Advice Needed: Overheating My Palms While Winterizing?

[vistaprime]

I think I’ve been setting my winterizing temps too high. Right now, I’ve got the heat kicking on at 41°F (5°C) and off at 50°F (10°C). But with insulation, it sometimes gets up to 54°F (12°C) inside before it starts cooling down.

For Mexican Fan Palms and Mule Palms, what’s ideal? From what I’ve read, it’s better to set it on at around 37°F (3°C) and off at about 43°F (6°C). That should be enough to prevent freeze damage without drying out the fronds or triggering early growth.

What  am I  doing wrong?

[Palmerr]

I have had overheating problems. Once I had protection set up with Christmas lights.. I made the mistake of putting glass on top cause the inside literally started to cook and smoke.. I’d say keep it at that level yes. I have learned from my mistakes and now I have the perfect formula for Mex fans, majesty’s. And pindo palms. I would also say that what you have listed is good for them. You want a few degrees above freezing at the lowest (like 37F) and highest prob around 43F that will work! Probably was getting too hot? Can you actually know the highest temp reached in there or have you only been checking every now and then. Like above 95F at some points? If there is any way for sun;ight to heat it up it will and it can get very hot in there it’s why mine started smoking. It’s the reason growing more tropical palms is impossible here without a decent amount of space and temp control(Heating AND cooling). Cause they need sun through the winter and to have that you need some sort of window and sure it will be fine during the coldest parts when the sun isn’t as intense but as soon as Feb 20th our UV index starts to climb fast usually UV 5 (UV 3 can cause my green house to hit 105F)

[Allen]

Can you post a pic of your protection?  You need to be using the foam board 2'x2' box method.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz6pEzz1Dkc

 

[vistaprime]

1 hour ago, Palmerr said:

I have had overheating problems. Once I had protection set up with Christmas lights.. I made the mistake of putting glass on top cause the inside literally started to cook and smoke.. I’d say keep it at that level yes. I have learned from my mistakes and now I have the perfect formula for Mex fans, majesty’s. And pindo palms. I would also say that what you have listed is good for them. You want a few degrees above freezing at the lowest (like 37F) and highest prob around 43F that will work! Probably was getting too hot? Can you actually know the highest temp reached in there or have you only been checking every now and then. Like above 95F at some points? If there is any way for sun;ight to heat it up it will and it can get very hot in there it’s why mine started smoking. It’s the reason growing more tropical palms is impossible here without a decent amount of space and temp control(Heating AND cooling). Cause they need sun through the winter and to have that you need some sort of window and sure it will be fine during the coldest parts when the sun isn’t as intense but as soon as Feb 20th our UV index starts to climb fast usually UV 5 (UV 3 can cause my green house to hit 105F)

I know because there are temperature monitors inside each palm. I think you're saying 2 degrees to 6 degrees Celsius is ideal. i do think it's too much heat especially with the fan, I think when it gets that warm consistently it wants water since the ground is frozen it then starts to dry up, correct?

[vistaprime]

28 minutes ago, Allen said:

Can you post a pic of your protection?  You need to be using the foam board 2'x2' box method.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz6pEzz1Dkc

 

we bought our protection online. it seems you're alluding to it being too cold, which isn't the issue. This is the first year this happened. been winterizing for 4 years now. the mule will bounce, back the fan, seems quite shocked.

[Allen]

In zone 5 you will fare better with foamboard imo 

[vistaprime]

I am in zone 6b

[Allen]

Sorry about that on my phone but the C9s having to heat so much without insulation is probably the issue.  Also any frond touching that cover inside will freeze.  Good news is washy gets cut back anyway in a lot of people’s boxes.  I can see burn marks from the light I believe 

[Palmerr]

On 5/22/2025 at 5:59 PM, vistaprime said:

I know because there are temperature monitors inside each palm. I think you're saying 2 degrees to 6 degrees Celsius is ideal. i do think it's too much heat especially with the fan, I think when it gets that warm consistently it wants water since the ground is frozen it then starts to dry up, correct?

Water can be problem yes. But overheating prob is the main issue. Allen gave us a good idea of what possibly happened (The lights are burning the fronds) 

[vistaprime]

On 5/28/2025 at 1:13 AM, Palmerr said:

Water can be problem yes. But overheating prob is the main issue. Allen gave us a good idea of what possibly happened (The lights are burning the fronds) 

how can I prevent this. cover them with burlap first? what's your advice. I am usually on vacation when the gardener comes to box them up for the winter time. Any tips I can give him would be appreciated. We may replace the washy and start again, the mule is already growing out new fronds.

[vistaprime]

is it best to avoid stringing lights on the fronds and only stringing them on the trunk?

[Allen]

Ideal is to foam board box it.  Keep 2-3 of those bulbs on when cold.  And have another string of lights on the temp control hanging in the box away from palm a bit if you want to use the larger lights.   Use a temp sensor to dial in number of lights needed for a gentle 30 minute warmup cycle