We had a couple of nights in the '50's already, and I'm starting to plan what to do with my cordylines, broms, orchids, and plumie that spent the summer outside. Anyone else planning the winter retreat for their plants? I hope they can stay outside until Labor Day or a bit later; last year they had to come in right before due to a tropical storm that hit (would have blown them away).
Anyone else planning for overwintering yet?
Yes Im in the process of bleaching the GH in preperation for winter. We should have till about the third week of Sept. but it has been such a strange year I don't want to take any chances!
EW! yuck. Yes,........ I've started to make myself think about it. We usually get into Oct. before the first frost, but I bring a lot in so I like to soften the seasonal BLOW (now) by accepting the fact that I don't live in the tropics and WILL bring them inside, yet another year. Everything is so lush and green and purdy!
50's already?!? we get that around halloween at night and those for highs in january! dadgum! i'd be freezin! all i gotta worry bout is the plumeria. this yr were leaving the ficus benjamina out near the house. it did fine last yr w/ the freeze that damaged our queen palms, oleander, some phoenix, and livistona chinensis.... even some mex. fan palms. the funny thing is it got all marginals but the most tropical like philodendron strelitzia some crotons in very protected places as well as cordyline etc. this yr should be better, so i'm gonna really push my zone this year... only the plumeria and experiments are coming in!
I have cleaned up my plant storage area and I'm looking to increase the utility of my bubbler by adding an aquarium heater to keep water temps around 80F. Rather than bringing in some huge plants, like mandevillas, I will be taking cuttings of them and rooting them for next season.
I'm also going to add two more fluorescent utility lights, probably mounted horizontally to the walls, to help decrease the deep shadows that can occur in the storage area. I'll be putting in a new shelf, and I may add an oil radiator heat source to keep temps above the 62 degrees my basement normally provides in the winter. We shall see.
-Joe
Yup. Prematurely but I've been thinking about it at least. Got to get the carnivorous plants ready for the fridge probably in November, the amaryllis have to be dried out and stored for a while. Got to transplant some Black eyed Susans, bee balm and purple coneflowers. Plant a hardy Hibiscus.