Help Overwintering near-tender plants in GH

9 years ago

I have a brand new glass greenhouse with cement knee walls and a brick floor, and in addition to some hardy herbs, I am trying to overwinter some ornamental plants such as ivy topiaries, foxtail ferns, and succulents in this unheated space. I have these containers set on propagation heat mats, and have tented them with bubble wrap and remay cloth as a blanket. Tonight is is about 25 degrees outside, and my soil temps are hovering above freezing.
I am planning to add black water jugs to the knee walls tomorrow to try and moderate temperatures. Are there any other suggestions from experienced greenhouse users? Any one had good luck with tenting and heat pads?

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Comments (4)

Mike Larkin
9 years ago
I am afraid that you will need some type of heater maybe electric or gas. the pads will keep the roots warm enough but not sure about the top. Black jugs may not put out much heat in a greenhouse. The biggest problem is heat loss. The glass walls have little R value and it will be tough to keep any heat in the green house.
Tonight may work but in your zone there may be colder and windy nights ahead, that will be a challenge for then succulents.
The only thing you can do is try it and see if they survive.
AmyHourihan
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you, Plantman56. The soil temps stayed above freezing in a tent of bubble wrap, with outside temps into the teens, but I am not sure the plants will withstand an extended stay with my current system. I think they will have to come indoors until February.
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Mike Larkin
9 years ago
Buy an electronic digital thermometer that displays high and low temp and well as current.
Put in on top of a large plastic pot ( about 12") high) inside the tent ( not on the soil pads).
You can then see what the lowest temp was under the tent. If you want to spend a little more $$ and your GH is about 150ft away - you can buy a wireless thermometer and monitor the temps from your house ( on the remote) . Home Depot has for about 29$
AmyHourihan
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, plantsman. Our night time temps here have been into the teens, and the greenhouse is staying about five degrees higher than that at night, but getting quite warm during the day, into the 60s to 70s, which is 30 degrees above outdoor temps. I made sturdy tents out of bubble wrap, with packing tape, and they open and close with a tarp zipper, and they are snugly surrounding groupings of plants, held in place with clothespins. There is clear bubble wrap on top, green on the sides, so they still can get light. They are sitting on my propagation mats, with digital soil thermometers, on thermostats. I have checked them at midnight, and the soil temps are staying at forty degrees, which is enough to keep them from freezing. In the morning, as soon as the greenhouse warms up to fifty, I unzip the tents and push back the covers. So far, so good. A few tender, new growth shoots look droopy here and there, but the foxtail ferns and ivy are healthy, and most of the sturdier succulents look fine. I really don't want to bring these plants into the house for the winter, as we are away and it means house sitters, keys, etc. if I can let them have a dormant period like this through the cold spells, and my friend comes to check on them when I am away, I think they will be fine....

Help Overwintering near-tender plants in GH

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AmyHourihan
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Help Overwintering near-tender plants in GH

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Mike Larkin

AmyHourihanOriginal Author

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Mike Larkin

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AmyHourihan
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