Bring on winter!

Steve C · Oct 1, 2015

After seeing Darlene @Cadillactaste get her Trops inside I finally got motivated to get mine to safety today as well. The last few nights of mid 40's here in SE Michigan have had me getting worried so did some work today to get mine set up for winter. The past few years I have just been sitting them on a shelf under a small light, but my tropical collection has tripled over the summer and I needed to upgrade the overwinter set up for them now.

So spent the day building an 8ft long bench for them, bought some new twin tube lights and daylight bulbs, Also have the set up behind one of my 75g aquariums which has on open air canopy, that way they are not in danger of being bumped into, plus the 75 gallons of 80F heated water 3ft in front of the trees should help keep the humidity up for them this year.

Some pics of the new setup as well as a few of the tropicals, mostly Fukien teas, Bougainvilleas, and ficus.

Paradox · Oct 1, 2015

Let's not and say we did....
(Bring on winter)

Steve C · Oct 2, 2015

Paradox said:
Let's not and say we did....
(Bring on winter)

lol you know it's coming soon for all of us in the zones we are in, might as well get it done and over with

M. Frary · Oct 2, 2015

This reminds me. I have to get the supplies to overwinter my trees.
2 bales of straw!
Now that's protection!
Maybe 3.

Steve C · Oct 2, 2015

That's the next thing I have to do Mike is get my outdoor tree's ready for winter soon. Last year I just sat them in the shed without any protection or anything covering or built up around the pots. I lost a burning bush, quince, and my crepe myrtle last winter due to my stupidity of just leaving the pots uncovered. Luckily my boxwood, azalea, and the rest of them in the shed survived. This year I plan to build an open top frame work up against the back of the house so it will get a little radiant heat from the house and then mulch up over all the pots.

M. Frary · Oct 2, 2015

Once frozen the enemy is wind. I put them against a north facing wall. Surrounded by a stockade to keep larger anil Al's out. I'll be tossing a room insect fogger under the shed today to get the small ones that are probably in and under it. Then a box of moth balls scattered in and under it to keep them away.

rockm · Oct 2, 2015

You guys are worried about winter...We're still in hurricane season ;-) Ha Joaquin, MISSED US (I shouldn't really taunt the storm before it makes its northward turn, though). Now all we have to get through is 8 inches of rain in the next day or two.

I don't put anything in storage until after Thanksgiving. Need the frost and freezes to prepare the trees for what probably will be a long winter this year.

M. Frary · Oct 2, 2015

I don't put mine away until the leaves fall off of my decidious trees. We've already had frost up here twice. Ice on the windshield 2 days ago.

barrosinc · Oct 2, 2015

M. Frary said:
We've already had frost up here twice. Ice on the windshield 2 days ago.

wow, Michigan seems like a really nice place to live

M. Frary · Oct 2, 2015

If you like 4 seasons. Winter being the longest it is awesome!

Paradox · Oct 2, 2015

Steve C said:
lol you know it's coming soon for all of us in the zones we are in, might as well get it done and over with

I've already started to prepare too albeit reluctantly and kicking and screaming all the way.

Cadillactaste · Oct 2, 2015

Looking good! Looks like a room that is full of things that bring you joy. You have far many more trees than I do as tropical go. Along with more room to spread out.

Crape myrtle...they need far more to have success to winter up this way. Judy had great success with the one she had. If you ever decide to go that route again...speak with her, she surely will give you great advice. Even with hay protection I'm not so sure it would have been enough.

Though it sucks when we lose some from winter...it helps us adapt the following year.

I too allow my native trees to get a bit of our cooler temps to help settle them into winder dormancy before placing them into my cold greenhouse.

aml1014 · Oct 2, 2015

Cadillactaste said:
I too allow my native trees to get a bit of our cooler temps to help settle them into winder dormancy before placing them into my cold greenhouse.

Im building a cold greenhouse right now, do you ever worry about it being to warm during the day in there?

Cadillactaste · Oct 2, 2015

aml1014 said:
Im building a cold greenhouse right now, do you ever worry about it being to warm during the day in there?

See Judy about that. She has a far better set up than I. My set up consists of an alarm going off when it reaches a specific temp and my opening windows. But, until we put shakes on that building...I don't wish to tear into the stucco on the outer building. Trust me...windows do get opened even in winter up north here where I live. Being able to have ventilation is a must.

JudyB · Oct 2, 2015

@aml, here is a link to a thread for my cold storage house. Hope this helps. Yes heat buildup can be the worst issue, but there are some things you can do to keep it reasonable. Clear panels and sunny days are your enemy...
http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/my-cold-green-house.10624/

Steve C · Dec 22, 2015

Just a little update- Everyone is doing well and settled into their indoor climate now for the winter. Fuien Tea's and Bougainvillea's both dropped their leaves and are now regrowing new sets. Ficus have all keep right on growing and just took the wire off a couple of them last week. Looks like everyone should make it through winter just fine.

sorce · Dec 22, 2015

Hell....almost could have left em out!

Still waiting for that there wintero!

Sorce

Steve C · Dec 22, 2015

Yeah no kiddin' man, crazy weather isn't it. Hit 55f here today. I still have to build a wind shield for my outdoor trees to put them behind for the winter but with this weather I'm not even in a rush to worry about them yet

coh · Dec 22, 2015

Expected to stay above freezing here for the next 5-6 days, next two days in the 60s. Moved some of my conifers back outside to take advantage.

If we don't start getting at least more seasonal temperatures by early January, I'll start worrying. Until then, just enjoying it.

markyscott · Dec 22, 2015

Here in Houston we're going to have a very seasonable week with temperatures pushing 80 and eleventy million percent humidity.

I know I don't need a cold frame, but I hope Santa is packing shorts and a tank top.

Scott

Bring on winter!

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