Anti-dessicants/Anti-transpirants

[Phil]

About six or eight years ago in this discussion group, the concept of using anti-transpirants (aka anti-dessicants) was discussed as a possible means of providing cold protection.  These are polymer solutions that are sprayed onto the leaves before cold exposure.  Did anyone use one and if so, did you see results?  I've read some information on their usage, but it might be time now to get anectodal results if anyone tried them with the recent cold.   A brand some people might have heard of is "Cloud Cover".  It's premixed and ready to spray.  There are other brands that require mixing with water.  

Phil

[BS Man about Palms]

Phil,

I've read of them here, but never seem to read where to purchase said stuff!!

BS

[Phil]

Bill,

Not too far from you, Western Farm sells a brand in liquid form.  I don't remember the name.  It's thick like maple syrup and you dilute with water.  These substances can also protect from transplant shock, barerooting shock, and possibly sunburn.  Once an apartment owner and customer wanted greenhouse plants put directly into the sun at his apartments.  We sprayed the plants with one of these polymers and reports back were that there was minimal sun burn on plants from the greenhouse.  I can't verify or recommend them for this usage, but one can theorize on how they could protect from various forms of environmental assault.

Phil

[gsn]

I asked this question when I first came on the board late last year!As I was looking for a way to provide a few extra degrees of cold protection. I was looking at Wilt-Pruf or VaporGuard.

With regards to cold protection, the responses I got were, it wasn't worth the trouble.So I decided not to use it durning our cold snaps in Febuary here!

But I am also very curious about anedotal experiences durning your recent cold wave!

[Patrick]

I used it on some P. rupicolas amongst others with our cold and gave over head protection and a heat lamp at night. We had several days below freezing (12 in one stretch) and got down to 23 F 3 nights in a row, plus several days in the 25-28 degree range. They look great and took minimal damage- maybe 5-10% but this is with all that extra protection as well.

I would definitely say that it is a good supplimental cold protection item....if you're that worried, use it. That's how I look at it.

And as another note, I think most of my damage with all the palms I used it on started occurring after the 6 week window the product maker gives you once you mix and use the stuff....

[Dypsisdean]

Phil,

I used some once before on a few hundred Howea liners I had outside under shade cloth during a cold snap in 1990. I still had severe damage. However, it was really cold, and I didn't do any kind of a control, so I really don't know if it provided any marginal protection. It certainly wasn't a magic bullet against the cold though. I never bothered to use it again.

As to transplantation shock and as an assist to acclimatization, I don't know.

[Phil]

Dean and others,

Years ago in a promo piece for one brand of this stuff, there were pictures comparing King Palms with and without the polymer after cold exposure.  Of course, the "without" group looked terrible, the "with" great.  I've also heard that it may give 2 to 3 degrees protection.  As it's so easy to apply, I thought I'd throw it out as a topic to see if there's any feedback.

Phil

[Mats]

Jim in Los Altos spoke highly of an anti-transpirant product called AntiStress.  

I tried to order some online, but for some reason it never shipped and my money was refunded.  

I ended up getting a 5 gal. bucket of Wilt-Pruf for a great price ($90) locally.  

I don't use it for frost protection though.  I use it on new plants to reduce transplant shock going out in the hot, summer months.

[Phil]

Here's what the Antistress Website says:

Frost and Freeze Protection

Citrus trees in a controlled environment were treated with five brands of frost protectant. After 4 days the temperature was lowered below 32°F for 4 hours, and then to 28°F for 2 hours. Two weeks later the trees were evaluated for damage. Of the five products tested, only AntiStress showed any significant protection over the controls, with frost damage reduced by 33%. The other products showed no aid in cold tolerance. (Trial results available on request.)

Antistress

Go from there.

Phil

[Jim in Los Altos]

I used AntiStress very liberally days before the big freeze this winter. I used it on half of my 40 King palms and half of my Pygmy dates, and on all the rest of my palms and tender plants. The results were dissapointing on the Kings but fantastic on the Pygmy dates. All my Kings sustained differing amounts of damage with the worst ones fully exposed and the best ones either sheltered near the house or closely clustered. All my AntiStress protected Pygmy dates sailed through the freeze with no visible damage while just feet away other ones without any AntiStress were severely damaged. The minimum was 26F. It may have been just enough protection at that temperature to help the Pygmies but it was probably below the temperature point to help the Kings much.

All the King palms are pushing new leaves now in this 80 degree weather. By summer they should look great and hopefully we won't experience that kind of cold for again for at least ten years!

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks for the pointers Phil.

[Phil]

Jim and Bill,

Thanks for the feedback.  The reason I posted this topic is because this is such a quick and simple way to possibly get some cold protection before a cold spell.  Jim, I take it that you definitely feel spraying helped on the Pigmies.  As I mentioned above, we talked about it years ago and then there were no more cold winters.  So everybody forgot about it or lost interest.  As one could spray a lot of plants in an hour, I think people in colder areas should have some around just in case.  I'm hoping someone else out there can tell us their story and what they used.

Phil

[Jesse]

I'm digging up this 10 year old topic to see if there is any more recent reviews, recommendations, or information on these products as we go into the winter. 

I planted a whole lot of marginal plants this year and I'd like to really give them some protection their first winter in the ground. Doing some research in preparation for any cold spells.  I subscribe by the "7 Ps"

So far I have found a product called "Cloud Cover" sold locally and there are products available on Amazon by the name of "Anti-stress 2000" and "Wilt-Pruf".  My father has used Anti-stress with what seemed like success but I'm fishing for more knowledge.

Full disclosure: I already ordered Anti-stress from amazon and will be picking up Cloud cover to apply tonight ahead of tomorrow morning's low of 37ish.