Cactus & Succulent Collection Winter Dormancy | Preparing My Greenhouse

One of the key tasks I have ahead of the cold winter months is preparing and insulating my greenhouse to save on heating energy and costs. I subdivide the glasshouse into two areas using a partition. The main, larger area is where I keep all my cacti and other succulent plants that can tolerate very cool temperatures in the winter dormancy (I keep it at around 4-6 degrees C = 39-43 F). And a smaller area, where all my plants that prefer slightly warmer temperatures in the winter dormancy (I maintain it at a minimum of 10-12 C = 50-54 F) are kept.

Here I have most of my Euphorbia collection, my caudex/caudiciform plants, and also some cacti like Selenicereus and Epicacti. But I also grow some cold house orchids here! Odontoglossum, Cymbidium, Coelogyne are some of the orchid genera that have species that originate from cooler climate zones (e.g. mountainous tropics) and which are perfectly suitable for growing alongside cacti and other succulents, certainly in the autumn, winter and spring months (I keep them outside of the greenhouse, in the garden, during the summer months). I also like growing Cyclamen in this partition and really enjoy their flowers at this time of the year!

I insulate the greenhouse using heavy duty bubble wrap plastic foil that is fixed to the outside of the glasshouse using standard mounts that are glued with silicon. On the inside of the glasshouse, along the roof sections, I have installed long aluminium rods that allow me to "sandwich" the bubble wrap in between the roof glazing and the rods. In this way the foil is neatly installed and allows me still to hang plant baskets, heaters, ventitarors, lights, etc. without any problems.

I hope you find the video useful and informative!

Happy dormancy!

Joe

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