some of my neos

[MattWoelfsen]

Jean, with winter coming, how are you housing your Neos?

[vjo]

Matt, most of them will be down in my basement under lights. I think. Right now I am in the process of putting most of them in wooden baskets so I am still trying to figure out where will be best....Jean

[MattWoelfsen]

Thanks Jean. I haven't had Neofinetia for a full year. This colder season has me concerned that it is getting too cold for them. Even though I have read that they tolerate temperatures in the 40*F range overnight, I have not had the experience. Thank you for any advice you can provide.

[vjo]

Well Matt I have seen pics of them in the snow so I think they are pretty hardy. That being said I think it depends somewhat an the moisture at the roots at that time. I think they can take cold and they can take wet but NOT cold and wet at the same time. Don't over think things...they will be fine...Jean

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by vjo

Well Matt I have seen pics of them in the snow so I think they are pretty hardy. That being said I think it depends somewhat an the moisture at the roots at that time. I think they can take cold and they can take wet but NOT cold and wet at the same time. Don't over think things...they will be fine...Jean

I don't mean to presume, but I think you mean cold and wet for a prolonged period, no? I say that only because yes, it does snow on these guys and yes it needs to be chilly enough to support snow, but my guess, and what I believe you're suggesting, is that it melts and these plants are cold AND water logged for long. Correct me if I'm wrong!

I see it like succulents-- I have some jade"trees" that I grow as bonsai that do just fine down in to the 40's so long as they are dry-- in fact, I purposely push the envelope because they end up taking on brilliant colors.

Living in Colorado, I've learned that there is beauty in the realm of extremes.

---------- Post added at 07:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 AM ----------

You'll have to poke around to find it but this site does have a video of a guy touring his gardens after a snow in northern Japan and he passes some neos at some point and i think they even have snow on them.

Botany Boy: Plant Encyclopedia

[DelawareJim]

Plants in general can take colder temps when they are drier, and generally, the drier they are, the colder they can go. Moisture and colder temps can lead to rot because of reduced evapouration, or cell damage from freezing and rupturing the cell walls.

That said, I keep my Neos. out in my Neo. bench on the deck under a Honey Locust tree that provides light, dappled shade all day. My Neos. generally go out in the spring when night temps are consistently 45 and above and stay out there until night temps are consistently between 40-45. (I wait until temps are 45 in spring because we can still have snow, sleet, or a freeze unexpectedly.) As temps go into the 40's in the fall I cut back on my watering and let them get drier as it gets colder. By the time I bring them in, I am letting mine get crispy dry between wateings, or as close as fall rains will allow.

Cheers.
Jim

Sent from my clunky old Dell desktop using wi-fi.

[vjo]

Yes Ryan that is what I meant, 5 min. wont hurt them a week might....Jean

---------- Post added at 09:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:17 AM ----------

Jim that sounds like about the same as I do except I have a front porch and you have a honey locust tree....Jean

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by vjo

Just seeing if this works...Jean

Very nice collection, Jean. Love your bean-leaf in the back centre. That's a beautiful clump.

Cheers.
Jim

[vjo]

Jim thank you, that is Tamakongo back there... Jean