When to bring tropicals indoors?

[Desirai]

Hi. I live in zone 7b-8a (depending who you ask) in Central Alabama.

I have a few tropical plants that I'm growing in pots.

2 Avocado
1 Papaya
1 Bougainvillea

The past 2 weeks and probably til about October 1st, the temperatures stay between 55 and 65 at nighttime.

My question is, when should I start bringing them into the house at night?

[rainbowgardener]

Here's a thread that was in the bonsai forum on the same topic:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39303

it was about bonsai, but they are the same plants with the same requirements.

I don't grow tropicals a lot, being in a much colder climate than you. From what I have read, I think the avocado and bouganvillea are pretty cold tolerant and can easily withstand (night time) temps down into the 40's. The papaya is much more cold sensitive and should probably be brought in when the low temps are under 60.

Maybe someone will come along to answer your question who has more personal experience with them...

[CharlieBear]

I grow them in pots and generally they are fine down to around 40 degrees at night, 45 to be very safe, that is for the fruiting ones, the flowering one depends on the variety, some are stable to 35 and some languish at 45.
I bring them in when it get lower than 48 just to not stress them out, but unlike you I then have to leave them in until late spring

[gstine]

I live in zone 5 b akron ohio...have two dragon trees (dracanea) that I basically saved and don't know if I should separate before bringing indoors....best advice??

[applestar]

I use the temps in this as a guide:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29413