Tropicals, how do you protect them in winter?

[Great Falcon]

what's the best way to protect them because my dining room is already full, LOL.
greenhouse? cold greenhouse? heated greenhouse? thank you guys in advance for your advice.

 

[sorce]

Anywhere indoors with a simple light, or on a draftless windowsill that stays relatively. Warm.

Sorce

 

[jkd2572]

They will sulk inside the house due to low humidity levels, but it works. I have four in my home office now. Best investment is a DustBuster for the leaves that fall off all winter.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I have mine in my sunroom with additional heating set at 66F. Just to make sure they are never chilled.

 

[jkd2572]

You should probably kick the heat up a bit.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You should probably kick the heat up a bit.

Last year I kept it there...and my Bougie did fine as did my tropical hibiscus. How much warmer are you thinking? I figured the warmer the temp...the dryer the air.

Edit: I guess the variety of tropical one owns...is where one sets their guideline for temps. I hadn't considered stating which I owned. Which was very misleading now that I read it back.

Editing a second time to say:
My secondary heat is basically for Ohio temps which can drop into negative numbers...the sunroom is used daily by us...with it open to the kitchen/dining area by 8' opening that makes up basically also how wide the sunroom is. (The sunroom has three exterior walls) It has heat ducts ran to it...and is heated by our furnace. Secondary heat is just a second heat source for peace of mind.

 

[Joedes3]

My trees are in my basement, under fluorescent shop lights. (4 foot tubes)
Joedes

 

[edprocoat]

Best way, to protect them warmth to grow them light.

ed

 

[RickMartin]

Mine is in a furnished basement with led's over them and a humidity tray. My tree hasnt dropped a leaf yet.

Rick

 

[Bonsai Nut]

For the record, just because they are tropical doesn't mean they can't take some cold. They just can't take FREEZING.

I have ficus and bougainvillea throughout my yard with 3' jade plants growing "wild" up in some rockwork. It is Southern Cal, so it is almost always dry with low humidity. Temp tonight will be in the high 40's, though daytime gets into the 70's. When we have a winter storm front come through, however, temps at night will drop into the high 30's. So try to maintain humidity, and keep them from freezing, and you should be fine.

 

[augustine]

I agree with B-Nut. My tropicals are fine down to 40F. (I have serissa, portulacaria, ficus and schefflera.) They are now in the basement under flourescent lights.

In the greenhouse I would keep temp above 48, save your heating energy. They are very tough.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I agree with B-Nut. My tropicals are fine down to 40F. (I have serissa, portulacaria, ficus and schefflera.) They are now in the basement under flourescent lights.

In the greenhouse I would keep temp above 48, save your heating energy. They are very tough.

I have a feeling my citrus would start to burn before my ficus. I have over 12 adult citrus trees and a magnolia on one side of my house that are more cold sensitive than my ficus. Interestingly, I have two peaches and an edible fig that REQUIRE the cold in order to fruit. If we have a winter that is too mild, I don't get many peaches

My bougies seem to be the most cold-sensitive thing I have. On rare occasion, my bougainvillea will burn when it gets close to frost - particularly the bushes that are exposed to the wind. At the worst, I'll get some leaf drop from the extremities. Just makes them bud back stronger in the Spring!

 

[Jester217300]

I have a feeling my citrus would start to burn before my ficus.

I left my tropicals out into temps in the high 30's this year. The lemon and lime tree were fine, in fact the lemon was actually throwing out new growth during that time.

The only plant that showed any cold damage through the whole lot (bonsai, succulents, tropical fruit) was my papaya tree.

 

[Poink88]

It DEPENDS on the plant...some tropicals can take more cold than others.

I have some I protect for anything below 50*F (campeche, neea, buttonwood, BRT, etc.)...some (ficus, Fukien tea, bougie) are out until it is close to 32*F

I have most of mine in the garage with T8 fluorescent lights. Temps there usually never dips below 68*F even when it is below freezing outside (unless I live the door open). This is the 3rd year I have been doing this...they all come out in spring fine w/ new growth but definitely weaker than when they came in. I have about 25 tropical plants plus a few cuttings.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I think what one needs to understand...as mentioned. Tropicals have different care needs. Some are more tender than others. Some are more hardy to cooler temps. Knowing that bottom cool number is the key in wintering. For you need to stay above it.

 

[Anthony]

You all need to define Tropicals as versus Sub-Tropicals.

Citrus, is not tropical, Madarins, can grow here, but are not tropical.
Serissa is able to handle zone 7, as is Sageretia.
Fuiken tea is a puzzle, probably zone 9.
Southern Chinese elms probably to zone 7

When we shift something from the UK, we have to do deep research to check for dormant states. In the UK what all the above might have is a greenhouse, unheated and a plastic covering, zone 9 to 8.
Bougainvilleas, are Sub-Tropical but will adapt easily to down here, as does crepe myrtle.
J.B.Pines are zone 10 to zone 7?

Ficus, hmm, those from China, zone 9, those from down here zone 13b.

True tropicals are listed as limited to 55 deg.F, after which they damage.
However we have so many decoratives from the Sub-Tropics, it is hard to say just what they need save, shorter days and lower high temperatures for so many months.
Happy Growing.
Good Day
Anthony