US climate zone 6 grower, been growing 6 varieties for several years now and have learned alot but curious about how others in colder climates do certain things.
First heres my routine.
Before storing in winter in my heated garage ive noticed cactus rust is usually bad in fall and early spring so before storing them over the winter I spray them with neem and give one last watering.
I wheel them indoors and at first I bought some expensive copper colored plant caddies with wheels. They did not hold up well and replaced with 55 gallon drum dollies which have worked great.
Over the winter I try to keep them dormant so minimize lights, i only water one time lightly mid winter. Even then they tend to etiolate and stretch so first thing in spring i trim all stretched branches and apply neem again then move them to a partial shaded spot for several weeks to acclimate to the sun again. At this time I feed a heavy nitrogen based fertilizer.
Once they are acclimated to the full sun and weather stabalizes in late spring I ammend the soil with rabbit poop and an organic potting soil to top feed them.I continue the nitrogen fertilizer for several more weeks, I also toss in a handful of bio-char. After a few weeks i switch to a bloom triggering fertilizer. I found farmers secret bud and bloom to be like a magic light switch to trigger buds.
If temps are in the 70s I water once a week, 80s I water every 2-3 days, 90s and above i water everyday.
I use the bud and bloom once a week, 1 cap per gallon.
This routine has worked great for me. If its going to be below 40f I bring them inside. If its just one night in the upper 30s and its going to warm back up ill chance it.
This has pretty much been my routine.
Now for questions.....
To anyone else growing in colder locations. Whats your overwintering routine look like? Do you water during winter?
I may have some fruit left on the plants that wont be ripe before the cold sets in. Anyone ever try letting fruit ripen while indoors? Is it possible?
