Temperature inside windmill protection box

[Tom Ace]

Hi Folks, 

With guidance from users of this forum and some videos I have seen, I have prepared my 4' windmill for its first winter in the ground in zone 6B Connecticut.  Current setup was made using stuff I had already - scrap lumber, some 1" R5 rigid foam insulation on 3 sides, and a tarp covering the 4th side for now.  There are openings on the bottom of the box for air to get in, and the tarp is old and worn out so it has some holes for ventilation too.  c9 lights inside with a thermocube ( I left 12 lights on the strand at 7 watts each).  

I'm curious about the temperature inside the box.  My sensorpush is showing frequent temperature swings in between 35 and 45, on account of being hooked up to the thermocube.  Could this up and down be damaging to the tree?  Also, being a windmill, is 35-45 the right setting?  Seems like this plant could hang with lower temps, like 25-30.  Considering getting an inkbird variable temp controller. 

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Chris

[Allen]

Don't worry about even plugging it in unless it goes at least under 20F.  You are probably safe letting it go till at least 15F if the palm is dry.   You only need about 15-30 watts in that box most likely.  I heat mine in a uninsulated box easily with 40W using 100 minis.  If I were you I'd go to Lowes and buy a 100 string of GE incandescent Xmas minis at 40W total and wrap the trunk/spear and up to the fronds then wrap over that with burlap over it all.    C9's get hot enough to burn the plant close by.  mini's do not.  Get bulbs off ground so a flood doesn't trip the GFCI

Edited December 2, 2019 by Allen

[Tom Ace]

Thanks Allen - you have been very helpful over the past few weeks!

Should I worry about the ground freezing in its first winter?  My plan was to leave some lights on the ground to help keep it from freezing.  I don't think there's any issue of flooding since it's on a slope and can drain - but I hear your point.  Thoughts?

[Allen]

I updated my post a bit since I reread and saw 1 side was vented -To use 100 mini's.  I would mulch the ground 2-3 inches deep with wood chips inside the box.  You should be real safe in 6b with this setup.  It's a bit overkill (which can't hurt).  The palm can stay in these for 3 months no problem without light.  It will come out just the same looking as you put it in there with maybe a small bit of growth.  35-45 thermocube is correct one.  You don't want the palm to go fer several days and not get above freezing with the 20F-30F one even though that might not bother a tracyhy.  Sturdy looking shelter.

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-String-A-Long-100-Count-20-6-ft-Clear-White-Incandescent-Plug-In-Christmas-String-Lights/50054667?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-google-_-lia-_-157-_-trimatree-_-50054667-_-0&store_code=2654&placeholder=null&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-ZL0v_2X5gIVmY7ICh0yxQi7EAQYASABEgIFZvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Edited December 2, 2019 by Allen

[Tropicdoc]

I always wondered if other palms could tolerate 3 months without light