Are you sure that you don't mean that you turn on the heat in Nov. or Dec.? April would kind of defeat the purpose. No?

LOL no. I only fireup the greenhouse to give my annuals and vegetable seedlings a head start. If i heat the green house over the whole winter, it would cost me thousands of $$$.

If you are going to try to overwinter a TF you will need to find a warm location prefrable against a south facing wall. Also supply additional heat if temperature drop below -15C This may vary depending on the hardiness of your plant. You would likely have better success planting a needle or sabal minor.

Btw, where did you get your TF or plan to get your TF.

Well, the reality is, that a TF will not survive in Zone 6a without some dry, heated protection... especially before it's very well established in the ground. Even at -15C, while an established and very healthy TF might survive, this is only if those sub-zero temps are not lasting for a long time. The problem with our area, is that those sub-zero temps can last for weeks at a time. That would kill or if you are lucky, only seriously damage a TF. In actual fact, it would also kill or seriously damage a Needle as well. There are those who have tried.

The best is to provide some heat during the winter for at least 2-3 years, having provided lots of ferts during the summer and fall and a good hit of Epsom Salts (uncented) in the spring and in the fall before protecting. This will help it survive.

Hope that helps and good luck.

Thank you for all the advise! I purchased the TF from Bambooworld. Their web site is http://www.bambooworld.ca/ . Purchased a 5 gallon form $45.00 CAD, they sent a very nice and health plant. What would be the best method of winter protection for TF. I've done a bit of research, and some have used Soil heating cables, hair dryers to christmas lights to protect their precious palms. Can the plam be covered in plastic throught the whole winter? Does it go dormant? What does the Epson Salt do? LOL Sorry too many questions!

Well, I'm the hairdryer guy. I build structures the size necessary and put in a blowdryer that's connected to a baseboard thermostat. I keep the temps just above freezing. I could have let them drop more, I suppose, but there were some nice flowers around the palm and I kinda wanted to keep them going... you know.... for some color during those really dull and nasty winter days.

The Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) is a benificial minor that the palms use. In fact, if your palm starts to get yellow spots on the fronds, it could be an indication that it's lacking magnesium sulfate.

Now I don't know this as a fact, but I wonder if the salts part helps the palm deal with colder temps since it would seem the the cells would take longer to freeze.... just a guess. I'm no scientist! LOL

But as for the blow dryer, the best advice that I can give, is to ONLY use one that has a VERY low setting that's still warm. I bought ours from Walmart and made sure that they had a low, heat setting that only drew about 400 Watts of power. That was enough to heat both palms this winter, which of course, isn't a huge hit to the electric bill.

As for heating cables, from what I've seen, they draw as much as or more than 400 Watts and then, only heat the soil, not the air around the palm. The fronds would definately be affected.

In this picture, you'll see a 25 gal pail of water. This is used to buffer the temps (less drastic changes in temp).
to the left and top of the picture, you'll see the blow dryer, aimed at the water in the pail.

Just below that, the little square thing, is the baseboard thermostat.

{{gwi:1135379}}

blondboy47, out of curiosity, how much extra are you spending in $$ to heat the palm structure. I really want to make this thing work, but am concerned about the extra work (busy schedule)....

there's not much work after the initial setup.
As for cost, it's hard to say for that one structure. We have the hoop greenhouse that we assemble in the late fall. Then there's the other structure for the larget palm.

But as for cost, for our prices, I would think it cost about $50-$60 per month extra for all totalled. BUT THEN, we screwed up on the greenhouse this winter, which was a very cold and long winter. We didn't insualte enough, so it cost extra to heat.

I'd have to really compare the bills from summer to winter to be sure... but I really didn't see a horrifying difference. LOL

We dont' smoke and don't drink much, so the extra $$$ for the hobby is OK. ):)

I am in a zone 6 location in eastern Connecticut.
I have a trachycarpus wagnerianus and Fortunei survive the last winter with ease- both where covered and protected, but given no added heat.

These palms where about 3-4 gallon size, and hardened off for years. From my perspective, these palms can be grown in a zone 6- but will need to be protected.

I think it's that hardending off thing I can't get my head around. How, exactly, does one harden off without exposing the palms to very cold temps in the first place?

I think that some think that hardening off is nothing more than just leaving it to it's own means no matter how cold it is.

Any ideas??

I mean, I'd love to trust that I could overwinter ours without heat... but I'm not seeing that... plus, the new Palm Grove that I'm putting in today will have some Washingtonia Filiferas, which do need heat here. There will be a couple of T. Fortuneis, a T.Takil and something else! LOL (can't remember its name and to lazy to get up from the patio table and my coffee to go see). LOL :)

blondboy47, we are the same. Don't drink or smoke, but spend a fortune on my garden each year lol. I read your other post on Musa Basjoo, congrats on it coming back. I've yet to plant my new Basjoo. Did you have any problems with Slugs/Snails eating your Basjoo, when it emerges? I want to plant mine out side, but it's still so small and the leaves are still fairly small as well.

So far, no slugs or snails bothering the shoot, but thanks for reminding me. I will have to remember when I get back home tonight to put some slug/snail killer stuff around it. I hadn't even thought of that.

dragontek, what is the coldest temp that your TF was exposed too in Connecticut.

I will construct a wood crate this summer and I'd like to know what kind of heat source is best. I have a 45w halogen bulb. Could I mount that inside there for heat? I don't want to make a mini greenhouse that will leave my tree acclimated to a hot season while it's in there and unprepared for simple teens to 30s. Will the halogen on a timer for night hours mess with the plant growth? I will be in Argentina and Brazil from sep-dec6th....so I can't monitor temps. I can have them throw up the box if the forecast shows that it is necessary, but I don't want to ask too much. Does anyone have a light based heat source that works for them?