microfarmer,
Direct sunlight is bad when it is colder than 45 deg F. So any diffuse light would greatly help. Definitely the white cover will help a lot, anything to filter out direct sunlight. The white cover will actually reflect more sunlight away. One of the reasons why I wanted a darker color is to keep the canopy warmer up a bit and at the same time providing some shading and diffused light.
Any temperature above 55 deg F will help prevent leaf damage under direct sunlight but will provide some active growth, so by all means do it, when you have 60 deg F.
Joe
Quote:
Originally Posted by microfarmer
I had no idea the sunlight was bad for the nanners when it's cold.
After our first frost singed the leaves, I pulled mine (still in 25 gal. buckets) under a temporary patio cover (basically a tent w/o sides) for frost protection. It is white so there is bright light, but no direct sunlight.
They seem to be doing ok without further damage. Could this just be an optimistic observation?
Do you think it'd be better to shade them a bit (I already have the shade cloth) just to be sure?
On another note, I am going to build a planter on the side of my garage (south facing) for a couple of them for next year and was going to put up a clear UV durable corrugated 'roof' for next winter as a sort of greenhouse so I don't have to dig them up and store them elsewhere. Would this be a good way to overwinter them if the 'inside' temps stayed above 60 degrees during the day?
And lastly, I got a 'California Gold' spear sucker about a foot tall in August. It grew new roots, but no new leaves (though I saw the spiral leaf tip starting to come out). It is also with the other normally growing plants under the 'tent' and most likely now dormant, but I was considering bringing it inside to see if I could wake it up sooner and get some leaf growth overwinter so it grows faster next spring when I'll plant it in the ground outside with the rest. What do you think?
Thanks!
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