The number one question I receive all throughout the seasons is: how do you keep plants over the winter? The truth is, years ago, I hardly kept over any plants. I didn't want my house to be a complete jungle and mess. But slowly, I started to have more and more plants I wanted to save from year to year. I began collecting aloe, agave, and tropicals. And in Iowa, late fall and winter are just too cold for them.
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So what to do? A true greenhouse would be the dream and someday I hope to have a better method with more space to keep my plants. In the meantime, I've retrofitted an old shed into my own greenhouse!
My "greenhouse" is insulated with as many windows as possible. Since the windows do not face the ideal direction, there's not enough natural light. Even the brightest indoor light will not be the same as anything outdoors. To supplement, I use high-intensity full spectrum grow lights and keep them on timers, providing 6-8 hours of light per day. Grow lights are different from indoor lighting and give plants the exact color of light needed.
The room is kept at a minimum of 60 degrees F with two radiant space heaters. On warm sunny days, it can reach 80 degrees and if needed, I open the windows to cool things down. True greenhouses can regulate humidity. Ideally, plants don't like extreme low or high humidity. I keep a humidity gauge inside and try to keep it in the 50-70% range. If drier, I supplement by spraying moisture-loving plants with water.
Houseplants and plants brought in over the winter do not need as much water as outdoor plants. They go into a slow, almost dormant state. For me, I check the plants a few times a week, making sure to let the plants dry completely before watering them. Keeping plants too wet can cause mildew and breed fungus, gnats, and whiteflies.
Established agave, agapanthus, and figs are kept dormant on the other side of this room. I keep it at 45 degrees F. With these conditions, they all go dormant and I water them at most once a month just to keep the roots hydrated.
There you have it! This is a quick picture of my process, but I hope it shows that you don't need a perfect space to keep your plants alive!
#plantroom #greenhouse #winteringplants #garden
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