Winterizing Exotic Trees for cold climates
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Winterizing exotic tree/plants for colder regions. The goal of this idea is to be able to have tropical plants during the summer months and then winterize them so that they can last a live through the winter months.
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Problem
Tropical trees provide a vacation atmosphere and produce fruits that are delicious to eat. The problem is that could only survive in specific climates. Trees that survive in warmer climates typically do not have traditional solid trunks which allows air to permiate and freeze the trunks preventing water and nutrients from the soil to get to the leaves. If there was a green way to insulate the trunks trees utilizing the sun's rays or wind turbines to convert the energy captured to provide heat to the trunk of the tree. The tree would be able to survive in cold climates.
Solution
A insular blanket that wraps the stem or trunk of the tree that protects the trunk from freezing in the winter. Can provide insulating characteristics through specialize materials and could be complemented with heating coils within the blanket that slightly heat the blanket through a battery, solar or power source connected to the house. If a battery is used it could be charged by solar or wind power plant.
Unique Value Proposition
Providing the ability for people to no longer have to be limited to the types of trees they can grow based on where they live.
Channels
There are many possible distribution channels including Walmart, Amazon, Agway, Home Depot, Lowes or any garden stores. Initial sales could be from a website.
Cost Structure
The important factors of the product is ensuring the costs of the insular blanket are under $20 per tree depending on the size.
Revenue
The sale of each unit would have a markup of 40% to ensure continued research and development of the product. In addition to covering the distribution costs.
Success Metrics
Could be measured through varying tempuratures and testing to see what tempuratures the insular blanket and/or heating coils will allow the tree to sustain in harsher cold temperatures. Ideally if tree could withstand temperatures well below frost and still survive the season until next summer that would create a large enough market to sell to.