WINTER  POLY-HOUSE

This protects your bonsai from the drying winds and keeps moisture in.


MATERIALS REQUIRED:

(All materials can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes)

- 70 mil clear plastic, or white/milky if the site is in the sun.  (8 x 25 ft or 10 x 25 ft roll)
- Five pieces of 1/2 to 3/4" aluminum conduit.  Bend 4 of the pieces at a 90 degree angle at their centers, and then a 45 degree angle halfway out on each side.  The fifth piece remains straight.
- Two 8' lengths of 2x4 wood, with holes large enough for rebar to fit through, to be drilled in about an inch from each end and the other two holes at about the 32" and 64" marks.
- 8 pieces of 2 ft long rebar.



CONSTRUCTION:

Position in a north-facing/shaded location for best results.  (If constructed in a sunny location it will act like a greenhouse & will get too warm inside.)
Attach the two 2x4s to the ground by pounding 2 ft pieces of rebar through the pre-drilled holes half way into the ground.
Place the 4 bent pieces of conduit onto the pieces of rebar sticking out of the ground connecting the two 2x4s.
Attach the straight piece of conduit to the 90 degree top bend of the other four with duct tape, u-bolts, or similar.
The structure should now be about 4'W x 3 to 4'H x 8'L.
If you need more space build another section on the end(s).

You can lay down some weed block or gravel on the ground inside if you like.

Some people like to mulch inside.  We do not recommend this as it can provide a breeding ground for pests, mold or fungus in this damp environment & makes it a little more difficult to determine if your trees are drying out & require moisture.

Small trees can be put together in a larger pot or container, and then fill in the space between the smaller pots with your usual soil mix.  (This now acts like a larger pot & freezers/thaws at a slower rate.)

Water everything in place.

Put the plastic over the frame, staple or tack along the lengths of the 2x4s, and close both ends.

You can shovel snow into the poly-house onto the pots to provide moisture when it melts or water when the inside is dry & we experience a warm spell with temperatures above freezing.  NEVER water when the temperature is below freezing.

Check inside every 3 to 4 weeks: visual and tactile exam to notice the moisture level inside; olfactory exam to verify a nice earthy smell, NOT moldy.

You'll probably need to water 2 or 3 times in the winter in this climate.

Especially critical in the springtime to moderate the quick temperature swings which could kill your trees.  You can also use a blanket to keep the area dark if necessary.

Chinese elm and boxwood are borderline hardy.


You can reuse all the parts every year, the poly itself will last 2 to 5 years.