I need my potted plants to be light weight and easily transportable because of my age, arthritic knees and leg edema.
During cold days, and at night during the winter months, I maintain my plants in small square plastic pots indoors on south facing windowsills that receive full
sunshine. On sunny winter days, when the temperature rises to around 60°F (approx. 16°C) -- which happens quite frequently in southern Arizona -- they go outside on the patio for the benefits of sunshine and fresh air, coming inside as the temperature drops at nightfall.
The plants that I grow, being mostly from tropical habitats, do not require a winter cold resting period in order to produce flowers the following spring (that is one reason I favor them) - winter dormancy for them results from the dry conditions they experience during this time. Therefor they only receive occasional very light watering or spraying to prevent shriveling and maintain general plant health.
Indoor windowsill staging:
Following are some photos of the winter set-up for growing my cacti outdoors (on the Patio) under 30% shade cloth:
"Wintertime" roll-around patio staging cart with 30% shade cloth
"Wintertime" roll-around patio staging cart with cacti in carrying trays
(Photograph taken this afternoon)
Four 2¾" (7cm) or five 2" (5cm) square plastic pots in each tray is all that I can carry these days. I transport them back and fortth between the windowsill and the patio - one in each hand (two trips).
That extra grey tray of plants on the left is bound for a Bach's Cactus Nursery greenhouse where the rest of my cacti are located.
