JD_Wolfe

Fletch,

The the above ground coldframe functions surprisingly well in the cold although on the very coldest days (below -20C) I will take it in to the fridge.

With the sun that we've had of late I've had to leave the lid open because of the forementioned "oven-effect." I'm trying to figure out a way to get some temperature controlled ventillation in there but I haven't found a cost-effective option yet. I'm really trying to avoid keeping it in the fridge because I have it in a 18-inch wide wooden grow-box that pretty much eats up all my fridge space and there is only so much canned goods one can eat.

What I have is what is usually called a Momiji, or Moutain Maple, Acer Palmatum (palmatum). I got it from Ken at GoldenAcres. It looked pretty sickly and Ken didn't really want to overwinter it again so I got a deal on it.

Surprise-surprise, 3 months in the fridge and it wakes up in a day and a half like nothing's happened. I was stunned. You should have seen how sickly this thing was in September.

While in the fridge I was really careful about watering it and the bottom of my grow-box is essentially open mesh (with a few cross-members for support -- a kind of bastardized Vance Wood-pot) so the risk of mold was negligible.

I'm stubborn and don't like being told I can't do something and I figure if I can grow JMs in Calgary I might have a future in the bonsai-thing.

And if I can't make it work, well, atleast I'm learning.

Thanks,

Jeremy