Zone 3 Overwintering succulents & cacti indoors

Before frost in Zone 3, it’s time to move any tender succulents and cacti into a frost free area. Join me as I prepare my collection and move them into the house, bug-free. Jan 2024 update here • Zone 3 Ferns in Januar...

[@markday5797]

Thank you for all of the good information. Zone 5B here in Illinois and look forward to spring of 2025 and bringing some of my plants out on the deck.

[@MySaskGarden]

Thanks for watching!

[@matchynishi]

a lovely collection. I don't have indoor plants apart from some paperwhites and amaryllis just because I need a break from gardening lol. However this year I'm trying again with overwintering a few pepper and eggplants, will see how they do. Last time I did, I got aphids even with the cleaning etc, and it was a nightmare. This year I am pruning heavily and dunking the entire plant, root side and tops, into a bucket of pyrethrin solution - if I see any pests, though, they're out into the freeze, lol. No way am I getting the aphids on my seedlings when I start them, again!
Do you overwinter peppers/eggplants? I'm planning to give them lower light and water, just to survive like you do your cacti, but gonna have to see how much I can get away with! :)

[@MySaskGarden]

Thank you. No, I don’t overwinter peppers, and I don’t grow eggplants (not a fan). I know a grower friend said eggplants can be used as sacrificial plants in a greenhouse setting because they are aphid magnets and will leave all the other plants alone. If you’ve not tried an isopropyl alcohol spray on aphids, I would give that a whirl. Just remember to keep them away from light for a while after spraying.