Jookieblue said:

We need our spring weather already here in Michigan!! Soon we will get them into our nice warm summer sun!

Remember if they have been indoors for awhile, you need to acclimate to outside.

Your not watering them are you Jennifer? Remember what twit said about the water.

They look cute though Jennifer!

No, i don't remember about the water! Info overload! I only watered to settle them in. But the soil is too wet. I'll pull them

Bev,

I am not watering my succulents. If need be and they start to feel a little to dry I will just mist them. I've for now put all mine in my window sills touching the window to try and keep them on the cool side so they can get used to the outdoor temps. When it starts to stay above 40 I was thinking of trying them outside. Is that to cold still? Should I wait longer than that? When I do take them out should I put them into direct sun or make sure they have a little shade for part of the day.

Thank you

valleylynn said:Your not watering them are you Jennifer? Remember what twit said about the water.

Can someone fill me in, should indoor semps not be watered too often?

Eviesmummy said:

Can someone fill me in, should indoor semps not be watered too often?

Eviesmummy, I just killed one of my mama hen's due to over watering them and keeping the roots wet for to long. I've been advised that if I do water them in the winter just to mist them. They apparently don't do a lot of growing in the winter and don't need to water them often. They love staying on the dry side.

Aww, sorry to hear about your mama hen Jackie but thank you for the info

Kate, Just trying to spread my knowledge from my new forum friends!! Ive been learning there is a big difference in hardy succulents and tender succulents.

The problem is mostly not enough light when kept indoors. When watered, they will start growing, but there is not enough light for them to sustain a good growth form. They can actually dry out too much indoors as well, so that is why it is important to keep them away from heat. They are not indoor pets. If the outer leaves start to go crispy, then you need to give more water. Its a balancing act indoors. Remember that artificial light generates heat

Thanks twit, it sounds very similar to cactus care during winter then. Not that my cacti go outdoors, even in the summer!

Well, I didn't have time to replant dry yet so I just pulled them out this morn and set them on top! Note to self....don't buy Semps in the winter again!

Jennifer you can buy semps in winter just keep them on a cold windowsill!! Or directly outdoors!
Jackie, I would say be careful when placing them in full sun (not too many hours the first couple of times! So moving them in and out of sun for a week or so) In MI you can have "cold snaps" overnight, and this is what would really hurt them, so I'd say keep an eye on the weather, if your nighttime lows are only going to be in the 20s F then they'll be fine. Moving them outside during the day, and then back in for the night is another possibility, again trying to keepthem on the dry side, so if its raining out, give them some cover...it really is like Twit says "a balancing act" or a science project, collecting a bunch of data and then putting it to work!

Thank you Greg... I am going to do that.

Is this still to cold to take them out during the day say before work and then bring them in when i get home from work 8-5pm? Just curious since you have lived Michigan's weather...
This is the current forecast lol...

Jackie, Greg's right. I would be safe and put them outside in protected area to not only get used to light but cold temp. I acclimate plants by 15 minutes in partial sun and back in shade and increase the next week by more time. I rather be safe and baby them than injure them. I also cover my semps if they are outside in possible cold snap. Shade cloth, frost cloth, etc good to have to use year after year for plants for protection against too much sun or frost during various seasons.

Actually though Jackie that weather looks okay for them, I wouldn't leave them out each day, just the warmest day, then back in for a day, then out - or you could really baby them and go home for lunch to let your plants outside for an afternoon

Bev, The only thing that would survive possibly right now would be the semps, sedums and jobibarba's correct? I should probably never take the gasteria and haworthia or echeveria's outside unless it is in mostly shade and temps are above 40 degrees?

gg5 said:Actually though Jackie that weather looks okay for them, I wouldn't leave them out each day, just the warmest day, then back in for a day, then out - or you could really baby them and go home for lunch to let your plants outside for an afternoon

Greg if I lived a little closer and didnt have the drive I do to work that would be an option.

Jackie, yes, and even if you put the others outide they should be acclimated to the temps slowly. I have my echeverias outside with frost cloth over them at nite in high 30's only because they have been out since being in temps inside the garage in upper 40s at nite first to acclimate. Gasteria and haworthia can be good houseplants. They don't need any outdoor sun but can be put in shade. I find that the dark green colors are usually on succulent that grow well without being outside in the sun.

Although I do bring my haworthia's outdoors, they're in a place that only gets morning sun, and only in late spring when nite temps are in the 40's!
They do seem to like the wind!