Winter is coming and not all plants are happy. But with these 10 tips for overwintering, your plants will survive the cold season unscathed.
The temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter: it is obvious that winter is approaching us in seven-league boots. But while people enjoy the first snowflakes, many plants don't like the cold at all. Especially heat-loving exotics suffer in winter and can even die. We'll show you ten simple tips with which you can still get your darlings through the winter unscathed.
10. Which plant needs to overwinter?
Not every plant is at war with winter. In fact, most of the native plants even cope very well with the cold temperatures. Exotics, especially from southern countries, must be prepared for the winter. These plants include all citrus fruits, but also geraniums, oleanders or an olive tree. Annual plants do not have to hibernate, but are simply sown again next year. Boxwood, rhododendron and any perennial survive the winter in the bed very well.
9. Overwinter in pots or outdoors?
The question of questions: Should my plant be in the bed even though it is not hardy? In most cases it makes sense to keep plants that are not hardy in the bucket. This allows the plants to be carried to a sheltered location as soon as it gets colder. On the other hand, if you want to admire your plant in the bed, it has to be dug up every autumn and planted again in spring - a lot of work. In addition, digging up can damage the roots of the plant, weakening the plant and not giving it a good start to its winter dormancy. You can find out how to overwinter potted plants properly in our special article.
8. Overwinter in the conservatory and greenhouse
If you live in a glass house, you can sit back and relax. Winter gardens and greenhouses are the perfect place for evergreen plants to overwinter, because oleanders, laurels and co. need enough light even in winter.It is therefore worth cleaning the panes again before storing them so that the plants get as much valuable sunlight as possible. Another advantage of the winter garden is the right climate: temperatures between 5 - 10 °C are perfect and bring the plants safely through the winter. But be careful: It can also freeze in the greenhouse - so arm yourself with a suitable greenhouse heater or a frost guard.
7. Overwintering plants indoors
If you don't have a conservatory or a greenhouse, you can overwinter your plants indoors. The right room is of the utmost importance here: it should be bright and unheated so that the plants feel comfortable. In most buildings, stairwells, garages or the basement are therefore best suited for overwintering. The temperature is also crucial - the temperature in the room should never fall below freezing, otherwise the plants may suffer from frostbite. Some more sensitive crops even resent temperatures below 10°C. Therefore, always find out exactly what your protégé's pain threshold is. At the same time, however, it should not be heated too much. Not only does the dry heating air weaken the plants - too high temperatures cause the plants to start their metabolism again. However, since there is too little light at the same time, the plant begins to develop long, thin shoots and they wither. In addition, most plants - unless they are native to areas with an equatorial or tropical climate - need a resting phase to recharge their batteries in order to be able to start stronger again next year.
As mentioned above, evergreen species need a sufficient amount of light even in winter. However, the following applies: the colder the room temperature, the less light the plant needs. Plants such as star jasmine or myrtle, which can cope with a cool 0 - 5 °C, can also do without light at a constant temperature just above freezing point. Plants that throw leaves, such as angel's trumpet or fuchsia, on the other hand, should generally overwinter in the dark. Otherwise, if they come into contact with light too early, they may sprout prematurely.
Tip: Find out everything else you should consider when winterizing your garden in our special article.
5. Planthibernate outside
Potted plants can't just hibernate indoors - some plants can also get through the winter outside with a little help. Boxwood, bamboo or cherry laurel are hardy in the bed, but need some support in the bucket. The reason for this is that the soil in the pot freezes much faster than the soil in a bed. Styrofoam, bubble wrap or fleece around the pot keep the cold out a little. A jute sack, in which you place the pot and then fill it with dry leaves, or a layer of mulch reliably warms the plant. To protect the plant from the cold ground, you can raise the pot a little with a few blocks of wood. Close to a house wall and crowded together, the plants are also protected from the weather and usually cope with freezing temperatures without any problems.
One of the most common mistakes when overwintering: Forgetting to water. Even if it's hard to believe, plants also need an adequate supply of water during their hibernation. Evergreen plants in particular need regular watering to keep them from dying of thirst. But too much of a good thing can also be harmful to the plants. A rough guideline is watering once a week - but only water when the soil is already dry. On the other hand, the plants do not need to be fertilized because their metabolism is significantly reduced.
Tip: If you overwinter an evergreen plant outdoors and the root ball is frozen through, place the plant in a sun-protected place. Otherwise, the radiant heat can stimulate photosynthesis and increase the water requirement. However, the plant cannot cope with this due to the frozen root ball and dries up as a result.
3. No chance for vermin
It's not just plants that feel at home in their winter quarters: All kinds of pests also find wintering indoors great and spread unhindered. So before bringing them in, make sure that the plants are not being visited by aphids or the like. If this is the case, keep the plant separate from the others until it has been treated and is free of pests. Otherwise, all your plants will quickly have unwanted guests, because the mild temperatures and the many plants in one heap are a real paradise for pests.
2. Winter in the bedNot only need potted plantssome support in winter. The plants in our beds are also happy to be given a helping hand. A layer of brushwood, some garden fleece or leaves make it easier for young plants in particular to survive their first winter unscathed. Even roses can use a little help. Since their grafting points are very sensitive, you should pile up the soil up to this point. This is how the queen of flowers gets through the cold season well. In addition, garden professionals do not cut herbaceous plants such as perennials or grasses in autumn, but only when new growth occurs in the following spring. On the one hand, the dried plant material protects, on the other hand, no additional doors are created for the frost due to fresh interfaces.
1. Professional hibernation
You don't have a winter garden, the basement is full and you can't find a suitable place for your darlings in the apartment either? No problem: many nurseries now offer an inexpensive overwintering service. In the greenhouses there are perfect conditions for the plants. At the same time, you save yourself the weekly watering and can enjoy the winter with a clear conscience. In the spring you can simply pick up your plants again and be sure that they too have had a good winter break.
These products protect your plants from frost:
- Thermal garden fleece: Ideal for protecting your plants from cold and frost in winter. Can be cut individually.
- Jute sack/blanket: Reliable protection against cold and frost made from 100% jute. Decorative natural fabric with a long service life.
- Coir mat: Outstanding heat storage made of natural fibre. Breathable, weather-resistant and durable.
Jute protective fleece made from 100% jute fibers, approx. 105 x 500 cm€11.03 €11.01Details →- 30%
Coconut felt mat, cold protection 0.5 x 1.5 m, brown,€9.99 €6.95Details →
With cold-resistant plants, you have significantly less work in winter than with those that do not easily survive the cold temperatures. Introducing a selection of hardy plants - herbs, palms, exotics and more.