Winter is knocking at the door here in NE Victoria. We have already had a number of chilly, frosty nights well below zero.
Despite preferring temperatures at the other end of the thermometer, this doesn’t mean our cacti and succulents can’t be kept happy and healthy over winter. The care and protection needed will vary according to the climate and conditions in your specific area.
Many of our established adult cacti & succulents are more than happy in their pots, under cover or simply moved to a more sheltered position where they won’t get waterlogged. Cacti are more likely to survive direct frosty conditions than some of their more delicate succulent friends. But of course, with so many varieties, there are always exceptions to the rules, so it’s worth jumping online for some information about your specific varieties and their hardiness in your area.
We are growing seeds and seedlings year-round, so these young tender babies need a little extra love & care when it gets so cold. Seeds are sprouted on heat mats, then seedlings and young plants closed away in the greenhouse for as much warmth and protection as possible.
Established plants are generally very tolerant of the cold……but the killer for these hardy friends is too much water. If in the ground, ensure it is well draining without water logging. Move pots out of the rain. During winter months in our area, these little friends only need watering around once per month, preferring to be over-dry than too wet. Frost will damage the outer surface of many succulents quite easily, however most are very resilient and will recover well.
