The zone difference is not the big problem most people make it out to be. Within your home site you have zones that can vary as much as 2 (8a to 9b). A protected area in the SE area of your home may be a 9b, certainly a 9a. When things get real cold, I place a painter's plastic over the plant and place a 15 watt bulb inside. OH!!! Make sure the bulb does not come in contact with the plastic. The two don't interact well (fire). Your blanket idea will help keep the soil warm but protect the above soil parts from the cold. Most plants can take a cool night occasionally but not several in a row.

Thanks! I have noticed that certain areas of the yard get colder than others. Laura

I have wintered a pedilanthus macrocarpus( hardy to 25 Z9) and during the winter, I bring it close to the house on the north side, under trees. and under an overhang, both of which will hold some heat. My Epi( 8'wide plant hardy to 32) is also brought in under the overhang and wrapped with freeze cloth. Christmas lights are good for creating a little warmth. If the freeze is very low or long, I freak out and I roll (They are all on wheels) the epi into the wood shop and stick my tongue out at my husbands dirty looks. I am thinking of making a plastic frame for both plants and doubling up on the christmas lights this year. A heating pad might also make some heat. Pedilanthus is in a 25+ gal. pot.

I have made frames using 3/4 in PVC pipes then cover with plastic. You don't have to glue the pieces together since the fiction between the pipes and the fittings is enough to hold them together. This allows you to disassemble for easy storage.

I've done this before - and it worked. I wrapped a pot and plant loosely in black trashbags and shoved that big ball of christmas lights that everyone has lying around inside there and plugged it in. It kept it warm in there and I did it with my fish tanks that were outside too. There aren't that many nights in the 20's and it worked just fine. Just be careful that the bulbs aren't touching the tree - it might get it too warm.

These are not the big bulbs (C5?) The little twinky ones - not the LED(too cool).

I use old blankets. I just put a pvc pole down the center and throw the blanket over. It doesn't hurt the leaves if it rests directly on them. It always looks like I've got a lot of small people camping in my yard in winter. I hope the sports fans in my area like the blanket with the basket,base and footballs all over it. PJ

Thanks all. This info. is really helpful. I can do the Christmas lights, blankets and black plastic bags.

My understanding is that black also absorbs heat more readily.

Wontonamara & PJ, you both made me laugh with your comments about your husband's dirty looks and your camp of small people.

We built a greenhouse on the northwest side of the house, using the house for two sides, plywood for the north and the roof and plastic & 2x4 frames for the west. It's kept a split-leaf philodendron and a number of other semi-tropical plants relatively happy for the last few years. I'll put a small heater out there when it's really cold. It's not the nicest looking greenhouse, but it works. In San Antonio, the same plants were just pulled up against the west side of the house and covered with blankets when it got really cold. Be careful not to let any plastic touch the plants, it'll conduct the cold instead of protecting the plant.

Good luck!