The Japanese myrtle, also affectionately known as the quiver flower, loves to spend the summer outdoors. The warmth draws out numerous flowers. In winter, however, we have to help her escape inside. The cold not only prevents flowers, it robs them of their lives!

In winter, the Japanese myrtle has to move into the warmth

Lack of winter hardiness

The name Japanese myrtle is misleading because this plant actually comes from South America. It is also given other names such as false heather or cigarette herb. But unlike most true heather species, Japanese myrtle is not hardy.

Even plus degrees just above zero are not well accepted. That is why overwintering the Japanese myrtle outdoors does not promise a good outcome. Even the best protective measures cannot make a harsh winter bearable.

Cultivate as an annual

Very few plant lovers have a large room where they can gather all frost-sensitive plants in winter. In this way, it is carefully checked and selected which plant is worth the wintering effort.

Japanese myrtle often makes the list of losers. So she is only granted a one-year existence. Next spring, its owner simply buys a new one. This is how hibernation works too!

Cultivate perennial

It would be a shame not to realize the potential for a multi-year life. Because the Japanese myrtle can be overwintered well in a room. If space in the winter quarters is really tight, you can remove some of their fullness with scissors.

Ideal winter quarters

In the winter quarters, the frost must not spread a single day or night. This ensures the survival of this plant. However, so that it not only survives, but can welcome spring healthy and vital, it should get a little more warmth. The temperature range of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius is ideal.

The room should also be quite bright, because the quiver flower likes to keep its leaves all year round and therefore needs light.

Time to move in

The best time to move into winter quarters is determined by the weather. Your job is to keep an eye on the weather and react in time. Let the myrtle show its last flowers in autumn before it has to leave the garden before the first frost.

Care in the cold season

In the winter quarters, until around mid-May, care for the evergreen Japanese myrtle is kept to a minimum.

  • occasionally water with room-warm water
  • the pad should never dry out completely
  • Fertilize sparingly every 6-8 weeks
  • Or avoid fertilizing altogether
  • repot shortly before moving out

tips

Check the plant at regular intervals to see if it is still healthy. Especially in the winter quarters, some pests find it easy to spread from plant to plant.

Category:

Indoor plants