:) thanks Rina.... I divided all the babies/leaves into 5 separate pots and did see that the ones on the porch were doing the best. I wasn't sure about the stress of acclimatization ...going in and out. I also have a huge collection of miniature African violets and didn't want to introduce any bugs into the house by having indoor/outdoor plants.

I am not sure what you mean by 'going in and out'. Yes, they should be acclimatized to outdoors sun - I usually start with putting them outdoors into some shade (even a tall plant in front could work very well). I leave them in that spot for a while, then gradually move into more and more sun (every few days or so). They don't need to go indoors at all at that point.

This year, all my plants were taken outdoors toward end of May, and are still there - hopefully until sometimes in October (I am just N. of Newmarket-colder than TO).

Should you worry about bugs - plant could and do get bugs indoors - they can be all checked and treated for any upon bringing plants in for the winter. Obviously, it depends on how willing and able are you to do that. (And if it rains heavily few days non-stop, they could get too wet - more work to give them some rain protection).

I don't grow AF but think they grow well in little less light? Succulents need as much light as possible - that's why I take all of mine outside. It is hard to give them enough light during long winter months, and I use supplemental lighting to help.

So if your succulents receive good light, are potted in container with drainage hole and well draining potting mix and not over-watered, they should grow very well.

The 'silver' plant on the right is X Graptoveria 'Silver Star'. Very prone to melt down from excessive watering. A beautiful, but tricky plant.

Brad

I am located in the West Toronto area and keep nearly all my succulents outside.

The biggest concern is putting your plants outside - it takes time to acclimatize them to the higher light levels. After that, going in and out is no problem at all, as long as it's for a day or few days at a time. Any longer than that, back in lower indoor light, and you will start to "lose" any great progress you made outside (with compact growth / colouration).

Still, I think it's quite worth it to put your plants outside! I saw more growth and change in two weeks outside than I did in nearly two years indoors.

I was also worried about bugs, but so far I've not had any problems at all. Mine are kept on my rooftop, so I think that does give them a bit of additional protection than if they were at ground-level.

Hi Brad ... thank you so much ... that really helps.... I was driving myself insane trying to figure out what it was.... it is so pretty .... and 'melt down' is right .... just a crazy plant. :)

Hi Rina ... yes av's can do with less light than succulents ... and you're right they can get bugs inside as well. I have seen some of your photos of your succulents and realize that you do know what you're talking about. I could put them on the front porch they'll get early morning sun at least and while they're still babies it could work out well. The protection from rain is also a bonus. :)

Hi Ewwmayo.... :) ... I would love a roof top garden ...wow!!! :) .... ok ... yes to worries about bugs and yes, you're probably more protected than I would be here .... but at this stage the 'catching up' they do outside would probably be very helpful with the new leaves/babies. .... So catching up is great .... :) thanks! :) .... ps: you're west toronto and i'm east mississauga .... we're probably neighbours :)

wp

Thank you...I love all kinds of plants - seems like mostly ones that are so hard to grow in our cold North:)

While I dislike and worry about any kind of diseases and bugs like mealy, scale and so on and on and on, they will never live with me in (almost) sterile environment - and in natural habitat they don't either. I strive to be as clean as possible and vigilant enough to spot infection, if any, at the early stage. But I can't obsess about a fly, a spider, a grasshopper, or a bird hopping around and even checking if nest should be made in-around-under or next to one of my plants! I watched blue jay hiding peanuts in one of my pots - marvelous how smart those birds are, they remember where their stash is! - and worry about taking it indoors :) I curse sometimes at cute little chipmunks that like digging in any of the pots!, and find little nibbling (mostly of succulent leaves) here and there annoying - but to me, that's what the nature is all about.

I enjoy the fauna as much as the flora - so it is all good.

Great that you have outdoor space, definitely put your plants out there. Intensity of sun is already dropping, but they (plants) will still benefit greatly. I think we have at least 6 weeks, and hopefully much more before the "great migration".

Rina