The genus of nightshade (bot. Solanum) includes about 1400 species of plants with very different needs in terms of location, soil, care and climate. Accordingly, the hibernation of the individual species must be designed in different ways.
Most nightshades are not hardy
How much frost can Solanum tolerate?
How much frost your solanum can tolerate depends on its species. After all, the genus contains about 1400 different plant species. The popular climbing plant Solanum jasminoides, also known as summer jasmine, tolerates frost down to around - 2 °C, but only for a very short time. A frost-free overwintering is therefore strongly recommended. The gentian bush (bot. Solanum rantonnetii) even needs temperatures of at least + 7 °C.
What to do with the summer jasmine in winter?
Summer jasmine, which is not hardy, can hibernate cool and dark, for example in a basement room, or moderately warm and bright. A conservatory or a heated greenhouse is recommended here. A warm living room, on the other hand, is not suitable. The temperatures in the winter quarters should not be above 15 °C, but not below about 5 °C either.
If it hibernates in a cool and dark place, your summer jasmine will probably shed its leaves and sometimes develop horny shoots (long, pale and leafless shoots). This is perfectly normal. In the spring you can simply cut off the unwanted shoots. The new shoots are strong and green again.
The essentials in brief:
- Solanum often not hardy
- frost-free overwintering recommended, temperature may vary depending on species
- Summer jasmine: hibernate cool and dark or moderately warm and light
- warm hibernation (well heated living room) generally not good winter quarters
- Pruning recommended before moving to winter quarters
tips
Make sure that the summer jasmine is also out of the reach of children in the winter quarters, because it is considered poisonous.