The Wait... The Cold... The Damage...

Jay

Here I am getting ready to leave on vacation and I'm thinking of my trees. It has not reached 32F in nearly two weeks and will not until midweek next week. This is the longest cold snap we have had since I started into Bonsai 4 years ago! When I get up in the morning for the last week or so the temps have been 2-6 degrees.

My thoughts are, did the trees make it? At this time, there is nothing more I can do. My trees in the back yard, burried in the ground with windbreaks or cold frames are feeling these temps full on. I can only hope they are OK. My trees in the unheated garage are a bit warmer. And, the trees with the home made heating under them are going no lower than 26 degrees. This is a good test of my wintering techniques. Hopefully I am doing it correctly.

I keep hearing in my head Colin Lewis saying we baby or trees to much during the winter. Well, this winter, I hope I did enough!!!

The Wait..... The Cold.... please no death or damage!

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

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bass

I know what you mean Jay... last time I checked on the trees i have in the ground they were somewhat damaged... for example the junipers were turning brownish in color... they're not dead though... the maple had some dead branches....
I'm glad I built the greenhouse last summer but I'm paying a lot for electricity.... i'm keeping it at 45, but during the day when the sun is out it's been going to 60- 70 degrees...
bass

FredL

Here in the Ozarks (Zone 6), we have an extreme Continental Climate. What that means is really outrageous extremes in temperarures from December through March. It's like an endless succession of 3 day Springs alternating with 3 day Arctic Winters. Last week, for a couple of days we had afternoon temperatures in the 70sF. This morning the thermometer reads 6 degrees Farenheit.

This is only my second Winter here trying to grow Bonsai. Last Winter, I lost some due, I think, to an extended cold snap in late March after I brought my trees out from Winter Quarters too early. Argh!!!

I hope Brother Wilson is correct. This year I have my trees well shaltered from wind and they are in a spot that doesn't warm up as fast as the rest of the yard, but they are exposed to the full extent of low temperature. The population I have has moved towards native species that mostly made it through my mis-management of last Winter, but I'm still pretty worried about how many of them will make it. Their brethern growing naturally in the ground seem to mostly make it, seemingly much more vunerable to shade or dry soil in droughts than hard Winters, but I'm still worried.

A big difference between this Winter and last is that I collected most of my trees in the Fall last year. This year, all were in their pots at least 8 months before Winter struck. I'm betting this will make a major difference.

Regards, Fred

Jay

Fred and Bass, know where you guys are coming from.

My unheated garage is attached to the house on the north side. The common wall gives off a (very) small amount of heat. This way it moderates the temps inside a bit. I notice that the garage gets cold slower than the outside air... and then on warmer days it gets less warm and it does it slower. This has aided my trees. As for the home made heating under the trees, it is there just to moderate the temps a bit. If the outside is going to be in the 20's or higher I unplug it. But with this Canadian Cold Front I will leave it plugged in for now.

Keep warm and hopefully the trees will be fine!

Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

sw

I have my trees in my unattatched garage and I've definately been worried. I'm in upstate N.Y. and last night it went below 0 (F). What I did was I hooked up 2, 75watt halogen light bulbs in those reflector domes and I put them about 12 inches from my trees just pointing in the general vicinity not directly at them. According to my thermometer the temp. went from 17(F) up to 21(F) and that was at night at it's coldest. I hope it's not too little too late. I also heard of actually stringing Christmas lights to the tree and that's supposed to give off just enough heat to help. Who knows? I'm just hoping for the best.
Steve

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A beginner, always looking to learn new things!

Jay

Steve, if I am correct, it is not the above ground tree that is important temp wise. It is the roots below the ground. The trunk and limbs can get much colder than the roots. If your trees are on a shelf in the garage, aim the light (heat) up from the bottom of the shelf.

How far upstate are you? I am in Orange County NY... Warwick to be exact.

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

sw

I'm actually in Schenectady which is right near our state capital of Albany. The way the weather has been though I feel like I might as well be in Alaska! I understand what your saying about keeping the roots warm and that is my intention which is why I have the lights good point about the positioning though. I'll give it a try.

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A beginner, always looking to learn new things!