Overwintering Tender Perennials and Tropicals

Extend the life of your plants by bringing them indoors for the winter

Cold - climate gardeners are faced with a choice at wintertime ’s outset : quit gardening until spring , or bring some plants at bottom and garden on . I urge the latter . For one thing , tender perennial and tropicals , often trade as yearly , will live on for season to come given the veracious ethnic conditions . Overwintering them — and propagating them — load your garden budget . A houseful of plants also improves air character , humidity stratum , and our mind-set during long cold winter as we stay put physically in touch with the garden .

plant such asrhizomatous begonias(Begoniaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–12),citrus(Citrusspp . and cvs . , Zones 9–11),ornamental figs(Ficusspp . and cvs . , Zones 10–12 ) , and some ferns such asBoston fern(Nephrolepsis exaltata‘Tiger Fern ’ , Zones 9–11),bear ’s paw fern(Phlebodium aureum‘Mandaianum ’ , Zones 9–11 ) , andrabbit ’s understructure fern(Davallia fejeensis , Zones 10–12 ) appreciate the warmth and can tolerate the low humidness inside our home ’ living field . They should be impart back inside to acclimatize a hebdomad or two before change by reversal on the rut . First , gently relocate spiders , pillbugs and other insects , and remove tired foliage , weed , and debris . Repot and divide as needed , but do n’t fertilise until early spring . If your star sign is very dry , set containers on pebble - filled trays of water to increase humidness .

plant from temperate climates , such asrosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis , Zones 8–10),sweet olive(Osmanthus fragrans , zone 7–9),gardenia(Gardenia jasminoides , zona 8–11),cuphea(Cupheaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–11),echeveria(Echeveriaspp . and cvs . , Zones 9–11 ) , andscented geranium(Pelargoniumspp . and cvs . , Zones 11–12 ) , appreciate nerveless wintertime temperature but need wad of sun . Move them inside as night temperature dip into the mid-50s , and give them S - facing windowsills in minimally heated rooms . I debase up an uninsulated unveiling porch equipped with an galvanising heater to prevent freezing . Growth will slow — though some plants will bloom — and they will involve watering less ofttimes than plants in warm rooms .

plant that go completely dormant , such asdahlias(Dahliaspp . and cvs . , Zones 9–11),cannas(Cannaspp . and cvs . , Zones 8–11),gladiolus(Gladiolusspp . and cvs . , Zones 7–10),fuchsias(Fuchsiaspp . and cvs . , zona 6–11),fruiting figs(Ficus carica , Zones 6–9),tuberous begonia , andblue anise sage(Salvia guaranitica , Zones 7–10 ) need cool , dark storage . icing trigger off dormancy , so move them inside a week or two after being hit by frost .

Prepare dahlias , cannas , gladiolus , and other attendant summertime lightbulb for bare - root winter memory board by reserve them to dry out in the Dominicus after digging . Remove stems as well as any bulbil and confluent root , and brush filth off . Store gladiolus corms and canna tubers in composition bags . Dahlias are like Goldilocks ; their conditions must be “ just right . ” If wintertime storage is too damp , they ’ll mold and/or waste ; too dry , and they ’ll shrivel . Tailor your storage method to compensate for humidity levels . I wrap mine in newspaper ; others use plastic old bag . Gardeners at Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth , Rhode Island , place to a RI Dahlia Society exhibit , store their tuber in Styrofoam box seat sate with dampened vermiculite . Whatever method you choose , ascertain them periodically . If tubers show sign of shriveling , spritz them with water system . If they become squishy or moldy , increase air circulation . Potted plant ( salvias , fuchsias , figs , etc . ) in dark storage may be cut back intemperately . permit the soil to dry out between lacrimation once per month or so .

Come early spring , plants will show signs of increment , even in dark storage . Plan to move those plants into the luminosity , and irrigate everything more frequently . bulge out fecundate in March , treat any infestations with dilute app of insecticidal soap or horticultural oil ( look on plant and louse species ) , root tip cuttings , and get a leap on spring .

Kristin Green is writer ofPlantiful : Start Small , spring up Big with 150 plant that Spread , Self - sow , and Overwinter . She gardens in Bristol , Rhode Island .

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overwintering plants

Temperate-zone plants, including marginally hardy ‘Toffee Twist’ sedge (Carex flagellifera‘Toffee Twist’, Zones 7–10), ‘Wendy’s Wish’ salvia (Salvia‘Wendy’s Wish’, Zones 9–11), gardenia, succulents, and scented geraniums spend winter in my barely heated entry porch, which I call “the plantry.”Photo: Kristin Green

tidying a Boston fern