Which plants can be overwintered in tubs and when should they move to their winter quarters? Here you can find out everything about overwintering potted plants.
For many people, potted plants in the garden offer the opportunity to cultivate exotic or Mediterranean plants. However, our cold winters give many plants a hard time. Read here which places are suitable as winter quarters and how to properly care for potted plants during their hibernation.
Overwintering potted plants: Which plants have which requirements?
Container plants to be overwintered can roughly be divided into three groups: evergreen plants, deciduous plants and exotic plants, whereby the latter can usually also be seen as evergreen plants.
On the one hand they represent different Requirements for temperature and light conditions in the winter quarters. On the other hand, if the location is not chosen appropriately, various problems can arise.
The evergreen plants include, for example, myrtle plants (Myrtaceae) such as cylinder brush (Callistemon) or dogbane plants (Apocynaceae) such as star jasmine ( Trachelospermum jasminoides). They depend on plenty of light and yet low temperatures during their hibernation.
Evening primrose plants (Onagraceae) such as the fuchsia (Fuchsia) or nightshade plants (Solanaceae) such as the angel's trumpet (Brugmansia) belong to the deciduous pot plants and can also be overwintered in the dark.
The exotic plants include the laurel family (Lauraceae), palm trees (Arecaceae) and citrus plants (citrus) of the rue family (Rutaceae). The exotic plants in particular do not like it too dark in winter, but can tolerate higher temperatures.
However, the general rule for all three groups is: the lower the hibernation temperature, the better they can be hibernated and the less likely problems will arise.
Summary: The 3 groups ofPot Plants
- Evergreen potted plants: Need light and as cool as possible in winter
- Deciduous potted plants: Can also hibernate in the dark, like it cool
- Exotic, evergreen potted plants: Need a lot of light even in winter, tolerate slightly higher temperatures
When should potted plants be winterized?
There is no right date for moving to the winter quarters, as the temperatures fluctuate every year. So one year it can be too cold outside as early as October, while the following year is much milder and the plants feel comfortable outside until November. The rule of thumb for overwintering all potted plants is: as short as possible in the winter quarters, but as long as necessary.
Most plants tolerate longer cold periods of 5 to 10 °C. If the temperature falls below this, the move to the winter quarters should take place. Cold-tolerant plants such as myrtle (Myrtus communis), loquat (Eriobotrya) or star jasmine, but also laurel (Laurus nobilis ) or oleander (Nerium oleander), tolerate temperatures from 0 to 5 °C as long as it does not freeze. Most exotic or Mediterranean plants prefer temperatures above 10°C, so they should be wintered earlier.
The right place for wintering indoors
The choice of location depends on the plant itself, there is no perfect location for all plants together. But it applies equally to all plants:
The cooler it is, the darker it can be and the warmer it is, the more light is needed.
Various rooms are suitable for overwintering in the house, such as a conservatory, a bright, unheated cellar, the garage, the stairwell, an unheated adjoining room, a greenhouse that is not used in winter or a frost-free, bright orangery. The living rooms are less suitable, as it is much too warm for almost all plants. The high temperatures stimulate active growth of the plants, which in turn is inhibited by too little light. The plant cannot carry out sufficient photosynthesis and therefore forms so-called "horny shoots". These are long, thin, soft shoots designed to promote photosynthesis. For the gardener, however, they are akin to a cry for help, as the plant would rather be moved to a cooler location. In addition, the Geiltriebe are a favorite food for pests because of their soft consistency. NextThe plants also need light and sufficiently humid air, which is why they should be ventilated daily.
Evergreen plants also like it particularly bright in winter. They should therefore be placed near the window. Deciduous plants, on the other hand, require less light because they have little or no photosynthesis due to the lack of leaves. For example, the angel's trumpet or the fuchsia can also be overwintered in dark rooms if the temperature there is so low that the plant cannot sprout.
Exotic plants are used to higher temperatures in winter because of their origin. Hibiscus (Hibiscus), Flowering Maple (Abutilon), Ornamental Banana (Ensete ventricosum), Date Palm ( Phoenix) or Club Lily (Cordyline) can also be housed in moderately heated rooms if they are allowed to stand by the window. The panes should be clean and curtains pushed aside to let more light into the room. Only direct proximity to the heating should be avoided. The dry, warm heating air promotes the spread of pests. That's why you should definitely check the plants for pest infestation before wintering and take the necessary countermeasures.
Tip: Brown edges on the leaves can be an indication of a possible pest infestation, but also indicate insufficient humidity.
The right winter protection for potted plants in the garden
In mild regions, robust plants such as laurel or oleander can be overwintered outdoors or on the balcony, they easily tolerate brief cold temperatures of -5 °C. Olive trees, figs or grapevines can also be overwintered outside. Many plants benefit from putting fir branches or similar filling material between the branches that are close to the ground. For example, with roses (Rosa) the grafting point is protected or for frost-prone garden hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) additional protection is created.
For proper winter protection, the bucket should be placed on a piece of Styrofoam to keep ground frost at bay. It is important that the drainage of excess irrigation water is guaranteed, otherwise root rot can occur. In addition, the tub and plant should be wrapped in a hemp or jute sack to protect them from cold wind and low temperatures. Especially with large potted plants such as camellias (Camelliajaponica), wrapping the pot and the entire plant with raffia mats helps a lot. If you have more than one container plant, they can be put together to protect each other. A location along the wall of the house provides additional protection and uses the heat radiated from the house.
For evergreen potted plants such as dwarf rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, it is essential to choose a location without much direct sunlight. If there is too much sun and frost at the same time, there is a risk of "frost drought": The plants are stimulated by the sunlight to carry out photosynthesis and transpire water in the process. In frost, however, the water absorption from the partially frozen soil in the pot is severely restricted. As a result, the evergreen plants suddenly drop their leaves. With a less bright location, the otherwise robust plants are protected from frost drought and can also survive sub-zero temperatures.
Tip: It's not just your potted plants that need to be protected from the winter. You should also winterize the rest of your garden. We'll explain the best way to do this.
Preparing potted plants for the winter: the right care
Tub plants that are well wrapped up in the garden over the winter are usually very easy to care for: they should be checked regularly for frost damage in winter to improve winter protection if necessary. Watering or fertilizing is not usually necessary, only some evergreens may need an occasional watering during particularly dry winters.
If the planters are stored in a frost-free area over the winter, the tubs should be left to dry out as much as possible. This prevents root rot on the one hand and makes transport to the winter quarters easier on the other. Before transport, the tub should be cleaned and leaves and plant debris removed. This is how you prevent a pest infestation. If the plants have already grown particularly large, a moderate cut can be carried out. However, you should wait until spring before budding in February before making the big cut, as the cuts heal better when the vegetation begins. How much and what shoots are cut, in turn, depends on the plant. It is particularly important that the annual wood is preserved in plants that have flowers on it. Diseased or damaged shoots should always be removed.
During the hibernation the plants areundemanding in winter quarters. A little watering once a week is enough. However, you should only water when the soil is superficially dry. If you are not sure, it is better to wait a few more days before watering, as almost all plants survive a short drought better than too much moisture.
In addition, the rooms should be ventilated regularly. This reduces potential pest pressure and prevents dry edges on the leaves caused by heating air. Pests can spread quickly between the plants that are close together in the winter quarters, so regular checks for pest infestations are very important. In the event of a possible infestation, action can be taken quickly and sustainably.
Tip: A common problem with exotic species that have been wintered bright and warm is the dry heating air. It not only ensures dry leaf edges, but also promotes infestation with thrips and spider mites. It is therefore essential to spray the wintered exotic plants regularly with water or place bowls filled with expanded clay and water near the plant - these evaporate water and thus keep the humidity high.
Hold out potted plants: first fertilization after hibernation
When spring finally approaches, deciduous plants begin to grow roots hidden in the ground before the first leaves sprout . Here it makes sense to support the plant with a primarily organic fertilizer. Even evergreen and exotic plants are gradually starting to put energy into their growth again, both in the roots and in the upper parts of the plant. This means that the plant uses a lot of energy. Our nitrogen-rich Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer strengthens microbial life in the soil and stimulates root and leaf growth from the start. The organic liquid fertilizer can ideally be administered with the irrigation water, as the nutrients can be distributed throughout the bucket and absorbed by the roots. Later, a special fertilizer appropriate for the plant should be used to provide it with the best possible care.
Carrying heavy planters back and forth in autumn and spring can be exhausting. In our special article you can find out everything about hardy palm species for your garden that also enjoy the winter outdoors.