Tumbarumba Area

[jimd]

Hi everyone. Just moved to Tumbarumba from St Helens Park in Campbelltown NSW. Trying to set up gardens on a three quarter acre with nothing on it. will visit nurseries in the Albury and near Victoria in the next couple of weeks. My main concern is that a landscaper in the area helping me with the gardens said he hoped I was prepared to lose the four ficus I have because of the frost in Tumba in winter. He suggested I move them inside the house which I cannot. I have always been told bonsai cannot survivie in side. Any suggestiosn ro comments?

[Jarrod]

Hi, I have some ficus and am in melb. I find it best to keep them in a hot house. Perhaps think about putting one in while your getting the garden done. It will help considerably with propagation as well.

I think a few members here keep them in open ended poly tunnels with great results.

[craigw60]

Hi I live in Olinda in the dandenong ranges in victoria. We get frost and a little snow every winter. My figs do just fine although it is a very short growing season. The main thing with figs and cold weather is to keep them very dry cold seems to be ok but cold and wet is a disaster. I have a poly tunnel where I house them over the winter so they are out of the rain. Hope that is of some help

[shibui]

Yackandandah has a similar climate to Tumba. Ficus here need protection over winter but do ok in an unheated poly house. One grower at Beechworth (maybe even colder) had a small poly house about 1.5 m x 1.5m heated by one incandescent globe on cold nights. Enough to keep the temp above freezing.

Ficus are rainforest plants and can grow ok inside if you can find a nice bright place. Most temperate plants do not like conditions inside but rainforest plants are adapted to lower light levels and can do ok (think of all the indoor plants we grow and where they originate).

Another experienced grower suggested that DOLOMITE can improve cold resistance so I try to remember to give the figs a sprinkle each autumn in the hope he was right. A light dusting over the soil surface is enough.
A Tasmanian ag dept frost expert told me that good 'salt' levels (read magnesium and calcium, see above) in the plant cells does indeed protect plants from frost damage. This may also be the reason for reducing nitrogen and increasing potash and phosphorus levels in autumn (both salts) to improve winter hardiness. He even said that if frost threatens and plants have not been prepared a saltwater (sodium chloride/ table salt) spray over the leaves can let the leaves absorb enough salt to protect them to some extent. I was so busy absorbing this info and enjoying the dinner that I didn't ask whether this referred to bonsai, all plants or just crop plants so take this info as you will.

[Matthew]

im moving outside wangaratta in the hillsin a few weeks and it can get -7 there. averages 2 to -2 been somewhat elevated. I will be building a heated ,humidity controlled (fogger) hothouse for my figs as i wont be parting from them (already attached to my trees,my partner thinks its pathetic) im coming from central queensland so the climate change is big. they will do ok inside provided you watch aircons etc, they need good sunlight or growth will b leggy.

[Glenda]

im moving outside wangaratta in the hillsin a few weeks and it can get -7 there. averages 2 to -2 been somewhat elevated. I will be building a heated ,humidity controlled (fogger) hothouse for my figs as i wont be parting from them (already attached to my trees,my partner thinks its pathetic) im coming from central queensland so the climate change is big. they will do ok inside provided you watch aircons etc, they need good sunlight or growth will b leggy.

Moving for the good of your maples, Noah?

[jimd]

Thank you everyone for your comments and help. I will try some of the hints and tips. Jimd

[Greth]

Shibui, Ive seen an American using strings of Christmas lights to keep the frost off plants, maybe this would work rather than one bulb, could lay them down along or even over the trees. May make people wonder about your sanity, but won't it look pretty, apparently just the small amount of heat is enough to keep the frost off.

[shibui]

Good idea Greth so far with my poly tunnel I have not needed additional heating and I hope it stays that way but it could be useful for others.