Trachycarpus what kinda Christmas lights?

[Bill Nanaimo]

I’m just wondering if 7watt Christmas lights are ok to wrap around a small trachycarpus to keep it warm in 30-32. Temp 

[jimmyt]

2 hours ago, Bill Nanaimo said:

I’m just wondering if 7watt Christmas lights are ok to wrap around a small trachycarpus to keep it warm in 30-32. Temp 

Sure you can but they will not produce much heat at just 7 watts.   LED lights wont work—no heat.  Plug them in and cup them in a group in your hands and feel if they significantly produce any heat.  If they get warm to touch you are in business.

[Allen]

13 hours ago, Bill Nanaimo said:

I’m just wondering if 7watt Christmas lights are ok to wrap around a small trachycarpus to keep it warm in 30-32. Temp 

if you mean C7 Christmas bulbs that are rated at 7W each, it is not advised to wrap these directly touching the palm as they get very hot.  These are best used in a enclosure where they don't touch the palm.  If your low temps are 30-32F then you have no need to heat your palm until temps drop to at least 21F on a small (Under 4 foot) palm.  It is always advised to use a thermocube or have a temperature sensor in your enclosure when using lights to avoid frying your palm as lights in a enclosure can get quite hot.

 

 

Edited December 24, 2020 by Allen

[Fallen Munk]

I don't start to worry about my Trachycarpus unless it gets into the teens F or lower.

[EastCanadaTropicals]

21 hours ago, Bill Nanaimo said:

I’m just wondering if 7watt Christmas lights are ok to wrap around a small trachycarpus to keep it warm in 30-32. Temp 

Not necessary, trachycarpus are bulletproof in bc and that would actually make them less hardy.

[EastCanadaTropicals]

3 hours ago, Fallen Munk said:

I don't start to worry about my Trachycarpus unless it gets into the teens F or lower.

I'm praying my trachycarpus, winter protection by a box and extra protection for wind, survived my 4 hours of 2f.

 

[Bill Nanaimo]

It was -4c here I think that’s about 24f so maybe I’ll just leave them it doesn’t get this cold for more then a couple of days at a time 

[DallasPalms]

On 12/24/2020 at 2:44 PM, Fallen Munk said:

I don't start to worry about my Trachycarpus unless it gets into the teens F or lower.

I was worried about my seedlings (a few hundred Fortuneis, Trachy Hybrids and other types) because the containers are small/shallow and I didnt want the roots to suffer... but they did just fine no harm @ temps down to 30...  (placed on the ground)

my smallest containers were on a table. I found the soil frozen solid at temps above but close to freezing... so I bring them in on freeze nights.  Not only are they fine but another seedling popped up 

Edited December 28, 2020 by DallasPalms

[ShadyDan]

I’ve never seen cold damage to any in-ground Trachys on Van Isle, especially not in mild Nanaimo. Not need to protect them at any stage here, just plant and forget. 

[Fallen Munk]

2 hours ago, DallasPalms said:

I was worried about my seedlings (a few hundred Fortuneis, Trachy Hybrids and other types) because the containers are small/shallow and I didnt want the roots to suffer... but they did just fine no harm @ temps down to 30...  (placed on the ground)

my smallest containers were on a table. I found the soil frozen solid at temps above but close to freezing... so I bring them in on freeze nights.  Not only are they fine but another seedling popped up 

I've got about 100 one year old windmills outside and about 200 newer seedlings in a grow room.  The smaller ones are still single and double leaf so I didn't want to chance them outside.  Plus the squirrels like to dig up the little ones.  I lost a whole bunch of seedlings that way last year.  The ones outside look fine.  I even left a couple of Canary Island date palms outside as a test.

[DallasPalms]

I use rocks as a topper and squirrels usually avoid but occasionally they dig rocks. Cayenne seems to help too at least with daily squirrel visits but with regular application

2 hours ago, Fallen Munk said:

I've got about 100 one year old windmills outside and about 200 newer seedlings in a grow room.  The smaller ones are still single and double leaf so I didn't want to chance them outside.  Plus the squirrels like to dig up the little ones.  I lost a whole bunch of seedlings that way last year.  The ones outside look fine.  I even left a couple of Canary Island date palms outside as a test.