siege2050

Testing to see if i can keep things alive in my zone 7a, 30 foot unheated greenhouse all winter with just a covering of Dewitt ultimate frost cover, Christmas lights, and 6 mil plastic. The coldest it's been so far is 9F for a short period of time. Tonight its supposed to be 5F, with a wind chill of -15. Tall things like potted Basjoo pups I didn't get planted in time (Not higher than 3 feet) Are laid down against the ground if its less than 32 degrees, and covered. So far even Elephant ears, lemongrass, Orange Bird Of Paradise, and mandevilla, are not dying back to the pot yet (Looks a little rough from being covered with too little water, but alive). If it passes tonight, i am moving all my short plants out there, hope this works cause I need to move stuff outta my house if it succeeds lol.

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siege2050

So far its 32F in the greenhouse above the cover, 38 under (made sure I did not put the sensor close to the lights,and its close to the surface, I wanted to see about the surface area, not the floor which is much warmer), and about 15/14F outside. My greenhouse cooling drastically slows down at 32F, and the inside outside temperature gap widens. I am not sure if its because the air is cold and loses energy slower due to less active molecules, or if its because the condensation freezes on the walls and creates insulation. Probably a bit of both, glad I went for the non anti condensate cover.

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siege2050

3F outside according to one of my wireless thermometers. I could not use 2 in the greenhouse to monitor 2 levels under the frost cloth because they were picking up each others signal. So only one under the cloth is sitting in a pot about 1 foot off the floor, and its reading 40F. The single wall greenhouse itself is 18F. I think it passed, I can at least put lots of smaller potted plants in the greenhouse (non tuber forming elephant ears, Basjoo pups, etc.) in winter without a stove.

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Scuba_Dave

Its around -2 to -3 here this morning....might have been colder over nite

Greenhouse is 20.5, its been cold for a few days