I live in the Dallas, Texas area (USDA Hardiness zone 8 I believe). I have a general question for anyone willing and able to answer: How much frost protection could I expect to get from using a portable or mini greenhouse? For instance, I have several potted tender perennials such as Esperanza and Mexican Bird of Paradise shrubs...I've had to take them inside in winters past to protect them. I was wondering if putting them inside a little greenhouse shelter (and using frost cloth if needed) would allow me to keep them outside all winter long? Thanks in advance for any help with this subject.
My greenhouse in Austin requires supplemental heat on the coldest nights so I believe yours would as well. Esperanza and Mex. Bird of Paradise are root hardy perennials in Zone 8 so you could over Winter them in the ground (not containers) with a mulch of Oak leaves or Pine straw.
Thanks saltcedar for your help. I thought perhaps additional heat might be necessary, especially if we have a winter at all like what we had last year. I had other plants I was hoping to stash in a greenhouse though, besides just the esperanza and the Mexican BOP...I have several large potted cacti...especially a cereus peruvianus that is 6+ feet tall. I had an even larger one that was 9' tall and it got so big I couldn't bring it in. It survived outside the winter before last wrapped up in frost cloth and then I would pile additional protection on it when the temps got really low, but it died last winter outside...it was just too cold for too long for it I guess. This 6' one grew from 2 pieces that broke off the larger one and so far has remained small enough to be brought inside during the winter. Now it's pushing the limits sizewise of what I can accomodate inside too. I was hoping to put it in a greenhouse, along with the previously mentioned shrubs, and keep them all outdoors this winter...if it got really cold I thought I could supplement the protection inside the greenhouse with frost cloth, blankets and whatever else I could find to protect them until it warmed up some. I don't know though if that would be enough...I might need some sort of elec. heating unit too and that's starting to sound complicated and potentially a fire hazard. I work all day long...I can't be home baby sitting these plants.
C9 Christmas lights might provide enough heat (assuming insulation) to keep them alive without being an electrocution or fire hazard.
Thanks again for your help and suggestions...it's much appreciated. I think I''m going to buy one of the mini-greenhouses and try it. I'll also get something to provide extra heat during any major drops in temps like we encountered last winter...either try something simple like the Christmas bulbs you mentioned or maybe spring for one of the greenhouse space heaters they offer online. It should be safe as long as I only operate it by following the directions strictly and at a time when I can supervise it. Take care!
