winter care for my cacti aeoniums and other succulents

22 comments

i have been in my nursery today looking at how my succulents are doing….
my tunel is unheated but most of my plants are doing fine…

there was some sign of frost damage on some though so i decided to take action….

this was the temp in my tunel at 9am this morning……
at 7am it was -4… so i can only assumed it was even lower during the night…

so evasive action was needed….
first i recycled a piece of roofing from the greenhouse….

this took till lunch time and by then it was ten degrees in the tunel. it is best to keep the temp around the plants as even as possible so i opened the door to cool it down…

the bubble wrap was left over from last years wrap up….
but what else could i use…there were still more plants needing help…..

a tent made from old white cotton sheets and beansticks….with a bit of bubble wrapp just to be extra cosy….

nice piece of horticultural fleece…

this piece of black weed surpressant was added at the last minuet just to cover a large aeonium..i will take it back off first thing in the morning.

it seem that temps. are going to remain low and even lower over the next few weeks….(well it is January…) so hopefully this will help my babies get through the next few weeks….

else where at home today…full advantage was taken over the fact that most members of the family were snowed in….

Julian (hubby) progressed a little further with the new green house…

while son Jack and nephew Sion cleared the paths….

this was the view over our valley today..the flood water at the bottom is frozen….

poor clivia ……i hope it makes it…….

geranium maderense…clinging on…and now in the new tent,….

if the tent works it just might look like this again in the summer…

;-))

8 Jan, 2010
11 likes

Comments

Terratoonie

Well done, Sandra.
I hope all your efforts mean your plants survive well :o)

8 Jan, 2010

Sandra

me too Terra...hows your snow?

8 Jan, 2010

Terratoonie

Sun was shining on the snow today, but new snowfalls and icy winds are forecast for the weekend.... bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ! :o)

8 Jan, 2010

Sandra

i know...im hopeing it misss us...

8 Jan, 2010

Terratoonie

fingers crossed :o)

8 Jan, 2010

Sanbaz

a job well done sandra hope they do ok, lovely pics to ;o))

8 Jan, 2010

Sandra

thanks San...i love your birdie pics too...

8 Jan, 2010

Ian_digs_v2

I like your tunnel Sandra! Well done on getting hubby out in this weather! Lol

8 Jan, 2010

Sanbaz

aww thanx sandra :o)

8 Jan, 2010

Dawnsaunt

Its hard work keeping the plants warm Sandra, you've done a sterling job.

8 Jan, 2010

Kensington

Well done Sandra, and fingers crossed that the plants that have been affected by the cold conditions soon recover.

8 Jan, 2010

Lincslass

Hope they all do well Sandra, I can see you are adapable and applaud your ingenuity it would never occur to me to use an old sheet for that purpose.....

8 Jan, 2010

Doon

Wow, I am impressed. Question, can U grow the Clivias from seed??
What a gorgeous greenhouse facility U have.

8 Jan, 2010

Treesandthi..

all that space.
Some of my succulants have been hit. They have also been in an unheated greenhouse. They are now spending their winter holiday in the utility room.

Fingers crossed, across the country.

8 Jan, 2010

Hywel

That's great Sandra. Your plants are sure to overcome the worst now.

9 Jan, 2010

Sandra

thanks for all your comments....
Doon...im the wrong perdon to ask as i dont think the seeds will ripen now.....

im off outside soon to uncover them all..till tonight...

9 Jan, 2010

Clarice

Fingers crossed for you Sandra and hoping my little greenhouse will be ok.

9 Jan, 2010

Rbtkew

I hope being in the tunnel and with extra covering your Aeoniums will be ok. I don't have a greenhouse and have to rely on fleese,newspaper or plastic. Most of my pots are frozen solid so I'm not optimistic on their chances of survival.My collection of species Pelagoniums is suffering as well and I have given up hope with my Aloes and Agaves that live outside as they are to big to be brought indoors. Your polytunnel will keep the freezing winds at bay so that should help.

10 Jan, 2010

Sandra

sorry about your aloes and agaves.....my aloes dont like it at all Rbt. i have brought a lot of them in the house but the rest .....well i can only hope.....but the agaves so far are holding up well......its horrible watching them suffer....last night i went out the tunel at 6pm and it was already -4....in panic i took duvets out there...im off out there to check them now....

10 Jan, 2010