Cold Frame

[nomolos]

Can people share info of how they make small coldframes for their palnts, what material used etc...

Also what sort of rocks do people put around their palms for cold protection.

Any photos would be good.

Cheers

Sol

[Palmy]

Put a think layer of black rocks to absorb sun and the roots will stay warm. I dont have any pics right now, but I use a plastic for protecting houses from rain, a clear one. Thats just one material, a cheap one but works for me. I was protecting a 4 footer palm. Basically I make a rectangle prism. I cover the prism with several sheets of plastic. I really try to keep air in. It keeps temps up 5-7F during night. Thats for palms in the ground. I have a greenhouse for the potted palms.

[MattyB]

I used regular doug fir, primed it and skinned it w/ plastic sheeting on the inside of the studs.  Shade cloth on the outside of the studs for sun protection.  It's worked very well.  2 vents, one roof and one low window, w/ automatic openers.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

(MattyB @ Apr. 10 2007,19:25)

QUOTE

I used regular doug fir, primed it and skinned it w/ plastic sheeting on the inside of the studs.  Shade cloth on the outside of the studs for sun protection.  It's worked very well.  2 vents, one roof and one low window, w/ automatic openers.

That structure is getting me all kinds of envious!  I want one!!!

[osideterry]

Nice clean lines. Do you need a wider rain-diverter? Hard to imagine plastic sheeting handling the 7" in one day that can happen in an El Niño year.

[MattyB]

Terry, the plastic sheeting is way tougher than you give it credit.  I don't think you can rip it with your hands, it's pretty beefcake.  When it's cold I can thwap (official word) the taunt plastic w/ my finger and it sounds like a drum.   The rain diverter on the garage roof is just to keep the runoff away from the window vent.  It dosen't leak.