Question
nep
Hey guys
>
> im interested how you think i should grow my plants over winter
> (outdoor growing plants obviously) here in newzealand
>
> it was 6.1 digrees overnight(here in the waikato) and its only gonna
> get colder -its definatly that time of the year when they begin to
> slow growth and start entering dormacy.
>
> at the moment i have a shade house and a greenhouse,
>
> all my neps,cephs,temperate sundews are in my shadehouse
>
> and the rest inc sara's,VFT, and some sundews are in my greenhouse.
>
> now im thinking for winter i might put all the plants that go dormant
> outside under a bench ive built, and im going to pull down my
> shadehouse (plan to build a bigger better one next year)
>
> and was thinking of maybe filling my greenhouse with my neps for
> winter(will have to heat the house at night) maybe just with a small
> oil heater!
>
> "or" i could leave the dormant plants in the greenhouse covered in shadecloth (if the
> daytime temps stay cool enough in there) and take all my neps inside to get
> through winter.
>
> what do you think-please let me no your methods and any suggestions.
>
> cheers guys
>
AnswerHello Keegan,
The main things to consider so far as winter dormancy would be to ensure that your dormant plants do not totally freeze dry in their pots. So long as the temperature is just over freezing, they will be fine in general. You could just place the dormant plants in the shade house provided the temperatures and light cues to provide a good dormancy.
I overwinter my temperate plants by first ensuring they have received reduced fall light until they greatly slow in growth, then use an ice chest with several frozen water bottles around the pots to provide temperaturs around 40 degrees. If I had a good way to grow them outside, I would just let nature take its course and monitor the days that are likely to fall below freezing.
Christopher
