Keeping trees inside over night?

[CuriousLayman]

I know you can't keep an outside tree inside. But I have few trees: crabapple, japanese maple, japanese larch that have started leafing out already. It was 70f today but it will be 21f Friday night. Would you just cover them or set them inside over night?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Either will work. We joke about the "bonsai two-step" but that is exactly what people are referring to - running their trees in and out when frost threatens.

 

[quietobserver]

I know you can't keep an outside tree inside. But I have few trees: crabapple, japanese maple, japanese larch that have started leafing out already. It was 70f today but it will be 21f Friday night. Would you just cover them or set them inside over night?

Inside, preferably in not too warm a place. 21 is damn cold after leafing out and 70 something.

 

[CuriousLayman]

My inside spot stays about 61 degrees this time of year. It's a finished basement that I don't put as much heat in as the rest of house.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

21 and leafing would have me bringing them in for the night.

 

[miker]

With my trident now fully leafed out, it will be spending essentially half of the next month indoors under a grow light. So far, it is producing strong, healthy growth. The only other tree I have that is leafing out is my Stewartia, which arrived in the mail that way.

With temperatures forecast to go as low as 16F here in a few days, most of my trees will be going in the shed with a space heater to keep temps 32F +. Why risk anything if I can easily protect all my trees. With a larger collection, keeping them as cold as possible for as long as possible would/ be my strategy.

I even let my little venus fly trap freeze for almost 2 months, turning everything but the center rosette black. Now with the warm up, it is pushing growth like crazy, so in it goes.

 

[Soldano666]

Yup in and out for the next 4 weeks for me. Just a crab and elm tho. The rest are luckily still sleeping

 

[Potawatomi13]

Did exactly this with one tree "supposed" not cold hardy. Finally put out as some small growth happening then one day was covered with frozen rain! Back inside, thawed and fine. Back outside several frosts later and new growth undamaged. If is actually Cork Oak then reasonably hardy here.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Inside! Inside! ...wanders off chanting....

 

[M. Frary]

Mine are still frozen to the ground. Plus we got 6 inches of fresh snow today. Things are looking good.

 

[Tieball]

Mine are still frozen to the ground. Plus we got 6 inches of fresh snow today. Things are looking good.

Winter is not done yet...is it?
I think a layer of snow at this time of the year is still good.

 

[M. Frary]

Winter is not done yet...is it?
I think a layer of snow at this time of the year is still good.

It's awesome.

 

[ajm55555]

"You can't keep an outside tree inside" is the general rule but the reason is deciduous trees should be driven by the seasons.
If it already thinks it's Spring, you're just helping it if you create a "springish" environment inside while outside it went back to Winter ;-)