saturn

I have several potted Queen Palms. I usually bring them in the garage when it is near 25F or less and have done well this way. I've got some 20F nights forecast, and occasionally I get down to 17F.
This year I am out of room in the garage and really need to find a way to keep these palms.
Can keep them outside, with protection?
A) how low?
B) what protection is needed?

They are 2-4' tall, about 5" diameter at soil line, and in 10-14" pots.
I have a small temp greenhouse. I actually don't know how to best use this, as it does not retain heat overnite. Does just keeping them sheltered help at all?
I was going to try wrapping the trunks with xmas lights, but not sure how many to use?
I've also got sheets and blankets, but not sure which is better, wraps or lights?

Or would I be better off booting my potted brugmansia from the garage and overwintering them in the temp greenhouse and using that space for the queen palms?

Bradford

I think anything you can do for them would surely be beneficial. I would put them in the green house and maybe have a small space heater set on low with them. People grow them in the ground around here and they do fine, never gets much below 30F though. Hopefully someone with more knowlege will chime in.

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God grows bananas.

Abnshrek

Sounds like you need some Pindo or Mule palms.. :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

saturn

If I had more $ I would simply do experimentation myself so I would know.

People quote certain temp values, but certainly the size of the palm & rootball, plus duration of the temp makes some difference.

I kept them in the 'greenhouse', which certainly retains NO HEAT at all overnight. Being plastic sheet, and with my heater having a short cord, I really don't think that will work. I did throw a string of lights in there when it got to 26F and they were fine. It's the temps lower than this that I worry about... I have been in Florida during cold times and people were always wrapping their Queens anywhere near 32F, so I dunno.

I guess I will just cram them into my garage, as usual. If I was able to cut back my brugs I might have more room, but I have never cut the brugs back for garage storage.

Yeah, I do have a Tracy and I used to have a Pindo - one of my favs, but it does take a lot of room.