I wouldn't make any big changes in amount of sunshine at this point. You don't want to stress them further. Just a bit of morning sun should work.
If the soil still has some moisture the next day I wouldn't mist them. Also misting in the evening when things start cooling down would probably work best. That would give them time to dry out a bit before the heat of the next day. Don't want to steam cook them. Just mist the plant enough that the surface of the soil is dampened, not soaking wet.

OK ... I won't have to move them just yet. That's good news.

What do you consider to be "cooled down" ? This year the evenings don't really cool down until after dark, about 9 pm. It's usually not this hot in the evenings ...

Smiles,
Lyn

Just before the sun goes down might work. They need time during the night to take up some of the mist, but dry out somewhat before the next day when it begins getting hot.
Play with it and see what works for you and the semps.

You are probably right. It's still about 90F at that time. I'll be sure to check them out.

Smiles,
Lyn

That's good advice Lynn. I too have started doing any watering of semps in the evenings when the sun is going down, because it is so hot here.
I'm probably cursing myself here, but I haven't lost any more semps since I started doing this.

That is good to hear JC.
The evening watering works best for me also, for plant health.

I've removed the mahonia shrub that was sited near the edge of the canopy of the dogwood tree to reduce water competition during the drought.

This is allowing more morning sun into the area where the containers are located.

No joke, it did not cool down until after dark. Strange weather for up here.

Smiles,
Lyn

It's the same here Lyn. It really doesn't cool off at all until a couple hours after sundown. But it appears (for here anyway) that as long as the sun isn't baking them, the semps are okay after watering for the couple hours between sundown and cooldown. Like Lynn said, I think it's all about experimentation and finding what works for your area.

Plus, I'm sure my neighbors already think I'm insane, so I really don't want to reinforce that with watering plants by flashlight at midnight.

>>>It really doesn't cool off at all until a couple hours after sundown

True. I'd be out there watering around 11 pm. Usually, it cools off a lot earlier up here, but this year is different.

J. C. ... you think your neighbors think you are insane for watering after dark ???

You should have heard my neighbors when I was caught watering in January when there was a foot of snow on the ground wearing multiple layers of clothing and snow boots !!

Our last rain was in November and it snowed the last Friday before Thanksgiving. It was a heavy snow that didn't melt because it was so cold. Snow usually doesn't stick at my elevation. The soil under the snow was bone dry. So there I was hauling a hose around watering roses ...

My neighbors still talk about it. BUT I am really glad I did it because the roses came into the dry season healthier than they would have if I hadn't made a fool of myself by watering while there was snow on the ground.

Added to that, earlier in the fall, they caught me planting rescued lavenders in the street bed by flashlight.

I'll never have the reputation of a sane woman in this neighborhood !

Smiles,
Lyn

How about being the "most nurturing of gardeners" for all seasons in your neighborhood?

Hi Bev ....

I think they'd rather laugh, so I might as well laugh along with them. It must have looked funny.

Smiles,
Lyn

Besides, sane is over rated.

over-rated but appreciated much of the time...at least by me in my neighborhood...

It been a while since I have been on here, I have been working on my beds, and on what I learn about keeping these a live. I have learned that the misting works great, I mist in the morning and then late at night. I found thanks to you all, that it was what I needed. I finely got my beds done. I will tell you, after I first put them in the first time, and then got all that rain for a week, taking all the plants back out, and put back in the green house. I did lose a lot from root riot. I new I would because the ground could not dry.
So I been working on a cover that will keep the rain out and then it also has a shade cover that I put down everyday. On the big bed, I had to make it where I had to leave it, both sides had to put to stay, but for the other two, I can take them off. So what I do on the big bed is the front and back I raise in the morning, that is when the share sheen is on , then if it does rains I will be able to just bring down the plastic in the back and front and they will be safe.
I know that I over did it with the soil, sand, and rocks. But, I wanted to make sure I had good drainage. I have never in my whole life have done all this work for any plant, so this tells me how much I love them, and I want to make them live and bring beauty to my life.
I not done putting plants in the beds. The middle side bed is for my aloe and cactus, still have some coming that has to go into that one. It is nice that I can move the covers on the two smaller ones. We are having rain everyday this week, so I got done just in time. I am proud of myself, the way I cam up with the cover for the beds.
Just wanted to give all you that help me so much, where I am now. Still have a lot to learn. I did put out my young chicks, and I am just misting them, but not sure if they are getting a little hot. I do have the shade cover over all three beds.
Thank you all again for what you do for us who are trying so hard to make it work for these beautiful plants.
Billy Perez

Billy, everything looks good. I am glad to see how much work you have done, how much you have planted and glad to hear that you feel so satisfied with how everything is laid out and taken care of. Now can you sit back and enjoy all that you have done?... Ok, time's up...Time to Mist!!

The gardens do look good.

Billy it is amazing what you have done. What a transformation. We can all see that you have officially become a sempaholic.
I look forward to more photos in the future, showing us how much they love their new home.

The new beds are wonderful! I'm going to wait for next year to do anything that organized outdoors here, but this has been a real inspiration. I'm going to keep most everyone sheltered in pots, see how many of my seedlings survive our winter and then start bringing the old colonies out from hiding behind the daylilies and put them where everyone can see and enjoy them. Thankyou:

Don't forget before and after photos.