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House plants...winter in an unheated garage?

JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
in Plants
Okay all, I realise this could be a daft question but as we head toward winter I’ve cleared out my garage and as I’m sort of redecorating I thought “plants”.

It does have a south facing window, well that’s the positives out of the way.

Dark, unheated, it does have a boiler in there but gets down to -2°C in January if I recall correctly.

I’ll be in there every other day for an hour or so...perhaps a couple of evergreens? 😬

Maybe some of those “forced bulbs” I heard about last Christmas? 🎅🏻

Cheers, TP
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think you're right about it being daft.  Houseplants and forced bulbs don't survive that kind of cold.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BerkleyBerkley Posts: 431
    I have a similar type of garage.... a large south-facing window etc and find it very useful in Winter. But not for house plants or forced bulbs. I put pots of agapanthus, potted acers, alstroemerias and other perennials in pots in there. Also: pots of tulips (because squirrels dig them up or slugs get them). So make good use of your garage - but not for house plants .
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Yes, that's what I do too but in an unheated polytunnel and great for my smaller Japanese maples, the fuchsias and the citrus pots.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Okay, what about if I add UV lighting or cheap grow lamps?

    Or would I need to be considering insulation and heating as well?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Tin pot said:
    Okay, what about if I add UV lighting or cheap grow lamps?

    Or would I need to be considering insulation and heating as well?
    Is the cost justifiable? Methinks not
    Devon.
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Hostafan1 said:
    Tin pot said:
    Okay, what about if I add UV lighting or cheap grow lamps?

    Or would I need to be considering insulation and heating as well?
    Is the cost justifiable? Methinks not
    Perhaps you could share a little of your knowledge on the subject?  £50 doesn’t seem like much to me, for example:
    https://www.grow-magic.co.uk/secret-jardin-led-light-26w-blue


  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    That won’t solve the problem of the cold. -2 is too cold for house plants. Most need to be in double figures.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Tin pot said:
    Hostafan1 said:
    Tin pot said:
    Okay, what about if I add UV lighting or cheap grow lamps?

    Or would I need to be considering insulation and heating as well?
    Is the cost justifiable? Methinks not
    Perhaps you could share a little of your knowledge on the subject?  £50 doesn’t seem like much to me, for example:
    https://www.grow-magic.co.uk/secret-jardin-led-light-26w-blue


    That supplier seems to provide the necessities for growing stuff illicitly indoors that can then be sold on at a huge profit ... is that the sort of thing you’re looking for? 😶

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    edited September 2019
    they're called house plants for a reason, they can't usually take below 15 degrees, let alone -2!
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Is this for existing plants or are you just looking for something to grown in there? That south facing window could be ideal for over-wintering some garden plants that don't like too much rain. Loads of plants would appreciate the shelter and not worry about the cold.

    How do you protect the boiler from freezing by the way?

    You could post on freecycle for insulation going spare and see what turns up. It might take a while to get enough together but you never know. My garage here is unheated but fully insulated apart from the garage door and it never gets below freezing in there.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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