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.