doubt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks you guys....looks like the tropical season ends here Friday night/Sat morn as 25F is in forecast. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Funkthulhu 391 Report post Posted October 29, 2014 Yeah, I have to go out tonight or tomorrow and "harvest" all the banana corms, get the last of the veg out of the garden. At least I don't have to mow the yard anymore! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sashaeffer 465 Report post Posted October 29, 2014 Yes, will be busy here as well, but will leave the most cold hardy stuff in pots out a while longer(Sabals, CIDP, Pindo's Pygmy's etc) House and garage is going to fill up fast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted November 8, 2014 (edited) Got all my stuff in....unfortunately everything outside needs covered or else as winter arrives Tues! Edited November 8, 2014 by Jimhardy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Explorer 15 Report post Posted November 18, 2014 Winter did arrive there with no mercy this year it seems. Minus 14 C as a minimum in November! Thats very extreme! And very sad of that luge subtropical foliage! Here we still had no frost! Fingers crossed. Alexander Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh-O 2,780 Report post Posted November 20, 2014 It's like watching a time-laps of your children growing up. Thanks for letting us watch your family grow Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hammer 657 Report post Posted November 20, 2014 Finally looking through your update. Looks amazing Jim!!!!! Bravo! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom in Tucson 333 Report post Posted November 30, 2014 Is that a Yucca rostrata? It is doing great! Tom Birt - Casas Adobes, AZ Hi 83F, Lo 46F Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom in Tucson 333 Report post Posted July 11, 2016 On 12/24/2013, 11:21:35, Jimhardy said: I use C-7 & C-9 x-mas lights and a 1500wt space heater in the cactus enclosure... with the snow and the bubble wrap the cactus enclosure stayed in the upper 40s while it was -10F. Bump Is that a Yucca rostrata? It is doing great! Tom Birt - Casas Adobes, AZ Hi 108°, Lo 78° Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matthew92 1,153 Report post Posted July 11, 2016 This inspires me. If you can do this way up there, then I shouldn't be that afraid to try a more tropical palm like a queen or something that's only about 1 zone less cold hardy than me. So much possibility when you're willing to care for them like that. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted July 11, 2016 Here is a more recent pic(s). I let some of the bigger palms go,they were shading the cactus bed and even worse...they were plain old Fortunei 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Las Palmas Norte 582 Report post Posted July 12, 2016 Truly a labor of love. Well done sir. Cheers, Barrie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimhardy 695 Report post Posted July 13, 2016 Thanks Barrie It is pretty easy until fall when my attention is not on the plants anymore and it can be daunting to cover everything. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorCalKing 294 Report post Posted July 13, 2016 Stunning. Well done. I don't see many gardens as nice here in Nor Cal. Even your agaves have some really nice size on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites