I don't have a greenhouse; and my house doesn't have alot of room or sunny window space to store a hoard of plants for the winter, but I will if that is what ya'll advise....
I have a shed in the back yard that was improved so that my daughter could stay there for awhile in high school. It has 4 small windows so can get a little sunlight. The electricity is off, but it has a good wood floor and all the walls and the ceiling are covered in sheet rock, nothing else. No heat. It is completely empty and would make a divine "greenhouse" if I could use it. It is custom made, and a large building.
Per a conversation with Ken, I already plan to store my banana trees there overwinter, which got me to wondering. I wonder if I could overwinter my Tropical Hibiscus and other tenders there? I really need opinions on this please, it would sure help me out if able to use it. Thanks ☺
An overwintering question please for zone 8a
Karen I think that would work great. I don't have a greenhouse either but I do have a store building much like yours. My dh has put in more windows for sunlight and built shelves. I have very good luck with my hibiscus and other tender plants. I overwinter my coleus and my favorite impatien plants with great success. I do have electricity and when the temps dip below freezing I have a light that we use.
I think your 'winter room' would work great. Lin
Thanks Lin, my mind is whirling....I could even buy some shop lights and perhaps germinate things in there too. It would be an answer to my prayers (no room and no money to buy a special greenhouse)
On the surface it appears to me that if you are going to overwinter your bananas in that little "room" you can overwinter lots of tropicals and subtropicals. Maybe installing florescent lighting and a small heater would be all that is needed to make a jungle setting that will be good for the plants. I'm in 8b and we get our occasional frosts and freezes but I leave such things as hibs. and bananas, even plumerias outside. They may die back to the ground but come back when it gets warmer. Others can give you more detailed opinions, etc. to get you going. It sounds as if you have a nice green house that will hold a lot and even if the heat, etc should fail your plants would still be ok. Good Luck!!
Ann
While I was typing a couple of others chimed in and they are so right. Room is what you have and need so go from there.
This message was edited Aug 19, 2008 9:17 AM
Karen I have a barn that has 3 windows and a plastic shelf unit I am going to use to winter sow. Now the grandson is here and he drinks alot of milk I will start getting more jugs. Also i buy the OJ in the big jugs so I will have them also. Plus i am going to try the stryo cups.
Plantlady, (I've been MEANING to say a special hello to you, my sister lives in Katy, at Fry Rd and 1-10 area, and my mom is in the nursing home right near her, Oakmont.) I'll have to come see you sometime when I'm visiting mom.
I have always let my bananas die down every winter, but if you want the BIG banana trees that may even produce bananas for you..........Kenboy, Maggi's hubby is the big banana tree expert. He has told me the secret for getting those huge trees.
Dig them up every winter and wash every bit of dirt off the roots. Place the roots in bags or cover with a blanket, etc. and store them in the greenhouse or under a crawlspace at your house. The plants will not die, and after the last frost just replant them where you want them. They don't die back and just keep getting huger and huger! (is that even a word, LOL?) So that is what I'm trying this year for the first time. oh and p.s. I can easily get electricity back on in the shed to install shop lights and an electric heater if needed.
This message was edited Aug 19, 2008 8:41 AM
We have a small greenhouse that we heat with propane. Just in case the tank runs out of propane on a very cold night, we use a small electric heater for backup. A thermostatic outlet called a Thermo Cube prevents the heater from coming on until the temperature drops to about 35 degrees. This saves electricity, but if it's too close to freezing in there, the heat will come on. I googled for thermo cube and found this one for half what we paid ordering from a greenhouse supply, but it's exactly the same item.
http://www.horse.com/Farm-Ranch-Supplies/Heated-Buckets-Deicers/Thermo-Cube-for-De-Icers-BEW19.html
thanks for that link I will be getting one for our chicken coop.
Darkmoondreamer, I just moved from a house just off Fry Rd north of I-10 to just off Mason Rd just north of I-10. I would love to meet you when you come to Katy - anytime! Lots of luck w/ your "Greenhouse". It sounds like a winner!
Ann
I use my DH's woodshop; one end is mine and has three large windows. I do have lights but only use them when I go down to work. In the future I plant to put in some grow lights too. It is the area I use for potting and raising of my butterflies in the spring, summer, and early fall. But the bf stuff is packed up in the winter. Notice I have a sink, it is priceless to me. It is hooked up from tapping into a hydrant near the outside corner, and the water is just piped outside and on the ground behind the shop. The table was made from an old work table DH didn't want anymore. I got him to cut a hole in the top and hinge it so I could use it with a drop-in pan. I use the wire racks that can easily be reconfigured as I need them. I use a small electric heater with a thermostat in winter. But you are a step ahead by having sheetrock up as you see. I think you will enjoy having a place to go in the dead of winter to visit your plants away from the house. Plus I think the dry heat in the house is worse than the chilly air in the shop on the plants.
I don't have a setup anything like or as good as you do Sheila. To me that 's awesome and beautiful. I have a gardening table - outside. I have all my "stuff" I need to re-pot and pot, whatever - outside. Heaven forbid I get dirt on my DDH's garage floor. We shall see. Don't dare me, mister.......
Ann
LOL!
I just wish I had ROOM at my house. The kids took over our garage for their rock band several years ago. After they've been out there, I'm lucky if I can even find the weedeater.
I have a small "portable" green house my folks got me last year for x-mas and what we did was put some outside x-mas lights(the bigger bulbed ones) in it to help put a lil heat in it and everything I had in it made it through the winter.
not sure what DH plans on doing on the banana trees as I have told him what Ken says to do but not sure he wants to dig them up LOL ...we will see if I have my way and he wants bananas from it LOL
If you have more than one then leave one in the ground for him, and protect yours! LOL!
ROFL that is just what I was thinking as there are 2 and he planted them on the back side south end of the house LOL