Freeze out

[littlefrog]

So, turns out when the wind blows the east and west doors of my barn open, a lot of stuff freezes. Happened in the middle of the night last week. Fortunately I was in the barn in the morning - 99/100 days I only go out when I get home from work. It was 37F at shoulder height (and 15F outside). Would have lost everything except for that.

So, lost about half the phrags and pretty much all the parvis. Haven't counted because I don't want to know, probably a couple hundred. And a bunch of random dendrobiums and other stuff I don't really care about.

So far just the plants lowest to the floor, no damage higher than that. Yet... Ironically the cool growers got whacked because that's where I keep them. Anything on the bottom shelf near the walls looks ok, except for a few random phrags. Maybe some will come back from the crowns.

 

[Justin]

Oh no!

 

[mrhappyrotter]

Sorry to hear about this. It probably hurts to lose so many plants all at once like this.

Sorry if this is being insensitive, but I was under the impression that most parvies are a little more cold tolerant than a lot of other Paph sections. Did they experience a hard freeze?

On the topic of the Phrags: Small seedlings and weak plants might be a total loss, but larger and more mature plants may have enough energy stored up in the roots to support new growths even if all the mature growths are mush. I experimented last year with a tub of Phrags in my barely heated greenhouse. It was my first year growing in the greenhouse and I had several thermostat issues along the way, so the Phrags likely experienced freezing or near freezing temps. They all took heavy damage, but most (maybe even all) of them survived and are doing much better now even though they looked like they were on death's door by the time spring rolled around. Except for the Phrag. pearcei that I stuck back in there this winter because I'm out of space. I'm only mentioning this since there may be a glimmer of hope, even if it looks bad.

 

[littlefrog]

I think the parvis froze solid... They were all brown mush by the end of the day. Maybe some will come back. Phrags were a bit farther from the wind, we shall see. If not, it is a good excuse to buy new plants.

Honestly I'm not really that upset. Kind of seems like I should be, but after 40+ years I've gotten used to losing a few at a time.

 

[big923cattleya]

You seem to be taking this calmly. I just can only imagine how I would have reacted. But I guess what is done, is done.
If the wind was out of the East Rob, you might have heard my screams on the wind!

 

[littlefrog]

You seem to be taking this calmly. I just can only imagine how I would have reacted. But I guess what is done, is done.
If the wind was out of the East Rob, you might have heard my screams on the wind!

My hearing is going too, so I'll a need fireworks based alarm system.

 

[gonewild]

That's sad to hear. Where were the phrags located? There are some cheap wifi temperature alarms with phone apps.

 

[Tom-DE]

I think the parvis froze solid... They were all brown mush by the end of the day. Maybe some will come back. Phrags were a bit farther from the wind, we shall see. If not, it is a good excuse to buy new plants.

Honestly I'm not really that upset. Kind of seems like I should be, but after 40+ years I've gotten used to losing a few at a time.

That is the spirit, Rob. I am sure the loss hurts but life goes on...

 

[kman]

So sorry to hear. Failure of any heating system (like an open door) is a nightmare. I hope some of the key plants survive.

 

[Djthomp28]

Eek. I am so sorry, Rob. That sucks!!

I am impressed by your composure, calmness, and positive outlook!

 

[littlefrog]

That's sad to hear. Where were the phrags located? There are some cheap wifi temperature alarms with phone apps.

I keep (kept?) most of them on my lowest shelf, just a few inches above the floor. The ones that froze were basically in the direct line between the two doors. A few weeks ago I moved half of them to a bench that is the same height, but next to the wall. Minimal damage on that side.

I learned where my best air circulation is! Which is exactly where the freezing didn't happen. Plus side, all my seedlings (several hundred) are on higher, less ventilated, hopefully warmer shelves. I was going to need that space anyway.

Phone app would be great, but I don't have any signal in the barn. It is a big metal heavily insulated, box. Pretty much not freezable, even if the power goes out for a couple days. I've done that experiment. Unless of course the doors are open...

 

[gonewild]

With the temperature inversion layer you have inside put strong fans up high blowing down.to forcr the warm air down. Same concept used I orchards with big wind machines.
You could set the thermostats to only come on at emergency low temp.

 

[Justin]

Cold damage can sometimes take several days to show, so keep an eye on your other plants. But any damage you get on multis etc. may look rough, but at this stage should be mainly cosmetic.

 

[Cody]

Sorry to hear that Rob, been through that a few times myself. Winter sucks. Buuutttt, you needed the space anyway...

 

[Ray]

Sorry to hear that, Rob.

Been there, but lost my entire 20+year collection back in 1994. It's devastating.

 

[NYEric]

Sorry to read. I guess I don't need to make a trip to Michigan.

 

[richgarrison]

applaud your Zen mindset Rob... now you have room for more flasks...

 

[clearsky57]

little like closing the barn door after the horse gets out, but,,,, I lost a lot of plants a few years ago, when the door of my gh was opened? with really bad weather, and after about 2 weeks, trashed all the brown mushy plants, (checked roots and crowns before throwing out).. so one thing i decided to do was I added heat mats to all my benched plants.... hoping if the plants ever caught a huge temp swing again, at least the pots/roots would keep at a decent temp and hopefully not loose the entire plant... I look at it as insurance, as i have not had that happen again.
Sorry for your loss..... it sucks.... in my accident, i lost about 2 dozen heirloom plants.

 

[swamprad]

I’m very sorry. I’ve been there and I know how it feels. Onward and upward!

 

[Bailey Hale]

Ouch. So sorry to hear this. I feel your pain. I lost about 1,500 plants to freezing a couple of years so. Surprisingly some survived, namely most of the Parvis (and Disa and Cymbidiums).

It does take weeks and months to be certain that some are fully gone. Let’s hope the freeze was brief snd some of them surprise you!