- The perfect winter quarters for potted plants
- Do all potted plants have to hibernate frost-free?
- How do I protect potted plants from frost?
Some garden owners may be surprised if their potted plants, which are advertised as hardy, do not survive the winter unscathed. They overlook the fact that potted plants need special protection from frost, unlike the same plants in a flower bed.
Potted plants should be wrapped in insulating material before the onset of winter
The perfect winter quarters for potted plants
The perfect winter quarters look different depending on the type of potted plant you have. Ideally, however, it is always cool and dry. Hardy plants can hibernate at temperatures around freezing point, while very sensitive ones need at least 10 °C and sometimes even 15 °C.
Most potted plants do well at around 5°C to 10°C. Be sure to bring sensitive potted plants into the house or winter quarters in good time. Even the first night frost lets them freeze to death. Some plants even suffer damage at temperatures of around 10 °C.
Do all potted plants have to hibernate frost-free?
Not all potted plants need a frost-free winter quarters, hardy plants can also spend the winter in the garden. However, they also need good protection against frost there. Therefore, you should definitely winterize your potted plants. Permafrost without a protective layer of snow is particularly dangerous.
How do I protect potted plants from frost?
It is important for potted plants that they are really protected from frost on all sides, including from below. Unfortunately, this is often forgotten. A thick board made of wood or styrofoam is sufficient for this. Then wrap an old blanket, a few jute bags or bubble wrap around the whole bucket. But make sure that your plant still gets enough light and air.
The essentials in brief:
- particularly dangerous: permafrost without snow
- also protect tubs from below when overwintering in the garden
- Cut back in autumn only if overwintered frost-free
- ideal winter quarters: cool and dry
- ideal hibernation temperature: mostly between 5 °C and 10 °C
- ideal lighting conditions: bright for evergreen plants, dark for deciduous plants
- Definitely bring sensitive plants to their winter quarters in good time
tips
Evergreen plants also need sufficient light in winter, while deciduous plants are allowed to hibernate in the dark.