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Unheated conservatory/greenhouse plant ideas

thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
in Plants
Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for some nice plants that will overwinter in a frost free environment without any added heat. I'm really just looking for some colourful or fun things to grow that will cope with out to much winter effort.

I have a few ideas and have been looking at things which will cope down to about 0c or near abouts. Plumbago is one option I'm considering but would be interested in any other ideas. I've already got a couple of brugmansia that I've had for years and two iochroma species which do well plus  just picked up a fuchsia boliviana alba to try, so maybe more of a climber would be nice.

Thanks in advance.
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Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    As no-one else has chipped in, you may like to try and improve the interior of the GH by placing a number of plastic containers full of water, and painted matt black, in it.  This is said to absorb heat during the day, and discharge it during the night, to raise the temperature by the odd degree.  It may widen the range of plants available to you?
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    thevictorian said:
    Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for some nice plants that will overwinter in a frost free environment without any added heat. 
    Frost free and without added heat, aye there's the rub.  If it is a long enough cold period my unheated greenhouse will equilibrate with outside.  Normally Aeoniums will siurvive, last winter not.  Oleander did more than survive and its flower buds aregrowng fast.

    I would try anything that survives outside on the Mediterraneum.  Plumbago, yes, and try Bourgainvillea and Mimosa.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Frost free was just the easiest way to categorise it really. I have a conservatory with a radiator but the heating isn't on much and when the dog goes in and out at night it can get cool air coming in, so the temperature isn't stable. The other place is a glorified lean to, built off the house and again it doesn't freeze (even in last winters cold temperatures) but it's not exactly toasty sometimes and only a few degrees above zero on really cold nights (the brugmansia, dahlias, canna's are fine in there). 

    I'd rather be a little cautious and go for things that could take a little frost rather than have things which may be ok in most winters but snuff it if we get a real cold one.

    The greenhouse is really out of bounds for this. Last year it had icicles form and the water butt in there nearly completely froze.


    I may try a Bomaria. 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    edited June 2023
    In our unheated conservatory (and I do mean unheated) we have the following all in great condition and all kept in the same place throughout the year.
    Aeoniums and 3 different succulents, paint brush plants, Hoya carnosa and bella, pony tail palm, collection of Cymbidium orchids (wonderful flowers), collection of carnivorous plants, bromeliad and last but not least tumeric!
  • jimmidsjimmids Posts: 22

    Sure! If you're looking for colourful and frost-tolerant plants to grow in a frost-free environment without added heat during winter, the UK offers a range of options. Here are a few suggestions:

    1. Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea): This climber features stunning exotic-looking flowers in shades of blue and white. It can tolerate temperatures down to around -5°C.

    2. Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica: Known as the Winter-Flowering Clematis, it produces delicate, bell-shaped cream flowers with maroon speckles during the winter months. It can handle temperatures down to about -5°C.

    3. Mahonia x media: This evergreen shrub has spiky leaves and fragrant yellow flowers that bloom in winter. It can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C.

    4. Helleborus (Christmas Rose): These perennial plants are renowned for their ability to bloom during winter, displaying beautiful flowers in shades of white, pink, or purple. They can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C.

    5. Cyclamen coum: With its vibrant pink or white flowers, this low-growing perennial is perfect for adding a splash of color to your frost-free garden during winter. It can handle temperatures down to -10°C.

    6. Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box): This compact evergreen shrub has glossy, dark green leaves and produces highly fragrant white flowers in winter. It can tolerate temperatures down to -15°C.

    Remember to provide well-draining soil and protect your plants from cold winds to ensure their best chance of thriving during the winter months. Happy gardening!

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I used to grow gloriosa rothschildiana when I was a lad in an unheated greenhouse many years ago.
    As long as it stays above freezing they seemed to be happy and twined themselves around some string I put around the greenhouse for them.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    There is a difference between a Conservatory (which would usually be built against a house wall ) and a free standing GH.
    A conservatory will allow more leeway in the choice of plants but given last winter, it becomes a bit of a lottery to a certain extent.
    Here in coastal Somerset in a freestanding GH, I lost my Passiflora edulis ( fruit producing for the last 2 years ) as well as several Aeoniums and even various Agaves. 
    My Cymbidium and Dendrobium orchids spend their non flowering time outside but not over the winter months and my Beaucarnea the same tho most are too big to move outside.
    All in all, I'm definitely going to have a rethink about what I'm prepared to risk in my GH over the coming winter............which, of course, will be quite mild ;)   
  • Helen P3Helen P3 Posts: 1,152
    bertrand-mabel said:
     all kept in the same place throughout the year.

    Does that help them survive, perhaps?
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    @HelenP3 don't know to your question but it could be true. We don't move the plants around (well we did with the turmeric but then it had died down for the winter but still stayed in the conservatory).
    As to Jimmids suggestions surely you would need a HUGE glass house to have all those plants in, NOT a conservatory.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    For something really cheap and cheerful, self-seeded nasturtiums run riot in my greenhouse every year, and stay in flower for most (not all) of the year.  

    By June they're the only thing left in my greenhouse anyway (I mainly use it for overwintering stuff and for early seed sowing and growing on); they pretty much fill it up and spill out of the open door.  If I ignore them all summer they will eventually shrivel from lack of water, but still self seed anyway.  So I give them a soaking now and again if I remember.  They'll usually play host to a load of white butterfly caterpillars as well.

    Much nicer than looking at an empty greenhouse all summer.
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