Sounds like just what you said, David. An experiment. They may or may not make it depending upon how cold it gets. Keep them in the warmest possible place - maybe you have a south-facing wall that collects the day's sun? Or a spot against a glass door that will give them some heat through the glass?
I wouldn't let them dry out completely, though. Every week or two you should brush back the dry potting soil you're using as your insulating mulch, and dampen the growing medium. If you let the plants dessicate completely they will die for sure.
