You will need to convince her to let you bring them inside. Figure anything below 40 degrees will kill those succulents (some can handle 32-35 but I wouldnt risk it.) These plants will still need light so as you said the garage wont work unless you have a window you can set them close to? I wouldnt trust that one of those little greenhouses would work in your zone to protect from freezing.

You will need to convince her to let you bring them inside. Figure anything below 40 degrees will kill those succulents (some can handle 32-35 but I wouldnt risk it.) These plants will still need light so as you said the garage wont work unless you have a window you can set them close to? I wouldnt trust that one of those little greenhouses would work in your zone to protect from freezing.

You will need to convince her to let you bring them inside. Figure anything below 40 degrees will kill those succulents (some can handle 32-35 but I wouldnt risk it.) These plants will still need light so as you said the garage wont work unless you have a window you can set them close to? I wouldnt trust that one of those little greenhouses would work in your zone to protect from freezing.

@Calzoner do you think I can put water jug containers painted black in there to keep the plants warm? I can fill them with hot water...but I don't know how effective that would be. Plus' i'd have to keep reheating the water.

Crud.

This really sucks. I don't want my babies to die outside and she's pretty set in her ways with refusing to let me take them inside.

My garage doesn't have any windows either :(

We have a woman in our little town who has a greenhouse and she will house peoples' orchids until they bloom again (for a small fee.) Maybe you could find someone with a greenhouse near where you live. Can't hurt to ask around. Craigslist maybe?
Min

The sempervivums can stay outside and, in fact, be planted in the ground. They don't do well indoors as a house plant. The others, to the best of my knowledge, really should come inside.

Nancy

Maybe you can set up a greenhouse like what you said, in the garage. For light source you can put a one or two shop lights in there? Maybe a very small heater to put in the greenhouse? And a small fan for ventilation? This is just an idea. Hope you can figure something out! Grant

Even if you thoroughly check for bugs?

I have only once brought in a bug and it was a cricket (which is good luck anyways...LOL). I didnt check the plant and it sat outside all night. But after thorough checks you should be able to rid them of bugs if there are any.

I live in your zone and I would urge you to find some way to bring them inside.

You can drench the plants with a pesticide and that sould resolve the bug problem hopefully.

Old time christmas lights in the plastic greenhouse might help or the work light will keep things hot. Some people make greenhouses out of bent thin PVC (cheap and a clear heavy mill plastic drop cloth. I have seen people clip it on using 1" manuscript clips from an office supply. One cane make one of the size you need . A small electric heater will be a source of heat. I have used a heating pad in a plastic wrapped large plant.

I would go with the garage. I hear many people that will not bring plants into the house so convening your Mom is probably not going happen. So lets work on what is possible.

Buy your little green house and go to the garage. If it is an attached garage put the greenhouse next to the wall that touches the house. Set the greenhouse up on a table or blocks of styrofoam. It is warmer up than down on the floor. String white Christmas tree lights inside. Turn them on every evening and if the temps are above 20s you probably can turn them off through the day.

You are going to have to keep an eye on the weather when the nights are going to be down in the 20s you are going to wrap your green house in bubble wrap (you can find that at HD or Lowes it is called packing material) or if you get deliveries and get styrofoam sheet packing put those around the greenhouse.

You are going to want to keep them very dry. Just a splash of water about every 2 weeks. Just enough that the soil is not bone dry.

If this does not work and you really like succulents and cactus you can start to collect winter hardy plants. There are many that you can grow that survive and actually grow and bloom better if they have a winter rest period under snow and below 0 temps.

If that interest you I bet if you start a topic on winter hardy cactus and succulents you will get a lot of suggestions from people that are growing them in their gardens in your zone.

Edit to say....Don't be sad if it does not workout I will volunteer now to send you a box of hardy cactus and succulents you can grow outside next winter. Just email me and remind me of the promise in the Spring.

This post was edited by marquest on Thu, Sep 19, 13 at 16:39