This is normally the weekend I take my plants out of dormancy..
but I think im just going to wait an extra month this year!
because I have a new plan..
in past years, I would take them out in Mid-February and stick them in windows indoors, like this:
http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychaos/CP/page5a.html
but thats a pain, because I dont really have good indoor spots..and they dont get enough light.
but they cant go outside for another 2 months! until mid-April..until night-time lows stay above freezing..
thats still a long way away..
I have never really been happy with that plan..because its not a healthy Spring for my plants..
its far too warm and dark being on windowsills indoors for 2 months..the spring growth is all floppy and weak, then it burns when they go outside..
So I think this year im going to try something new..
im going leave them alone for another month or so..just leave them in the cold stairwell..
(unless its gets unusually warm..which isnt likely anytime soon.)
For most of March and early April, its above freezing during the day, but below freezing at night...so..
In Mid-March, I will remove my plants from the stairwell, place all the pots on a wheeled wagon in the garage..they will get wheeled outside in the morning when I leave for work..now they can break dormancy *outside* instead of inside..and enjoy those sunny 35-45 degree March days..
then, if its going to be below freezing at night, I can wheel them into the garage for the night!
I will do this for a month or so, until they can go back on the deck for good..usually around mid-April..
This is better, because they get the direct sun from the start, and it more closely mimics nature..
(I would prefer to just keep my plants outside 24/7/365..but my winters wont allow that)
So thats my new plan for this year..I will let you know how it goes!
So my plants are not coming out of dormancy yet..they are remaining dormant another 3 or 4 weeks..
which means my plants will be getting a FOUR month dormancy! but I still think it should be better than bringing them out of the stairwell right now..we shall see..
Scot