Turning my gazebo into a garden room... Questions

[Cadillactaste]

I'm torn at where I wish to take it...I would like to still house my wisteria and cherry bonsai out there come winter. Can it be kept a cool house and still house them safely? Wishing to add a heater...but, not sure if doing so will make me not be able to house those bonsai in there. I realize I can add a thermostat...but...bottom line...can my bonsai I currently own...be happy wintered there if heat is added.

 

[GrimLore]

I'm torn at where I wish to take it...I would like to still house my wisteria and cherry bonsai out there come winter. Can it be kept a cool house and still house them safely? Wishing to add a heater...but, not sure if doing so will make me not be able to house those bonsai in there. I realize I can add a thermostat...but...bottom line...can my bonsai I currently own...be happy wintered there if heat is added.

I think "in general" if the trees/plants you are speaking about need to be "wintered" that it could be done without heat. It will only be slightly warmer but a more protected area where they are not exposed to severe winds, excessive snow etc. Many of us winter our plants in unheated garages and sheds in the North East. The only thing I see different with the Gazebo is they may get to much light - we keep our dormant stuff cold and asleep and light would be something I would not want.
Perhaps if you put in good blinds and something simple like lay down plants blankets(inexpensive) You could mulch the plants in on top of the blanket. The roots CAN get cold and freeze. The light however tricks plants into thinking it is time to wake up. In my mind any heat source would cause more harm then good. Just my .02USD.

Grimmy

 

[Cadillactaste]

I think "in general" if the trees/plants you are speaking about need to be "wintered" that it could be done without heat. It will only be slightly warmer but a more protected area where they are not exposed to severe winds, excessive snow etc. Many of us winter our plants in unheated garages and sheds in the North East. The only thing I see different with the Gazebo is they may get to much light - we keep our dormant stuff cold and asleep and light would be something I would not want.
Perhaps if you put in good blinds and something simple like lay down plants blankets(inexpensive) You could mulch the plants in on top of the blanket. The roots CAN get cold and freeze. The light however tricks plants into thinking it is time to wake up. In my mind any heat source would cause more harm then good. Just my .02USD.

Grimmy

Hm-mmm so no heat...and blinds. The floor is insulated...but it is raised off the ground as you well know. So still the need for the mulch? Maybe build something like a table that can hold the mulch?

My husband wants to finish it off...giving me a nice little space and such as well. So...Considering maybe if they fit...a sheltered area under the steps. Three sides are enclosed...raised off the ground. So a trim board around the base to keep mulch in...and put those two there...I could then...add maybe more temperate trees in the gazebo. Hm-mmm it doesn't see much light...it's open to the covered patio. I will have to grab a photo if they would fit. I am assuming they just may. Though...things go dormant outdoors...so why the need to hide the light sorry...confuses me.

 

[ABCarve]

I think the light may add to solar gain and heat it up too much on sunny days. Breaking dormancy for short periods of time is not a good thing. I know first hand about that.

 

[GrimLore]

I thought it was an open floor like a deck so no on the blankets. Myself I would not raise them off the cold floor if they need to winter. Being an insulated floor I would not worry about mulch - in our concrete floor structures I often have not mulched in the older established plants. We did and will however use plastic storage containers like the ones that slide under a bed for anything in small pots. We leave those on the floor, place in the small stuff and surround it with mulch going an inch or so above the level of the pot. It just slows the cold/warm process down a lot and keeps things from snap freezing and defrosting. As to light if you have a sunny week or two while your plants are dormant it causes problems. I was not able to winter as usual last winter and lost a lot of trees. It was because while they where under or in 2 foot of snow we had a 2 week sunny period - during that time the plants do not care about cold and all that died were tricked by nature to push buds due to the light. I received some new stock in March with root masses frozen and was able at that time to put them and some of my other stock into sheds finally which we were using for the renovation until then - no light, they all survived and are growing like weeds...

Grimmy