Question
Green House
Newbie here, bought your e-book & a whole lotta plants, I'm shocked at the video with plants outside in the SNOW!! My questions "Can I use Well Water" and since your plants are outside in snow which one's can be kept in an unheaded 8' x 6' x 7' greenhouse, the cover is green with wire shelfs & wood floor pictured. We to have snowy cold winters & chance's of ice storms. I know I will keep my Cephalotus & Cobra's inside, what about Nepenthes's they should all come in right? Like I said "newbie here". Can take all the help I can get. Winters coming soon...in Missouri
thanks,
Judy
AnswerHi Judy,
That type of greenhouse would be a simple cold frame. It is fine for Sarracenia and flytraps when temperatures are just in the 20's or upper teens for short periods of time. When you have winter periods in the single digits (which I experienced in St. Louis two years ago) you'll need extra protection. If you just have a few plants, an ice chest would work great during the coldest weather. You could also use a small space heater to get the temperature up in the 20s and 30s in the greenhouse. An extra layer of plastic on the outside would also provide more insulation.
Here in Oregon our winters are mostly rainy in the 30's and 40's with common overnight freezes during clear weather. A few times during the winter we get snow and temperatures in the teens. These cold snaps rarely last more than 4 or 5 days. Your cold snaps are much longer, so more protection is needed for potted plants.
All of your Nepenthes should come inside well before your first frost.
Your well water is going to be way too hard to use except in an occasional pinch. Most of Missouri is limestone bedrock and it makes the water full of calcium. Use either rainwater or distilled water. If you happen to have a reverse osmosis water filter, that water will be good too. Other filters or softeners don't remove minerals.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
