The fun of indoor gardening in Colorado during the winter

by Ed Powers This is my 7th winter in Evergreen, Colorado and having lived 34 years at sea level I find the winters at 8,000’ a bit more difficult in caring for indoor plants such as violets, orchids, bonsais and succulents.  But I have enjoyed it here more than anywhere else, and I have learned to adapt to my surroundings.   For instance, my African Violets are in my garden room located in my basement.   Besides dealing with the thin atmosphere in the winter there is also cooler temperatures down there.  After 3 winters of this I believe I have solved the problem; I put them on heat mats with thermostats (the kind you use for growing seeds) and cover my plant cart with heavy plastic sheets. I have found that I can keep the temperature ~ 67 to 77 degrees in the cart. Plant Stand in Basement with lights, heating pads and plastic cover. The orchids were a bit more difficult to adjust for.  When I moved here, I brought 4 orchids and lost all of them to disease within 4 weeks.  The main pr