Winterizing succulents outside in greenhouse question
ShannonMarie
4 years ago
I am in Sacramento CA area. I have succulents and they are doing well being outside. They have tolerated the heat and sun so far. Last winter they did pretty good outside too. I’ve worked hard to keep them going and want to keep that going. I cannot move them indoors for Winter.
For the ones on side yard, What about putting them in a greenhouse? Or building greenhouse around them? In summer I could just put shade screen fabric over to shade them on really hot days.
As for the ones on patio, greenhouse as well or just put under patio structure out of direct rain, like the ones on the table?
if there are any plants in particular in my photos that you have any special advice for, please share.
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Turning screened porch into greenhouse for the winter
Comments (3)Logan, I've designed many buildings which incorporate sunspaces as a means of generating and storing passive solar heat, provide an aesthetically pleasing extension to a home's living space, and serve as a primary or accessory environment in which plants may thrive during the colder months. Most of these spaces are designed as living spaces and incorporate the means to be efficient passive heat generators with engineered storage devices, while others require supplemental heat sources to be comfortable during the winter months and colder evenings. Putting the equation of cost aside, the success of these spaces depends upon a number of factors. The most important points for consideration include: glazing orientation relative to the optimum sun's position throughout the day, thermal efficiency to reduce heat loss and either a primary or auxiliary heat source for maintaining a constant temperature. If these essentials do not exist and your working budget is insufficient for adequately providing for these things, then the project may fall short of success. However, if your screen porch has a southern exposure most of the day, is immediately adjacent to the home's heated spaces for either tapping into the central heating system or allowing an exchange of interior air to share with the enclosed porch, spaces between deck boards can be covered to prevent cold air from entering, ceiling/walls are insulated or can be done inexpensively, you are fairly handy with tools - then, there is a good possibility this could work. There are many sunspace/greenhouse books available which provide basic information on new construction and adaptive re-use of existing spaces. My recommendation is to study these publications to determine if this is a feasible project. Then perhaps the seasoned greenhouse experts here can offer tips for setting up the space for growing plants. Best of luck....See MoreHow to keep succulents alive in winder. Greenhouse?
Comments (11)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...See MoreSucculent Rain Shelter/Semi-Greenhouse
Comments (40)Kevin, not sure if I understand - I was suggesting using same size of wood, just roll over not under. I used staples, so didn't have any space between the fasteners (screws)....you'll find lots of water and debris collecting in-between. Too bad I didn't take photos how I had it done, plastic was fastened on top of frame, not under (much easier to install). I had total of 17feet, covered with one piece of plastic that I could drop down in case of bad rainstorm and/or strong winds (open sides so it didn't inflate like a baloon)....See MoreGreenhouse during the winter for my citrus.
Comments (11)That greenhouse will be inadequate for even a warm winter in your area. To calculate the needed heating load needed you will need to calculate the r value. The main resistance to heat transfer is the inability of heat to pass from air to a solid and from air passing from a solid back to air. Still air that resistance is 0.62 windy air-----------------------0.15 your greenhouse still air---------------------------0.62 + 0.62 = 1.24 since the plastic will flap in the breeze, boths inside and outside of the skin are in a windy condition. Your greenhouse windy air------------------------0.15 + 0.15 = 0.30 = very inadequate. DOUBLE LAYER FLEXIBLE SHEET PLASTIC Still air-----------------------------------------------------0.62+0.62+0.62+0.62= 2.48 windy air--------------------------------------------------0.15+0.15+0.15+0.15=0.60 = Inadequate Glass or rigid plastic 1 layer. windy air-------------------------------------------------0.15+0.62 = 0.77 Glass or rigid plastic 2 layer. windy air-------------------------------------------------0.15+0.62+0.62+0.62=2.01 THE STATS still air 1 layer film------------------------------------------------------1.24 windy air 1 layer film--------------------------------------------------0.30 still air 2 layer film----------------------------------------------------2.48 windy air 2 layer film------------------------------------------------0.60 still air 1 layer rigid----------------------------------------------------1.24 windy air 1 layer rigid-----------------------------------------------0.77 still air 2 layer rigid--------------------------------------------------2.48 windy air 2 layer rigid----------------------------------------------2.01 My green house was 4 layers glass lean-to against a heated wall of my house.even this needed heating despite having only half the glass to loose heat and a warm heated north wall 0.15 +0.62x7-----------------------------------------------------------4.49 6b Steve, Cincinnati, Oh...See More
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoShannonMarie thanked cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5ShannonMarie
4 years agoThanks to all of you.
I will work on a little greenhouse as the ones on side yard have no protection from the rain and get soaked but do have good drainage. I can leave the front open for air and put a heavier cover on when the temps dip down.
I can move the cactus inside, i have a room kitty can’t get to..lol
I will confess, these are not my babies. My young daughter moved back in and brought two carloads full of plants. Then moved out, not able to take them at this moment. She also draws using many of her own plants as models. A few have not survives, some came back and I have propagated some leggy ones and must say I have done ok.
ShannonMarie
4 years agoUpdate:
I finished this little greenhouse today. I can pull down the front tarp as needed. This should help keep the rain from soaking them.
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Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA