As you note. in some cases, dryness is more important than insulation. Th e oncocyclus irises for examplecan stand a fair amount of cold near zero but not wetness of rotting humus or the associated bacteria. Usually Erwinia carotovora. ----- 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 w > > 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/