So, I have a wholesale buyer in central Florida who asked me whether the semps I send will color up in the Spring without the cold weather they are accustomed to. I have no idea what the answer is to that. I'm in almost-Canada/Northern Vermont. I'm hoping someone here can educate me. I will be digging them before the ground freezes here and shipping them late October or early November.

I'm really interested in the mechanics of the freeze cycle as it applies to color differences; for instance are colors more vivid if the plant is exposed to colder temps.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

I have found that most semps have their color in the Spring but oddly there are those semps that deepen in color in the cold. I couldn't tell you which they are as I've not noted the observations. Maybe Kevin, Lynn, Chris or others can chime in with their observations, knowledge, etc.
@valleylynn @JungleShadows @goldfinch4

You got me on that question. I have no idea the total effect that a lack of cold could have on semps coloring up.
Maybe Kevin will be able to answer this question.

Are they even going to survive down there?

Sorry, but I really don't know the answer to that either. Maybe one of our Florida members can help?

I know there are people that have tried them in Florida, Kate from Cubits comes to mind. Chris do you remember the horse topiary she did?

Yes Lynn, I do. It was very cool!!

It's a mixed bag in my experience. Our winters are pretty cold and some sempervivum will color up when the temperature drops and others not so much. Sun exposure seems to be as big of a factor as temperature. On the flip side, when it gets hot some turn completely green or almost so whilst others turn partially green and others stay colorful. Here, it all seems to depends on the species or cultivar.

Usually some of my succulents, whether Semps or not, turn red when it gets cold stressed here, when overnight temps start hovering 50F and below. Of the few Semps I had and tried, Semp Rubellum 'Mahogany' turned red, and Semp Sir William Lawrence, had reddish tips when I got it in late Spring and it turned all green as our hot and dry conditions ensued towards summer. Once it gets way too hot, either they bolt or get too dried out or go mushy if I got too engrossed keeping them moist to endure summer.

Our temps here go in the extreme during summer so at very dry triple digits, so either the succulent goes somewhat dormant too, and returns vigor once Fall arrives and with the cooler temps nice colored hues.

I appreciate everyones' help on this. I suppose I'll just have to send 'em and wait to hear back from him as to whether they colored up properly or not.

Well, more questions from the same buyer along the same lines.

How long do semps need cold (and how much cold) in order to make their best Spring colors? Or is it more a matter of footcandles of sunlight? I'm embarrassingly weak on the nuts and bolts of this sort of technical botanical knowledge.

He's interested in having me send frozen semps in December (they will freeze here during November - well before he wants them shipped. I need to know if they will color properly after only being chilled for a month.

Thanks in advance.

Wow, that is a good question Kate.
Part of it depends on which semps you would send. Many are coloring up now with beautiful winter colors.
What is he going to do with them? When does he need the color to show up?

Kate I think a month is good enough, here in Seattle a few years ago we had freezing temps only for a few days and my semps colored up really nicely!

valleylynn said:Wow, that is a good question Kate.
Part of it depends on which semps you would send. Many are coloring up now with beautiful winter colors.
What is he going to do with them? When does he need the color to show up?

He's wanting color in January and February for the trade shows.

Will he be holding them in a greenhouse then? Look in the database to see which ones will give you the most color in January and February.

Kate some of the purple and red ones that have that coloration all year long. And sounds like it is just this one time event, not that they're growing them and hoping they color up each year in January and Feb right?? Cause that probably won't happen. I think whatever ones are currently colorful for you would retain their color, or be in the process of changing which can actually look really pretty, having multiple colors at the same time!

It's such a conundrum for me - my semps are snowed under from November to March; so I have no idea about winter colors.

No greenhouse and he pots single chicks and grows and sells year 'round.

Very much a learning experience for me, for sure.

Good luck Kate.

Yes good luck Kate

An update from the buyer. Every year he buys 120,000 individual semps from growers in Guatemala and, although they are well-grown, they NEVER color up as he would like. So he's trying to source from areas with distinct seasonality to try for better colors to offer at the winter trade shows.