Hi All- Thanks for all your comments. In my case I have the sand bed and the stone mulch bone dry when I cover it so I am not particularly concerned about rot. In fact, dryness seems to be as important as insulation. My major concern is keeping snow melt out of the soil with the consequent freeze damage in the next temperature drop. So I went ahead and picked up a couple of rolls tonight and I'll report on performance some time in April. Regards, Phil Southern (tropical) Michigan, zone 5ish. > From: adam14113@ameritech.net > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 17:55:04 -0600 > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > > Hello Santoury in Mass. In was talking about growing oncocyclus species and > hybrids. (very touchy) as examples of touchy geophytes. the idea was the > the method might be extended to others needing to be protected. > > Sounds as if you missed a posting. Regards, Adam > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <santoury@aol.com> > To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 4:07 PM > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > > > > > > I thought we were talking about bubble wrap? Isn't that plastic? Pardon if > > I misunderstood. > > The moisture from the rotting leaves is what causes the root rot that > > kills them. > > Sand actually probably may be part of the problem, since sand is very > > compressed, and does not allow for any air circulation. > > Maybe it would be helpful to know what kind of plants you're talking > > about. > > Massachusetts is probably much milder, but it's also very wet in winter. > > > > > > > > I don't cover the plants wet. Also, the fact that the styrofoam panels > > are flat allows air circulation under it. Also each plant is covered with > > 2-4" of dry sand.. Massachusetts winters can't be harsher than Chicago in > > terms of degrees below zero > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: <santoury@aol.com> > > To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > > Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 3:21 PM > > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > > > >>I did not see the original post - but plastic will rot anything under it. > >> >People here in Mass. cover lawns with plastic, or even tarps, in order to > >> >kill grass, and everything else, to re-seed. > >> People here use HAY for protection in winter. It would also be a much > > >> better insulator than a sheet of plastic. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Jtlehmann@aol.com > >> To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> Sent: Mon, Nov 8, 2010 2:25 pm > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > >> > >> > >> I realize the interest is covering the entire bed, and not individual > >> plants, but as a word of caution: I have known people who used regular > > >> bubble > >> wrap to protect individual tender plants without success; I know of no > > >> one > >> who has used it with success. The plants rot over the winter. > >> _______________________________________________ > >> pbs mailing list > >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> pbs mailing list > >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/