Over wintering plants- light levels

Dirty Harry

I have a few things in pots like French lavender and an agapanthus which are only borderline hardy. Not wanting to risk leaving them outside so I have 2 options-

Conservatory- probably the best option but would prefer to not have to accommodate them here due to space.

Car port- this would be ideal but this brings me to my main question. Do plants still need consistent exposure to daylight through the winter or is leaving them in the cool darkness at the back of the car port going to be ok?

Fairygirl

I doubt the lavender would be too happy. Probably not the agapanthus either. 
A long time since I've grown either. English lavenders generally looks horrible here in our climate , although the French one is a nice plant. 
Interestingly, I have a neighbour who has a French one in the opposite conditions of what it should like. Gets virtually no sun, even in summer, and cold wet ground, plus snow etc, and frequent frosts, yet it always survives. 
Go figure- as they say 

Could you rig up a temporary cold frame of some kind? 

Dirty Harry

I have a cheap polycarbonate cold frame already but the lavender wouldn't fit due to height. I can make room in the conservatory if required.

Would deciduous plants fair better in the car port? I've got a few hardy fuchsias in pots which were fine last winter but I'd be more concerned if we get a cold one.

Fairygirl

I had a couple of hardy fuchsias in a previous garden. They were never protected in any way here. 

Dirty Harry

I suspect they will be ok as they're all hardy varieties and I'm near the coast. Suppose it would be easy enough to just chuck them in the car port if it's going to be especially cold.

Fairygirl

I would doubt your conditions would ever be as severe as here then, although I never grew the fuchsias in pots - all in the ground. They took everything our climate flung at them. Frost starts here in October, or earlier, and they had all the snow/ice/hail/sleet and the inevitable rain that is normal for winter. It's May before we usually get warmer , drier weather too.  
I don't entertain any shrub/plant that is iffy hardiness wise.  

Buttercupdays

If your agapanthus is the deciduous kind it can go in the carport, but the evergreen  ones do need light and are less hardy too, so indoors would be the best bet.