Ryan820
Mame
Hello all-
Been doing some searching on here and elsewhere for an answer that may be pretty simple but I've not gotten clear direction. It is in regard to dormancy and trees that come to you from a very different climate.
I bought a chinese elm this past December that was/is actively growing and I recently received plants from evergreengardenworks.com and they are fantastic. Unfortunately, they're also swinging in to full blooming and leafing-out action even though Colorado will have none of it for another few weeks. So, the plants are staying inside. I grow many orchids, specifically japanese orchids, and I have a grow tent with HO t5s I use to keep them happy and growing. I pump humidity in to this tent too. this is where the trees currently live until the weather is kinder and gentler, perhaps, to move the trees outside. I should mention they get a roughly 13 hour a day photo period and ventilation is... robust, maybe... orchids like humidity but dislike stale air so there is a lot of air movement!
So I know how to harden off plants grown inside-- little at a time, keeping them in limited direct sun and try to keep out of the drying winds-- but when it comes to Fall here, should I allow these trees to stay outside up and just before a hard freeze (classically defined as 25F or lower), or, do I bring them in sooner? Sometimes Colorado gives a hard freeze well before the leaves of trees actually turn and fall off! And, for the chinese elm that I'm fairly certain hasn't had a dormancy period before be allowed to go in to dormancy as well? All of the plants I have currently will be in large pots because until I can provide a good cold frame outside, I know for a fact Colorado will kill these trees in the Winter (personal experience). I prefer to grow in the ground and intend to-- but one thing at a time (I also have to finish building my new chicken coop and raised beds first).
What I fear is that since my elm has likely never had a proper cold dormancy, that it won't receive it well. Is dormancy something, like hardening off, I have to do a little more over a period of years or will having it grow outisde all spring and summer and fall fix the situation on its own?
Sorry for wordiness--- not sure if I'm getting my message across!
Been doing some searching on here and elsewhere for an answer that may be pretty simple but I've not gotten clear direction. It is in regard to dormancy and trees that come to you from a very different climate.
I bought a chinese elm this past December that was/is actively growing and I recently received plants from evergreengardenworks.com and they are fantastic. Unfortunately, they're also swinging in to full blooming and leafing-out action even though Colorado will have none of it for another few weeks. So, the plants are staying inside. I grow many orchids, specifically japanese orchids, and I have a grow tent with HO t5s I use to keep them happy and growing. I pump humidity in to this tent too. this is where the trees currently live until the weather is kinder and gentler, perhaps, to move the trees outside. I should mention they get a roughly 13 hour a day photo period and ventilation is... robust, maybe... orchids like humidity but dislike stale air so there is a lot of air movement!
So I know how to harden off plants grown inside-- little at a time, keeping them in limited direct sun and try to keep out of the drying winds-- but when it comes to Fall here, should I allow these trees to stay outside up and just before a hard freeze (classically defined as 25F or lower), or, do I bring them in sooner? Sometimes Colorado gives a hard freeze well before the leaves of trees actually turn and fall off! And, for the chinese elm that I'm fairly certain hasn't had a dormancy period before be allowed to go in to dormancy as well? All of the plants I have currently will be in large pots because until I can provide a good cold frame outside, I know for a fact Colorado will kill these trees in the Winter (personal experience). I prefer to grow in the ground and intend to-- but one thing at a time (I also have to finish building my new chicken coop and raised beds first).
What I fear is that since my elm has likely never had a proper cold dormancy, that it won't receive it well. Is dormancy something, like hardening off, I have to do a little more over a period of years or will having it grow outisde all spring and summer and fall fix the situation on its own?
Sorry for wordiness--- not sure if I'm getting my message across!