Search results

Re: Putting More Tropicality into Your Locality Zone 6b Styl CincyPool , it was all built by hand . 6x6 posts, 2x4 knee walls, 2x6 rafters all pressure treated . I got the bamboo and thatch from Calibamboo. The reed fencing that is on top of the roof is from HD and it is stapled to PT lattice...

Re: Putting More Tropicality into Your Locality Zone 6b Styl Melt In The Sun ... Everything in the desert bed is hardy temp wise . The problem here is moisture . So if it is going to be a major rain or snow event followed by extreme cold I cover some things (mainly agaves) to keep the moisture...

Re: Putting More Tropicality into Your Locality Zone 6b Styl Lr9788 Some of the bananas I pot and keep in the house in a sunny room (some water once a week). Trying to get away from keeping them in the house . It can get a little messy . Any leaves that are produced indoors over the winter die...

I think it could be built without the kit . The main post is around 6" dia. and sunk 2-3' into the ground If you get any snow load they recommend putting chicken wire under the thatch . I have since changed that to fence with a 2"x4" opening . It supports the thatch better . I used zip ties...

I have a palapa . It came in a kit from palapakings.com . A little pricey but , it is very authentic and we love it . We eat under the palapa everyday in the Summer ! The bad news is in my climate (PA) the thatch needs replaced about every 2 years as it tends to rot .Still cheaper than a trip...

Re: Putting More Tropicality into Your Locality Zone 6b Styl chiefwej --- I have a pretty large med fan palm in a pot that I have been thinking about planting but , it will need to be protected . We got down to -2F last winter ...

Re: Putting More Tropicality into Your Locality Zone 6b Styl Shane1 --- Just some of the bananas and all of the cannas and elephant ears . Lantana responded well to digging and repotting last year so I am going to try that again as well . It's really not that hard and it's great exercise !!!

Re: Putting More Tropicality into Your Locality Zone 6b Styl Thanks to all for the nice compliments ... Ivyleager --- We get some japanese beetles in July but , they haven't been too bad the last couple years ... Samantha in AL --- Japanese windmill palms , pindo palm , mexican fan palm ...

Here are a few pics from my backyard pool area here in south central PA ... Hope you enjoyed ...

Melissab - I need the whole cover . The cover material is completely coming apart at the seams . I checked with the dealer and I think they wanted $400 or more for the replacement Dynasty cover . Siska - I really have no idea why it only lasted a year (bad material ?) but , I would not put...

Anyone have any experience (good or bad) with replacement hot tub covers ? I am in need of a new one and am overwhelmed by the sheer number of manufacturers out there that claim to have the best . I have a Dynasty hot tub and the cover that came on it didn't last much more than 1 year ...

Bananas in general aren't invasive , especially in Indiana . With that said I would not plant too close (4-5' away to be on the safe side) to the pool due to the fact that they clump and the clump will expand over time unless you remove some of the pups around the edge . Here is a link to a...

Johnny , I don't know how old it is . It has only been in the ground for 1 year now but , I just pulled off the cover last weekend and it looks like it did the day I covered it back around Thanksgiving . I actually bought it in South Jersey . Triple Oaks in Franklinville (Delsea Dr.) talk to Joe...

Thanks Poolmom , I will try that the next time (if there is one) ...

Thanks Duraleigh ... Did the FC loss test last night and came up with 1 ppm loss / 0 CCs . Vacuumed yesterday and it is looking a bit better yet this morning as far as the haziness . I am going to keep the pump running 24 hrs a day until it is fully clear but , I am going to let the FC level...

I had a mustard algae problem as well as a green algae problem in part due to getting my Liquidator dialed in . I began shocking at MA level (37) for my CYA level (65) last Thursday . There is a lot of dead algae (grayish /white) in the bottom of the pool that need to be vacuumed out at this...

Musa Basjoo aka Japanese Fiber Banana ...

For that kind of money you could get a real nice sized living palm that if properly protected could handle your Ohio winter . I am in PA and have about 10 in the ground most of them for about 3 years or so now . Also if you are trying for the tropical look don't overlook banana plants . Some are...

This is my first year on the BBB method after 3 years of Baquacil . We successfully converted in June and things have been great .Thanks to everyone on here for sharing all of this wisdom. We use approx . 4 gallons of clorox per week . Generally 2 gallons on Sunday night and 2 gallons on...

Re: Another Conversion Begins ... (now w/pics) On Friday night I vacuumed as many of the leaves and such as I could get and on Saturday morning at 9am I began the long awaited conversion from Baquacil to Chlorine . All testing was done with TF100 test kit . As you will see in the pics I didn't...

I am planning on starting the much anticipated conversion to chlorine this weekend . Would it be good to vacuum the pool (still has the cover on right now ) prior to adding the first round of bleach ?

I recommend reading "Palms Don't Grow Here And Other Myth's" and "Hot Plants For Cool Climates" if you want to get the tropical look in decidedly non tropical locales . Many of the plants can be bought online or on ebay . Also some plants can be gotten at local nurseries in the indoor plant...

Some of the other large leaf plants are elephant ears and some are cannas . I don't want to mislead you into thinking they were all musa basjoo , I just assumed because they are the tallest with the biggest leaves . Do you know what usda zone you are in ? I may be able to give you some more...

Thanks for all the compliments . The plants with the large leaves are musa basjoo (hardy fiber banana) . It is very hardy but , I also mulch it heavily in the fall and this year placed some bags of leaves around the base of the plant to help insulate the corm (root mass).It is some extra work...

Here are a few pics from my pool area , still not complete but , we're getting there ... This is before decks and landscaping 1/07 This is now 9/08

Thanks ...

Thanks ... That's what I was kind of figuring on . What about any algicide or oxidizer ?

We are currently on Baquacil and planning to convert to chlorine in the spring . With this in mind are there any special steps to take when closing ?

fponzani , thanks for the compliment ... The yellow flowers are asiatic lillies I got on the bargain rack at Lowes . They seem to multiply a good bit with a nice scent as well . The bananas in the first picture are musa basjoo that were overwintered in the ground . That picture was taken...

We had ordered 6' dog ear privacy fence 1/2 way down the side of the pool that can be seen from the road . The fence guy messed up and used it for another job but , gave us a deal on the privacy fence with lattice on top . We really liked that a lot better so we got it half way around the pool...