Question
QUESTION: Hey, I had a question about overwintering my pair of Macho ferns.  They're both in pots and the larger of the two is a real monster, big enough that I always halfway expect it to jump out of its pot and start stomping on Tokyo skyscrapers until Godzilla arrives to fight it. Here in northern Georgia we're not likely to get enough cold weather that they'll need to spend too long indoors, fortunately.  But something of that size doesn't fit conveniently anywhere at all, as you might imagine, and I can guarantee I won't be able to fit them anywhere where they'll get enough light.

Last winter I set up basic six-foot florescent glow lights, and it didn't seem to be anything like enough, although it kept them alive until spring.  Grow lights are not a subject I know anything about, so I really need some advice about a lighting setup that can keep them healthy, hopefully without its being too expensive.  I'd appreciate any help you can give me as I really love my giant ferns.  Thanks!

ANSWER: Jack hi!

This is my favorite type of question, because it forces me to do some research and learn something new.

I am going to do some investigating (especially regarding prices) and try to find you the most economical and reasonable method.

In other words...I'll have to get back to you tomorrow, after I educate myself.

Just for general information: last year, did you set it up in your garage or in your home?

What would you say is the longest consecutive sub-freezing period (days? weeks?) in your area and how cold does it actually get?

What size of containers are these in?  Do they roll or are they easily movable at all?

Once I learn more about your circumstance and look at all the parameters #cost of lights is one thing, but the energy to run them may be a substantial situation, altogether), I will be able to give you an educated answer.

To be continued...

DC

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dan!

To answer your questions...

Last year I took them into the house.  

We had about three consecutive weeks where it actually dipped just barely below freezing (30, 31 degrees) at night, although it was in the 36-45 degree range at night for November through the beginning of February.  Now that I think about it, they probably spent about at least two months indoors (I didn't remember it as being that long, actually).

The biggest Macho fern is in a 23" diameter pot and is somewhere more than two yards across. The smaller is in a 16" diameter pot and is about a yard across.  Easily movable?  Not so much, no, especially if it's been watered recently.  Trying to fit that big one through a doorway without breaking a dozen fronds is a hernia-inducing operation. But you do what you have to for the plants you're attached to, I suppose.

I'd certainly like an energy-efficient setup (not only cheaper to run but more environmentally-friendly as well), but the initial cost is probably a more pressing concern.  Some of those LED setups look seriously tempting, but I saw an elaborate one selling for $1,200 (Eeek! Run away!).

Thanks again for your help.

Jack

Answer
I think I have a better understanding, now, of your problem.  The plants are too large to haul in and out every time you have freeze warning, thus you are forced to keep them indoors all winter and watch them wither away...

The good news is, no way you need one of those fancy expensive contraptions.  They are often used for active growing in hydroponics and other "home-grown" systems.

In my opinion, you are perfectly fine with one of these systems:

http://growlights.net/items.php?CID=156

Which one would depend on how much you want to spend and how far the plants will be from the light source.  Keep in mind that these will create quite a bit of heat that you will have to deal with.  I would run them 8-10 hours / day.

I would like to offer a couple of alternatives, though.

One is, rather than bring the plants to the heat, bring the heat to the plants:

http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supplies/prod1;gs_cold_frames_1;pg105148f.html

You can cover them as needed and even add some rudimentary heat only on freezing nights.

The other alternative would be to plant the ferns right in the ground and simply cover with blankets on colder nights.  This would provide better root-zone protection than the pot would.  Granted, this will not protect from a hard ground freeze but, from what you describe, I see a very high likelihood for survival (though, without a doubt, you will suffer some surface frost-bite.)  I have learned that leaving the damaged parts on the plant through the winter helps protect the tender ones underneath.

While Macho ferns are truly tropical, the sheer size and girth of your specimens would render them hardier than most.  Keeping them attractive through winter is almost impossible, but I believe any of my suggestions would allow them to survive and, ultimately, flush back every spring (with a vengeance).

Good luck!

DC