So this is probably a silly question, but I saw you worked at a greenhouse once upon a time and no one local has been able to offer actual advice. I have a couple succulent plant babies (no clue what they are, sadly) and happen to live in a basement apt. In Wisconsin. I'm doing my very best to keep them alive and happy but actual sunlight is kind of at a premium. I have a south facing window, but it's a v. cold south facing window. So I'm (cont.)
2/2: stuck between wanting to make sure they get enough sunlight and that they don't get cold enough that they just up and give up on life. The only solutions anyone's giving me are "Take them upstairs where it's warm!" which isn't really an option? They exist here - post/149302931013 if you can even tell me wtf they are (not the one in the green pot that doesn't match the others, sadly, he just gave up and died one day it was super weird) that much would be helpful. I'm sorry to bother you!
1. Bug me with plant questions all the time. I’m working on my master gardener certification and these are the like, the best study questions.
2. The plants you have are both Echeverias, which come in an assload of colors shapes and sizes. If it Looks like one of these, it’s probably an Echeveria:
The thing is, these guys need it to be toasty- they get sad and droopy and pale when they’re too cold, and even 65 can be too cold for them. which, yeah, a problem in wisconsin. They also need bright light and kind of big pots, because they develop large root systems fast. They’re desert plants.
So the short answer to your question is that they’re too cold. Which also results in sudden death sometimes.
THE SOLUTION: You can keep succulents in a cold-ass basement, but you’ll need some equipment:
This is the tekvilla blue/white aquarium light, and it it my best friend. it’s on sale for $22 on Amazon right now, (2/6/17) and this thing kicks ass. The “white” setting is great full-spectrum light for all your succulent’s photosynthesis needs, it’s SUPER energy efficient, and stays cool, so it’s safe to leave on all day. As long as the BACK of your room is at least 70 degrees, just prop this guy over your plants and flick on for the day, or use it as a night-light. Or tape the extenders to the bottom of a bookshelf, it’s 11 inches long, and nice and flat, so it fits anywhere. It’s also great for SAD- if you take a nap under it, it really helps with vitamin D and lack of sun exposure.
Why not just use a plant light? I keep having them Over-heat on me. Like, potential fire hazard overheat. and you can’t find a well-made one for under $50. I’m not sure what’s going on, but the Aqarium-made stuff is of consistently higher quality and cheaper.
If the back of your room is NOT 70 degrees, you’re gonna need to insulate them... which can be done by sticking your buddy in some kind of tank. doesn’t have to be a fancy tank- those bowls you’re not supposed to keep bettas in or even a large plastic container will work. the idea is to reduce air circulation around them, and that will bump their immediate ambient temperature up a few degrees.
Keep an eye on soil moisture when you do this- once under light, plants tend to go through water faster, but being in a container makes the ambient air more humid, so adjust watering schedule to your individual needs.
So TL;DR: Get an aquarium light and move it to the back of your room for winter, and they should be fine. Come summer, stick that sucker outside so that the birds and beetles can climb on and clean off any pests they may have picked up, and they’ll be happy lil succulents.
