Adam, That is interesting, thanks for the references. I would like to say that my choice of bed location was based on my deep knowledge of bulb and succulent culture, but its the only viable place close to the house foundation. I got lucky. I had been concerned about the lack of late afternoon sun, but it seems to be fine for most agaves, cacti, and lilies but not so great for a few of the south african succulents that appear to need more sun. The site has worked so well that I kept expanding it and its now at the practical size limit. I would have to cut down a couple of the evil black walnuts to expand further. I have not tried oncocyclus yet but if you can grow them in Illinois, its worth a try here. Regards, Phil SE Michigan where the garden stores are out of most supplies as if no one gardens in November..... > From: adam14113@ameritech.net > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 10:03:46 -0600 > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix and oncocylus notes > > Hi. Southeast is interesting because that's the exposure noted by > Werckmeister and somebody else (Mouterde?) in an early paper for plants in > Syria. Probably morning sun and only light from later when the sun's > really hot in summer. . > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "P. C. Andrews" <pcamusa@hotmail.com> > To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 6:39 AM > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > > > > > > Hi Adam- There is not a huge lake effect here but the winters don't seem > > any worse than mid-Indiana. The bed has a very minimal slope to the > > southeast but is against the foundation which offers some protection and > > it has a thick layer of sand for drainage (with a gravel drainage channel > > at the drip edge). I have a gradient of plants from the foundation > > outwards graded by cold and moisture sensitivity (mostly by trial and > > error). > > Regards, > > Phil > > > >> From: adam14113@ameritech.net > >> To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 20:16:56 -0600 > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > >> > >> Phil? Your climate is much like mine in Glenview,IL Maybe a tad warmer > >> due > >> to lake effect and prevaiing winds. Does your soil slope to the SW?. > >> Better if it does for combined effects of drainage, wind direction, etc. > >> . > >> > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "P. C. Andrews" <pcamusa@hotmail.com> > >> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > >> Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 6:21 PM > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > >> > >> > >> > > >> > 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/ > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > 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/