Exotic killing cold 7th Feb

[Tom2006]

Not sure if everyone has seen the forecast but tues and weds night will see sub -10c to -15c across a widespread area of the country but mainly central and eastern regions. This WILL seriously damage and probably kill many exotics potted or planted that dont have extreme protection/heating. I will be going out tomorrow to buy some cheap duvets to wrap my planted waggies. If you have planted Dicksonia antarctica consider heating somehow or lifting. Not good....not good at all. Really getting sick of these stupid winter temps!!

[MikeC]

Tom,

ASDA do Smart Price duvets (Kingsize) for under a tenner.

This tropical lark is getting silly with an arctic climate.

[flounder]

just had kittens, my desktop gadget for tues night said -8c when I opened up to check details, it said -2c

[GREVILLE]

What about rolls of loft insulation? Maybe you could snuggle in some bottles of hot water in between the layers and change them morning and evening.

[rufc15lizzie]

What would everyone do with a youngish trachycarpus F? I know most people dont protect but how big does the trunk have to be on a planted Trachycarpus for people to consider it safe not to protect?

[Dave Brown]

There is no wind that I can see, so it is a straight forward radiation frost. At this time of year although the air may be cold the sun has some strength. This will help things cope better than December 2010.

I have duvets ready and have already removed the snow from the lawn to stop 'snowfield' temps, so will not be digging any of mine up.

[stephenprudence]

-10C for a second year running is looking likely here.

Tonight will be pretty severe too, apparently you dont need snow anymore to get severe temperatures... tomorrow morning it will be probably -5C. Currently -2C.

Dave it will be interesting to see if the removal of snow works, it's something I've wondered if it works.. so it'll be interesting to see if it does. Although I can't see you getting temperatures below -4C Dave.

[Dave Brown]

Dave it will be interesting to see if the removal of snow works, it's something I've wondered if it works.. so it'll be interesting to see if it does. Although I can't see you getting temperatures below -4C Dave.

It is interesting as the ground was frozen solid on Saturday, but when I removed the snow yesterday, it had warmed up and thawed. When I removed some of the snow it released warmth and a massive thaw started particularly on the patio, although thick cloud there was enough solar radiation to dry the slabs off in under an hour.

[billdango]

Should be okay down here in exotic Southampton?

No snow and nothing lower then -2c at worst so only minimum protection needed.

At the moment its +4c and cloudy but a chilly north east breeze is picking up.

rgds Billdango

[Tom2006]

I'm going to get a duvet for my large waggie and place large containers of hot water next to my others which I will cover with blankets. If they die that will be it for me in terms of planting out palms/exotics.

[Delboy]

A few days ago Wunderground had Worcester down as -11 for tuesday night.
That has now changed, they are predicting -6.

BBC have me down as -4

I'm hoping it stays around that

[Conifers]

BBC have me down as -4

I'm hoping it stays around that

Granted! It will, for the next 3 years

[Delboy]

[pdid]

Overnight low -2.7c here, probably drop a little more before dawn but not too bad really.

Hopefully we`ll get to +5 or higher during the day.

[karl66]

-1 here at the moment, the overnight lows for the next few days dont look good with -4/5 predicted. Hopefully slightly higher daytime temps will save the day .