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Houseplant suggestions for a hot / cold porch

Sam80Sam80 Posts: 40
in Plants

Hello

I have a south facing glass unheated porch at the front of my home with no ventilation/windows, that I imagine gets to 30degrees on a hot day and goes down to 5-10degrees in winter.  I'd like to put some greenery in there, but I imagine most plants will suffer from leaf scorch or not like the cold.  I read somewhere once that some cactus and possibly succulents can handle the differing temperatures, in fact some, having a cold spell in winter, will produce more flowers in summer.

Anyone got any suggestions please?

Thank you

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Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,879
    I would be starting my tomatoes and cucumbers in there in the spring!
    But maybe cacti/succulents would be good, or pelargoniums.  Sanseveria would be good too.  ZZ plant is tough and might be worth a go, but I don't know if it would cope with full sun.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,293
    My sempervivums get those precise conditions in the greenhouse. They're tough little plants and very cute.
  • Sam80Sam80 Posts: 40
    @ceres & @jennyj - thanks both very much, I'll give them a go, nothing ventured.  I just want to green the room up!  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,199
    Hi @Sam80. There are lots of alpines which would also do well. Many people keep an alpine house, which would have similar conditions. It means they can protect them from excess winter wet, which they don't appreciate. 
    Perhaps you could try an online specialist to see what would be available. There are hundreds  [ if not thousands] of different types  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,260
    Cyclamen do well so long as you keep them watered. Solanum did well for me last year but its a bit boring after a while.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,879
    Alpines would be fine if they can have lots of ventilation. If the porch has to be shut up tight for security when there's no-one in, they might not like it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,199
    True @JennyJ. I didn't think of that. 'Applies embarrassed face smiley.....'
     ;) 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,374
    It depends on the alpine. A lot of them like their roots to be kept cool. In an alpine house people often keep the terracotta pots buried in damp soil during the summer to help with that. Some of the more succulent types from Mediterranean or Mexican regions should do fine though. You might just have to keep the soil drier in winter if it gets cold in there.
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • Sam80Sam80 Posts: 40
    :) Thanks very much for the excellent suggestions *marches off to do some research*
  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    We've got a very similar porch (west-facing with a southerly glass "wall". We've had bougainvillea, a massive yucca,  canna and some sort of Zanzibar thing in there. They all have a holiday outside in summer for a few weeks, the bougainvillea is a martyr to spider mite otherwise


    It's only just come back in after its garden adventure so it's still sulking a bit!
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