Is overwintering seedlings inside with grow lights better than inside dormancy? I have a couple of dozen seedlings and a number of rootings growing a lot of leaves. Willing to purchase a small portable greenhouse for the garage with grow lights added. Is dormancy better for growth in the long haul for seedlings and also newly rooted Plumerias in pots? They are all outside now in Cape Coral (zone 10a).

All of my OTHER "in ground" Plumerias will be staying outside and go dormant. Any frost protection needed I plan to fill capped gallon jugs with near boiling water near each young plant. We only have had 2 frosts in 13 years. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. I just love this organization ! ! !

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

We are fortunate that we live in Florida where technically speaking we can grow plumerias longer than most other areas. So for new seedlings I just keep them in the covered patio where they get bright light or indirect sun but protected from frost. Or you can place them inside on a southfacing window. I never saw the need to use grow lights on my seedlings.

I don't normally let my seedlings go dormant on the first year of growth but I water them only when soil is dry during winter times. Seedlings like moist but not wet feet, they are tender so they could rot easily.

A mini-greenhouse would probably be a bettter investment in FL than grow lights?

Thanks for the quick answer Gigi. The seedlings will defoliate with temps in the 40's on cold nights - - won't they? If so, I guess I would just move them into the garage overnight.

I'm 3/4 of a meteorologist and used to do 12 TV weather shows every morning. I guess I would know when to bring them in and when not to bother. However doesn't length of day and temp combo cause defoliation and dormancy?

Wow a TV celebrity

I used to keep my seedlings on south facing window so they didn't go dormant. The new seedlings now are just trying to make it on their own

Yes, I think if you give them a little bit of water and keep them in the garage they might not loose their leaves. But for sure if they are kept in the mini greenhouse on a south facing side, they will not go dormant.

Only did TV for about 6 months to supplement my income in a successful carpet cleaning business that I started with a Kirby home shampoo attachment. Charlottesville Va market does not pay much at all. Willard Scott or Al Roker would say "Here is what is happenng in your neck of the woods" and then I would do a 30 second weathercast on the hour and 2 to 3 minutes on the half hour.

My seedlings would only be in the garage overnight and back on the sunny south side of my house in the morning. Probably will only need to rotate their location less than 10 times in the entire winter season -- -- fearing that 40 to 49 degree temperature would start the defoliation process. Assuming that numerous nights left outside in the 50's and shorter days would not cause defoliation. Hope my assumption is correct! Any opinion on that? ? ? Also, I have about 3 that I rooted from donations in 2 gallon pots and 3 others in 3 gallon pots. Should I do the same with them or just leave them outside?

Hmmm good question. My seedlings when I had a manageable amount were grown inside on our southfacing window and we keep our temperature at the lowest would be 70s winter time. (Compared to 65 when we Iived up north.)

If my seedlings are over a foot tall or too wide they will not fit the windowsill, they get booted out of the house and stay at the covered porch Most would keep their leaves, if I keep their dirt moist but not wet.

To plumber is inflows ref lower after dormancy?

Vtnmack said: To plumber is inflows ref lower after dormancy?

@Vtnmack not exactly sure what you are asking.

If what you're asking is Do inflos reflower after dormancy, the answer is not as simple as yes or no. Occasionally, yes, they can. Most often, they do not.