Plants to Overwinter

• Overwinter as houseplants in a warm, sunny place (like a sunroom or heated greenhouse): cordyline, phormium, palms, croton, bamboo, jasmine, allamanda, bougainvillea, hibiscus, citrus
• Take root cuttings and pot them up so you have new plants in the spring: plectranthus, coleus, and geraniums
• Keep plants dormant in a cool, dark place: Brugmansia, banana, dwarf canna
• Store dormant bulbs/corms/tubers: begonia, dahlia, ginger, sweet potato vine, colocasia, caladium, canna, calla

Nowadays, you can buy most of these tropical plants (bougainvillea, jasmine, Mandevilla, banana, agapanthus, and elephant ears) without much difficulty. gardeners all over the country are enjoying the challenge of growing these heat-loving plants in their gardens, on their patios, and on their decks. This is a great opportunity to get to know and love a whole new range of plants!

When fall comes around, most gardeners don't want to let their cold-sensitive plants go to waste, even though the frost will probably kill them.

How to Overwinter Tropical Plants as Houseplants

If you live in an area with a sunny window where the average air temperature is around 60-70 degrees, you can grow most tropical plants and flowers indoors year-round. Some examples of plants that will survive in these conditions are Bougainvillea, jasmine, citrus, hibiscus, and geraniums, as long as they have access to plenty of sunlight. provided the temperature at night does not drop below 40 degrees. Smaller plants can thrive indoors under a grow light, as long as they receive approximately 12 hours of light each day.

Before it gets cold outside, bring these plants into your house or sunroom. They may drop some leaves at first, but that's normal as they adjust to their new environment. Water them as needed, but don't overdo it—soil that's too moist can lead to pest and disease problems. circulate the air around them by running a small oscillating fan for several hours each day. If possible, keep the humidity level between 30 and 45 percent by misting or placing a pan of water among the plants. In cold climates, keep the humidity below 30 percent to avoid condensation on your windows.

The best temperature for tropical plants during winter is 50 degrees at night and 65 degrees during the day. warmer air temperatures can create problems with plant growth and pests. To control pests, check your plants weekly and use insecticidal soap as needed. For more serious infestations, you can dunk the plant in a dishpan of water and dishwashing detergent or stick it in the shower.

The ideal winter temperature at night is 50 degrees, and during the day is 65 degrees.

If your tropical plants are still actively growing during the winter, it's beneficial to prune them at least once or twice. This will help maintain the ratio of foliage to root mass, and also give you the opportunity to take some new cuttings. Coleus, plectranthus, and geraniums respond particularly well to this treatment. In spring, repot the plants and start fertilizing them.

How to Take and Root Cuttings of Tropical Plants

Some herbaceous, soft-stemmed tropical plants such as plectranthus, coleus, and geraniums can be difficult to overwinter. A good option is taking cuttings in the fall and letting the “mother” plant die. Root the cuttings in water on a windowsill. Be sure to root succulent, young stems—not stems that have become tough or woody. Put only the stem—no leaves—in the water. Once roots have developed, plant each cutting in a 3- or 4-inch pot and keep them on a windowsill or under lights. Fertilize regularly. You'll have a whole batch of new plants for your spring garden and will be a popular guest at next year's plant swaps.

Let the Plants Go Dormant

Some tropical plants do best when they are not kept alive during the winter, and instead are allowed to die. This is done by cutting off the plant's access to water and leaving it in a dry and cool place. The plant will enter into a state of dormancy and will remain alive but will not grow until the conditions are right again.

You have two options for what to do with your plants over winter. You can either leave them in their pots with barely moist soil, or trim off the stems, dig up the bulbs, and wrap them individually in moistened newspaper or peat moss. Whichever option you choose, it is important that the air temperature remain between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make sure to check the bulbs monthly to see if they have dried out. If they have, mist the storage material around them with water. When spring comes, repot the bulbs, start fertilizing regularly, and put the plant in a sunny window.

To prepare woody-stemmed tropical plants for winter, such as jasmine, Brugmansia, tibouchina, and bananas, bring them indoors before the first frost. Allow the plants to rest in a cool area with little to no light. The lack of light will cause the plants' leaves to yellow and drop, signaling to the plant that winter has arrived. The plants can then spend the winter in an unheated basement, root cellar, unheated garage, or cool closet. Ensure that the area is relatively dark by enclosing the pot in a heavy black trash bag. Additionally, make sure that the air temperature in the area stays above freezing.

Woody-stemmed tropical plants should not be cut back until early spring. Water the plants sparingly throughout the winter, checking monthly to see that the soil is barely moist. In early spring, revive the plants by repotting them in fresh soil. Water thoroughly and provide a weak dose of liquid fertilizer. Expose the plants to bright, filtered light, gradually acclimating them to full sun. Give the plants about a month of indoor (or greenhouse) growing time before moving them outdoors.

Gradually introduce heat-loving tropicals to the outdoors by shielding them from direct sunlight and wind for at least a week or two. If the plants are acclimated slowly, they'll slide right into active growth. Too much early spring stress will stunt the plant's growth — or even kill it.

It is important to remember that overwintering tropical plants is not an exact science, and that what works for one plant may not work for another. Be prepared to experiment and to lose a few plants in the process.

FAQs

How do I winterize my garage plants?

To overwinter your plants in a garage or basement, there are a few rules you need to follow. 1. Make sure the space you're using is clean, well-ventilated, and free of pests. 2. Check the temperature of the space before bringing your plants in. It should be between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. 3. Bring your plants in gradually, over a period of a week or so, to give them time to adjust to the lower temperature and light level. 4. water them regularly, but don't overwater. Allow the soil to dry out a bit between waterings. 5. Watch out for signs of stress in your plants, such as yellowing leaves, and take action to correct the problem if necessary. 6. Feed your plants once a month with a low-nitrogen fertilizer. 7. Check your plants regularly for pests, and treat them if necessary. To overwinter your plants in a garage or basement, follow these seven rules: 1. Make sure the space you're using is clean, well-ventilated, and free of pests. 2. Check the temperature of the space before

• Find a Good Overwintering Place
• Clean Up Containers Before Bringing Them Inside
• Don't Over-water Overwintering Bulbs
• Let Overwintering Plants Rest
• Avoid Temperature Fluctuations
• Provide Good Ventilation for Happier Herbs
• Tackle Overwintering Pests Promptly

Will putting plants in the garage protect from frost?

Transplanting your plants to a sheltered area like a shed or garage will provide them enough protection from the cold weather.

Will my plants survive in the garage?

The amount of time plants can spend in a garage depends on how cold the garage gets and how much light the plants would receive. The garage can act as a make-shift greenhouse, by keeping the plants warmer than they would be outside. If the plants don't get a lot of light in the garage, you'd have to move them outside whenever the weather is warm enough.

What happens to outdoor potted plants in the winter?

To protect your plants from the cold, you can wrap them in materials like burlap, bubble wrap, old blankets, or geotextile blankets. You only need to wrap the part of the plant around the roots, as this is the part that is most sensitive to cold temperatures. The material you use will trap heat and keep it close to the roots, providing extra protection from the cold.

How do you overwinter indoor plants?

Rules of Thumb for Overwintering Plants Indoors:

• Choose only healthy plants.
• Bring plants indoors before frost damages foliage.
• Treat for disease and insects before bringing plants indoors.
• Place in bright areas and add humidity using pebble trays or spray bottles.
• Be careful not to overwater.

Which plants can survive the winter in the garage without grow lights?

Many of the best plants for overwintering indoors have bulbous roots designed to store nutrients and moisture through a dormant period. Amaryllis, oxalis, cannas, dahlias, and tuberous begonias hold moisture in their fleshy bulbs, tubers, and corms, so very little supplemental water is needed.

How do you save annual plants for next year?

Place the plants in a bright indoor location, watering and fertilizing them over the winter. In the spring, after all danger of frost has passed, bring them back outdoors and harden them off.

To protect your outdoor plants in the winter, you can cover them with a tarp or a piece of cloth. You can also build a temporary shelter for them.

Help Your Outdoor Plants Survive the Cold

• Know Your Plants. First of all, you'll want to take stock of your existing plants.
• Trim Them Back.
• Cover Them Up.
• Take Special Precautions for Potted Plants
• Give Them Plenty of Sun.
• Cut Back on Watering.
• Protect Them from Temperature Fluctuations.
• Skip the Fertilizer.

Can you bring potted plants inside for the winter?

If you're a plant lover, you don't have to despair when the outdoor gardening season comes to an end. Many plants can be brought indoors as houseplants to survive the colder months. Although most won't make it through the winter in cold climates.

How do you keep potted perennials over winter?

You can keep them alive during winter by moving the pots into a cold frame or unheated garage after the first hard frost. Since all perennials require a period of dormancy or cold treatment to bloom, don't overwinter them in a greenhouse or other warm place where they will not go dormant.

Where should I store my plants in the winter?

Tender perennials can survive the winter in a cool, dark basement or garage as long as the temperatures stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Some tender perennials can also be left outdoors throughout the winter if they are covered with a thick layer of mulch.

One way to protect your plants during a freeze is to cover them with a sheet or blanket. This will help trap in heat and protect them from the cold.

To protect plants from freezing, cover them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard, or a tarp before it gets dark. This will trap warmer air and protect them from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours). You can also invert baskets, coolers, or any container with a solid bottom over plants.

What do you do with annuals at the end of the season? The best way to deal with annuals at the end of the season is to simply pull them up and dispose of them.

Annual plants don't come back every year, so there's no need to leave them in the ground. Dig them up, including the roots, and put them on your compost pile. Also get rid of weeds and dead leaves. These are common places for diseases and pests to overwinter.

Can annual plants survive winter?

Annuals are plants that only survive for one growing season. Some annuals are actually perennials or woody shrubs, but because they can't tolerate frost, they can't survive in our winters.

When should you overwinter plants?

One way to ensure a winter harvest is to plant cool-weather crops in the early to mid-fall, such as kale, beets, broccoli, and spinach. These crops will establish their root systems in October and November, fall dormant during the cold and dark months, and then emerge early in the spring.

If you're trying to protect your plants from frost damage, using garbage bags is one method you can try.

Plastic is not the best material to use as a winter covering for plants, as it can trap moisture and cause the plant to freeze. However, you can use plastic in a pinch (even a plastic garbage bag). Remove the covering first thing in the morning.

Covering plants from frost is most effective when done with a material that is lightweight, yet will not blow away in the wind.

The best way to cover large plants and shrubs is with bed sheets or comforters. You can use newspaper on low-growing foliage, but it can often be difficult to get it to stay in place. I have used old pillow cases, sheets, towels, and even cardboard boxes.

Should you water plants before a freeze?

When a plant is stressed from a lack of water, it becomes more susceptible to damage from cold temperatures. You can help prevent this damage by watering the plants a few days before a cold snap is scheduled to hit. Watering the plants just before the freeze can also help, as the water creates warmth, and then loses that heat slowly over the next few hours as the temperature drops.

Can I overwinter perennials in the garage?

A place that is not heated and has a temperature that ranges from 30 to 40 degrees, such as a garage, shed, or basement, can be a great place to overwinter perennials.

Will perennials come back in pots?

Perennial plants can stay in the same pot for a couple of years before needing to be replanted into a larger pot. Alternatively, the perennial can be divided and replanted in the same pot with fresh soil.