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Mar 11, 2013 7:13 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Jackie,
How cool you and I are both getting into Semps and succulents and are from Michigan!

LOVE that planter box!!

I a worried about putting my tender succulent planters out for the summer. I was hoping I could actually just keep them inside.

Anyone have any advice on that?
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Mar 11, 2013 7:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Jennifer, I definitely will be putting them outside when it stays above 32 degree's a night. I have been experiencing etiolated semps from lack of sunlight and it has made them grow upwards. I'm sure if you had enough sunlight coming in for a good portion of the day they would do fine as mine had for a long time...probably just depends on a lot of different factors. I am excited to see how well they do outside and then will probably bring a few inside during the winter to enjoy but keep the rest outside. Jennifer where in Michigan are you located in? Where you the one that just bought a bunch from Home Depot on another post I saw? Thumbs up
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Mar 11, 2013 7:32 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Yes Jackie that was me on the other post! I'm in Clinton Township.

I will be putting my Semps outside! I just wanted to keep the Echeveria, Crassula, etc inside year round. The tender stuff.
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Mar 11, 2013 7:36 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Jennifer stay away from my Ingham and Eaton county home depots!! hehehe Rolling on the floor laughing I still want to get more Big Grin The temps here yesterday and today really were nice and just made me want spring to come even faster so I can put these babies outside! Thumbs up
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Mar 11, 2013 7:41 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Jackie, I really really need to be done for now! Very soon my winter sown babies should be sprouting and keeping me busy! So I think your Home Depots are safe!
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Mar 11, 2013 7:44 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Thanks Jennifer! lol Ive been going a little semp crazy lately and probably should cool off for a bit as well. I have a lot of other plants I have to worry about keeping happy too Big Grin It is nice to know someone is so close and will be going through the same hardships as I living in Michigan! Hurray!
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Mar 11, 2013 7:47 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
We'll have to meet up this summer!
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Mar 11, 2013 9:57 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Hi guys just jumping in here (ex michigander, so I'm entitled :rofl:) kidding...just want to keep clarifying that there is a huge difference in "hardy" and tender succulents, many of the hardy succulents are from alpine regions (mountains higher than tree line) so they get that type of environment; rocky, windy it can be wet but the water runs off because these guys are in clefs of rocks with little soil...it is why these guys usually don't do all that well indoors, there isn't wind, its cold and since other plants like water, they usually get watered at the same time and are sitting in soil that stays more wet than what they want/need.
Then there are the "tender" succulents, they're from places like south african, mexico, brasil, usually areas with temps that never dip below 45F, often these guys are in rocky areas with little rainfall, and most times bright light. From my experience there is a wide range of what these guys can handle temp wise (on the low end) but I err on the plus side and keep temps in 40's if I'm gonna put them outside, I definitely want to wait until nighttime temps are in the 40's (no danger of frost - Haworthia's (Jennifer, your zebra plant) are very susceptible to getting cold, so if they're in the mix of plants in your pot, then I'd wait!
I hope this info is helpful! As has been noted else where I tend to be long winded! Rolling on the floor laughing Another quick note, even when I water with these plants I only give a sip, I have "tropicals" (like spider plants) and ferns and with them I water until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot - I would never do that with succulents!!
Cheers I tip my hat to you. Big Grin Lovey dubby
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Mar 12, 2013 4:08 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Jennifer, Yes we should meet up this summer.

Greg, I have a haworthia in with some of my tender succulents as well that ive been keeping a close eye on. Is there a way to tell by looking at a succulent whether it is a hardy or tender? Is this by looking at the leaves? I am keeping a book with all my plants in it and writing down the main important things about each plant. Just curious. Being in michigan it sounds like we can leave our more hardy semps outside all winter as long as they are established and should keep the more tender ones potted so we can bring them in when it gets to cold for them?
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 12, 2013 6:42 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Glad you made this point, Greg! Thumbs up
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Mar 12, 2013 7:12 AM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Yeah, I'm just going to keep my tender succulents inside. That way I can also control how much water they get.
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Mar 12, 2013 1:17 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Jackie there isn't an easy way based on their looks (that I know of) but knowing where a species of plant comes from should help, for example anything coming from South africa, or nearby, is probably going to be tender, or even Real tender (even less comfortable with temps below 45 - which really isn't that cold - in my opinion!) Anyway, I think it just takes time, and research - your journal is a great idea, it really will help you to be able to look back and see individual needs!
Fun! Hurray! Lovey dubby
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Mar 12, 2013 2:14 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
Yes that makes sense. Most of the succulents from Lowes are not labelled and it is really annoying. I've really been liking Home Depot because they come with the exact name. Then I take a picture of the plant with the name so I don't forget Smiling
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Mar 12, 2013 3:23 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Also the succulents from HD have the label with the website of where they are from. Helpful info!
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Mar 12, 2013 3:25 PM CST
Name: Bev
Salem OR (Zone 8a)
Container Gardener Foliage Fan Sempervivums Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Garden Ideas: Master Level
I tell you Jennifer, you got to put all that HD plant-shopping expertise on paper and spread the word to all....
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Mar 12, 2013 3:29 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I had to stop in for some sand today. Got a planter for my new stuff. Maybe I will get it done tonight and post. These succulents have really picked me up. I was in a deep winter funk
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Mar 12, 2013 4:43 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
I hear ya Jennifer! Deep water can feel like drowning! Glad the plants help! They help me too!!! Thumbs up Group hug
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Mar 13, 2013 10:01 PM CST
Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)
Region: Southwest Gardening Charter ATP Member Keeps Horses Dog Lover Cat Lover Permaculture
Butterflies Birds Cottage Gardener Herbs I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises
Oh man, I do remember those late-winter-in-Michigan blues.... it used to feel like it would *never* be warm again.

I agree with Hetty - very good point, Greg.

If you can figure out where your plant is native to, it can make a huge difference as to how you treat it. Unfortunately, just naming the country doesn't often help, kinda like saying "oh yeah, it's from America!" - no clue. But if you know how cool, how wet and when, it helps a lot. For instance, our big ol' Saguaro cactus need the hot days, but also need a drop in temps during the night - and we typically get a 30 drop, except where the asphalt jungle keeps it too hot. It can also take water in both summer and winter, whereas most of the S. African species that we grow here can't take summer water.
In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.


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Mar 14, 2013 12:19 AM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
That's also a good point Sheryl! I tip my hat to you.
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Mar 14, 2013 7:08 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jackie
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener
sheryl said:Oh man, I do remember those late-winter-in-Michigan blues.... it used to feel like it would *never* be warm again.

I agree with Hetty - very good point, Greg.

If you can figure out where your plant is native to, it can make a huge difference as to how you treat it. Unfortunately, just naming the country doesn't often help, kinda like saying "oh yeah, it's from America!" - no clue. But if you know how cool, how wet and when, it helps a lot. For instance, our big ol' Saguaro cactus need the hot days, but also need a drop in temps during the night - and we typically get a 30 drop, except where the asphalt jungle keeps it too hot. It can also take water in both summer and winter, whereas most of the S. African species that we grow here can't take summer water.


Sheryl, Im trying real hard to keep a close eye on the weather and am so anxious to re-pot my plants so they hardy are with the hardy and the tender are with the tender. Smiling Winter really does get you down at this point that's probably why I have been so into my new hobby Thumbs up Trying anyways

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