They survive fine in both containers and in the ground in winter ( a lot colder than your zone 5). what they don't not like is 'damp' or improper drainage.

Is there a way for me to fix that?
Should I cover it so they dont get hit with rain/snow?
But then it wouldn't get any sun...

If you have them in 3" - 4" of soil add gravel to get good drainage. I have mine in 75% gravel 25% soil because we have very wet Fall weather. Some of my semps are growing on a stone wall no soil at all.

Here in the UK you soon find that there are a few Semps. that will not tolerate cold wet conditions whatever the mix of soil. These I put under cover in a garden frame but make sure that the lid is open so that there is plenty of moving air around the plants. All I'm interested in is keeping out worst of the winter wet.

i bought some online and they doing well in 20'f temp-, but some i bought at the HD are dying!

My first post to the forum but let me add my experience with Semps....
We have dry/hot summers and wet winters and mine are all planted on the ground (which is sandy/gravelly and shallow), in rock crevices, etc. Nothing seems to kill them. Normally each fall and early winter the older outter leaves shrivel and dry-up...I either pull them out or let nature take care of it. The colder the temps get the darker purple my varieties tips get :)
I'm not sure which ones I have now but they multiply soooo fast...I can remove a chick, plant it elsewhere and that chick will me a mother of dozens by fall!

Cant wait to add more varieties next year...

Vera

Are you sure you have Semps?

A number of garden centers in Ontario are selling Echivera and these are warm growing and will not over winter. These plants look similar, and are usually light gray and normally larger than most Semps - but these comparisons are just a rough gide.

Semps should do just fine in winter, unless very wet. I had some growing under the down spout in clay soil and they lived through many winters.

Mine are in various pots, sitting on a table on the deck, the table umbrella is down in the winter, up in the summer, and the table is exposed to the vagaries of weather.

We go down to low thirties occasionally, and this winter has been very, very wet.

But I must say the semps look very well. Their coloration is quite striking, I would say they look better now than in summer. They are quite firm and tight also.

My potting mix drains very well, being composed of miniature pieces of shale, gravel & slate, along with coarse potting soil amended with sand & perlite.

The mix in your containers is key. Replicate natural conditions as best you can & your semps will thrive.

Hello All;

One of the secrets I've found to growing these beauties here in Wisconsin is the potting mix. If I buy them locally I ALWAYS repot into a lighter, more gritty mix. Usually plants are grown here under cover for the winter and the locals use a standard potting mix with a bit more grit but it's never enough. I've lost too many just planting in with the original soil.

Another thing you might want to consider when mixing your own soils is to start with the sand and gravel and add the organic materials last. I usualy add just enough organic material so that it's just noticable in the mix but so that the gritty materials are still visible. Not sure if I described this correctly...easier to see it than to describe it.

Also overwintering pots should not be resting directly on a hard surface but should be elevated slightly so that the water in the lower half of the pot can drain freely during early thaws. Very important when planting in clay pots.

just my 2 cents worth;

Dave
Milwaukee
zone 5...........ish