Ciao Martin, Not really, my figs are not bare yet. Everyday about 3 or 4 ripen, I usually go out in the early morning and pick those and eat them right away. There are new figs popping out of the branches. I don't know how these will fare or if they will ripen, but I have about 2 dozen yet that will probably ripe before the end of the year. Last night we went to 46 degrees, I had to bring my Bougainvillea in and set them in their winter positions upstairs in a warm bright unused bedroom. Fall is coming quickly, I heard of a frost warning last night in Upstate New York. Yuck!!! don't like this. Also brought in my Carob tree and my Caper bushes. What alot of work. Oleander and It Jasmine will come in next. My Geraniums can stay out a couple more weeks, but then they'll have to come in soon too. Ciao Maggie

Am I the only one with a serious frost last night? But the hostas seem to know and are still furled so no damage that I can see. I keep an amateur weather station at the house and it showed below freezing temps from about midnight till just after 6 AM with a low close to 26F or -3C. Now the forecast calls for warmer weather and the hostas can unfurl ... all are now up though I appear to have lost one. Camelot was planted as a small plant last August and it did not reappear. Even the liner that I planted just to see if it would grow has reappeared. Doug

Sorry to hear about your cold temperatures! I have a fairly small greenhouse here in Indiana and I heat with natural gas. I got my 'furnaces' from Southern Burner and wouldn't trade them for anything. They can run on either natural gas or on a propane tank and require NO electricity. They do have a pilot light, but the thermostat kicks them on without electricity. There have been times when our electricity was out (we are rural) and I would have lost all my plants with any other heater. I have had two furnaces for 9 years and have had no maintenance issues. They resist rusting well. You can buy vented (requires a chiimney) or unvented, which might be fine since you wouldn't use it all the time. Be careful, though, with unvented...some plants like orchids can drop buds badly if you let them breathe too much exhaust! As far as plant damage, my prediction is you won't have any. I regularly leave all kinds of tropical plants outside until ALMOST the first frost date. A few, like bananas, will show yellowing of the leaves, but only after a week of low temps. Most of my bromeliads will take right down to 32. I can't think of any tropical plants of mine that have ever been hurt with a single drop to 40 degrees. Hope your plants are all fine...why don't you post in a week or two and let us know? Good luck with your choice of heaters. I would consider propane before I'd have a wood burner in my greenhouse, but that' s a personal choice. Here is a link that might be useful: Southern Burner Greenhouses

Not having a green house but having had to protect tender plants over winter more times than I can count, I'll offer the following suggestions: Add another layer of clear plastic over and around your greenhouse (if it's not too big to do so). The small but effective layer of air you'll create will lessen/slow the escape of heat from the glass panes. Big box stores carry rolls of heavy gauge plastic which open out to large widths and work perfectly for the purpose. Use duct tape or similar to attach as necessary. Remember that heat radiates easily through single pane glass (both in and out) and any efforts to minimize that heat loss will pay off over both the short and long term. In summer, just remove the plastic and fold for use in future seasons... The size of the extension cord you use may not necessarily provide more heat but may/will reduce your electric bill if you have a long run (distance) from the power source to the heater. Heavier is always better once you get past the "just light bulbs only" stage... Although it may not be possible on short notice, add dark colored bricks or masonry blocks (used or broken works fine) to your greenhouse floor and shelves to trap ambient heat (both sun and other sources) during the day and which will be released slowly during the night time hours. I doubt that the Christmas lights will add even a degree to the overall temp although I applaud you for thinking of possible remedies. Good luck! Steve