Hey Mike..you always pick interesting topics. :) Jeff, love your LR. It's sooo big. Large windows, too. I thought you lived in an area where plants could be wintered outdoors??? Mary, nice room. Your Begonias are doing fantastic. Wish mine looked as nice. Started cleaning the front 'plant room' at 10am yesterday morning. Washed windows, in and out, walls, and a large shelf most of my succulents will be placed. A few other shelves, too. Watered every plant in that room that weren't outdoors this summer, and scrubbed floors..but will have to redo. Finshed at 7pm. Today, I plan on finishing the other half, then the back plant room. Since the majority of plants go in both rooms, they'll be ready when plants come inside. The LR will also be cleaned, after dh and ds remove the a/c from the window....yes, Mike, we finally got an a/c. lol. Smaller succulents go in the LR windows which face south. Afterwards, the bedroom needs cleaning..wash windows, relocate tables, and two shelves most Hoyas will go on. The upstairs bathroom window will also be cleaned..hanging Hoyas are placed on the curtain rod, lol. I also have a small green house which needs cleaning and additional stones on the ground...it's emply right now, so cleaning will be a breeze. Unless a spider moved in..then it's war!!! Large trees and Agaves go in the gh. Trees that no longer fit in the house. I can't believe we're discussing hauling plants in so soon. What's going on? In past years, my plants were outside as late as Oct/early Nov. But with nights dipping in the 40's, 'which is too early for Sept,' I guess bringing plants in before days and nights stay in the 20's is mandatory. The WC's predicted today, Tues the 25th, would be the last semi-warm, 78F day. I prayed we'd get a few more wks of, well, a little warmth. This morning, while watching the news, they said this week will be in the high 70's, 50's at night. Think my prayer was answered. Thank You. I'm now wondering if bringing plants in is too early. Does anyone leave certain plants outside until frosts, and if so, which plants? I normally leave Thanksgiving Cactus out until buds appear, and some Kalanchoes. What about Jades? Since cooler temps promote red coloring, what's the lowest temps Jades will survive w/o freezing? Charlie, wait until you adopt over 100 plants..lol. Here are pics of last winter's plant rooms. front plant room, south and west windows front plant room, north and west windows Kitchen window, facing north Bedroom Can't find last years pics bathroom pics or second kitchen window. lol. But, I'm sure you get the picture. Toni

Is it dormant or does it have leaves? If it is dormant, you could plant it at any point when the ground is workable. I have had my fig outside since the 3rd week of February to prevent it from leafing out in the garage. If it has leaves then you need to wait until the danger of frost has passed in your area.

Hey Laura,thank you! I hated SO MUCH to break down the plastic sheeting over the rods I made as a temporary greenhouse almost like a hoop one made of P.C pipes...The sun would create heat in that green house and send all the fragrance of the flowers into the open door to that tent right into my home every day...Like hot air filling my house with sweet smells. I will, miss that. The worst part as Sammers said was bringing them in. I don't worry about them outside even when it's cold, but I worry about the inside with no bright open skies....Ugh Calamondindave, I thank you so much. It is just like that! I will miss it for sure. I HATE winter! I was thinking, why don't you make like a hoop greenhouse from P.V pipes like I did right up against the warm side of your home? You made never have to bring them inside even in cold nights..Just use a little space heater!

Alanna, I think MOST of us feel the same way! Those of us that have to grow them inside that is..Can you imagine how many people that don't even come here have the same issues? And worst yet, I have been growing them since I was 10 years old!! I have never had a perfect banner year with every tree, but thank God 99 percent of them do ok and the 1 percent that does not do well, goes in the trash! I feel your pain too. There is no perfect environment to grow them perfectly unless you grow them in an area they are accustomed t Oh the joys of this hobby...lol