So i am moving my VFT outside and hardening it off. it seemed to be doing okay indoors for a few months but then the leaves started turning black and mushy and dying. i am trying to save it. there are still quite a few green leaves and stems on it. Ive only had it about 5 months and it is in the small plastic pot that it came in with that same potting soil. i water it with only distilled water keeping the soil moist. i read that they need high humidity levels and that they normally live in bogs so its pot should be submerged several cm in distilled water at all times mimicking it’s natural habitat. I’m not sure where i read this but i have been doing this. Now im worried that i have drowned my plant. should i repot it in perlite and sphagnum moss and move it outdoors?

Lived in our house for 45 years in NY. Had oak floors throughout. Those floors went through multiple dogs and two kids and their friends. In the 45 yrs, we had the floors refinished 3x. They held up beautifully and those floors sold out house. I would never compare solid wood to laminate or other types. They can get damaged and then what do you do? Wood floors can be refinished and stained whatever color you want. Jane

That's the attitude. It's hard, but not impossible to overwinter them. Was this unheated garage attached to your house? If not, it's unlikely to ever work in your zone. As suggested, raise them off the floor and use a bigger pot which will give the roots more insulation as well. You could also wrap the pot in bubble wrap or something insulative. That, plus water will give them a fighting chance. I've done this for a few years now, but will admit to some losses this year, but only because I didn't realize outside air was entering the space due to some structural changes. I'll be fixing that. Any chance you can put a rose in the ground?

Mineral spirits shouldn't hurt your lacquered table.