Where to overwinter my succulents

[Trethew]

Before: small leaky greenhouse with no staging. Succulents on the ground unwatered over winter. Always lost one or two but most survived.

After: new greenhouse with staging and concrete floor.

Question: Will the succulents fare better on the floor or on the staging over the winter.?

I have mine on staging but not all are in the greenhouse, think it depends on what kind of succulents. Echiverias and some of my agaves are fine in the greenhouse but the variegated agaves are a bit tender so come inside and go under a window in the loft. Aeoniums would be killed off by prolonged frosts so they're in the house too.

Definitely on the staging.- they need all the light they can get over winter! Is the greenhouse heated? They won't need much heat, but are best kept at a minimum of 5C.

Its unheated and the pots would be on the floor in full sun, not the same side as the staging. What Im unsure of is whether they would be better low down on the concrete or on the bench. Both in equal sun.

Concrete will get very cold in winter, warm air rises, so the higher the plants are the better. However, with no heat in winter, you are taking a risk that they will freeze. I have two large greenhouses full of cact & succulents, which are kept at a minimum of 5C, and that really is the lowest I am happy to keep them. On frosty nights you can always cover the in newspaper, which will give some protection. Could you bring them into the house on a sunny windowsill but a cool room, over winter?

Thanks Nan I agree with you but at the same time I wondered if the concrete would act as a heat sink and hold any warmth from the day, so if i put them on the floor and fleeced them overnight would that be best?

No chance of any in the house im afraid. All full up with more tender stuff. They'll have to take a chance in the greenhouse.

Yes, it might act as a heat sink, but can also work the other way! Why not try some plants on both options, to see which would be better? If you can get hold of some sheets of polystyrene, and place the pots on it, that also helps to insulate from the cold - even thick newspaper might do!

Nan is a a real expert on succulents. She's absolutely amazing! I love the polystyrene idea, I'm going to do that in my own greenhouse for as many things as I can find sheets for!!

Would bubble wrap do same as polystyrene ? I've put bubble wrap in base of my home made cold frame effort in which I'm overwintering pelargoniums .

Speaking of polystyrene, has anyone tried insulating a half glazed greenhouse with polystyrene sheets and is it worth it? I was given a few polystyrene boards that fit nicely in the lower wooden recesses but would need more to finish the job. Not sure if I should bother as the greenhouse is unheated.

ginger - Bubble wrap would definitely be a help, I'm sure of it!

bambinho - I am thinking about this. Temperature wise, in terms of the whole greenhouse, I can't see how it would help that much, because the top half will still be uninsulated, so any effect on the air temperature would be minimal? Putting it on the floor stops the transmission of cold upwards a little bit by contact with the plant pots, which is a bit different. However, there might be other benefits like cutting out draughts etc??