- Fri Jul 28, 2017 2:12 am
#299329
I live just outside Denver, where the winter temps often linger in the teens or below, so I can't just leave my plants outside over their dormancy. My garage and shed are too dark, and there is no longer room indoors on the windowsills (where it's too warm, anyway) for my rapidly growing collection. My yard isn't nearly large enough for a greenhouse, but I need to figure out some way to keep my VFTs outside and protected from freezing. I looked at several small, plastic-covered mini-greenhouses on Amazon, but I doubt they'd be enough to protect my plants over the winter. I'd heard of using hot water bottles, but I don't know that would be enough, either. I'd like to avoid electric or fuel-burning heat sources, but I'd also like to prevent my plants from dying back all the way, even if they'd come back the next spring.
Can anyone suggest a small option that would be sufficient to protect VFTs from extended sub-freezing temps? I've heard they can withstand temps below freezing for a short period, but no specifics regarding how much time at what temperature range is survivable. I would love to hear how others' plants handle such cold. I have 9 planted in a 12x12 Styrofoam container, but the others (currently 7 with many more babies on the way) are in regular FTS plastic cups and in more danger of freezing through when winter comes.
My in-laws salvaged a large Styrofoam cooler for me (pictured), which is large enough to accommodate both the plants in the Styrofoam container and the ones in individual cups, and I'm wondering if some sort of plastic enclosure over that would be enough. The lid is deep enough to fit over the plants in the other container sticking out of the top, so I'm considering just cutting out the top and covering it in a thick plastic sheet. I would really appreciate any advice regarding what to do, what temperature ranges are tolerable for long periods, and whether any of these options would be suitable, especially overnight. I am happy to bring my plants inside when the temps get too extreme, but hopefully not every single night all winter long. It's really hard not to keep buying more and more plants (I'm sure many of you can relate), but I need to make sure I can give them a good dormancy when the time comes. Thank you all for your advice!
Can anyone suggest a small option that would be sufficient to protect VFTs from extended sub-freezing temps? I've heard they can withstand temps below freezing for a short period, but no specifics regarding how much time at what temperature range is survivable. I would love to hear how others' plants handle such cold. I have 9 planted in a 12x12 Styrofoam container, but the others (currently 7 with many more babies on the way) are in regular FTS plastic cups and in more danger of freezing through when winter comes.
My in-laws salvaged a large Styrofoam cooler for me (pictured), which is large enough to accommodate both the plants in the Styrofoam container and the ones in individual cups, and I'm wondering if some sort of plastic enclosure over that would be enough. The lid is deep enough to fit over the plants in the other container sticking out of the top, so I'm considering just cutting out the top and covering it in a thick plastic sheet. I would really appreciate any advice regarding what to do, what temperature ranges are tolerable for long periods, and whether any of these options would be suitable, especially overnight. I am happy to bring my plants inside when the temps get too extreme, but hopefully not every single night all winter long. It's really hard not to keep buying more and more plants (I'm sure many of you can relate), but I need to make sure I can give them a good dormancy when the time comes. Thank you all for your advice!
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