As an exotic flower beauty, Tibouchina is not hardy in our latitudes. The zero tolerance limit is reached long before the first frost. Timely placement in the ideal winter quarters and modified care maneuver the princess flower safely through the cold season. How to properly winter Tibouchina.

The Tibouchina is not hardy

Grant Tibouchina in good time

Tibouchina (Tibouchina urveillana) goes by many names: princess flower, violet tree, samba flower or princess bush. Good-natured, the evergreen flowering shrub with the velvety blue flowers forgives many a beginner's mistake in care. The tropical beauty from Brazil does not understand fun when it is expected to be in a location that is too cold. A look at the thermometer leaves no questions unanswered as to when the royal flower diva wants to go inside:

  • From October or 10° Celsius: change of location in front of the house wall with radiating heat
  • In November or from 5° Celsius: Grant Tibouchina
  • Temporary minimum temperature: 0° Celsius

Before putting away, clean withered flowers, withered and yellow leaves. Please take this opportunity to examine the undersides of the leaves. Tibouchina should not move from the balcony to winter quarters with aphids in its luggage. Cut off dead branches at the base.

Winter quarters: cool and with daylight

The quality of the location in winter decides on the flowering splendor next year. Frost-free, cool and bright are the ideal conditions that Tibouchina and other evergreen potted plants now want. The following overview lists the details:

  • light: bright to sunny with shading against direct winter sun
  • temperatures: ideal 10° to 15° Celsius (minimum 5° C, maximum 20° Celsius)

Glazed, unheated rooms with daylight are advantageous in several respects: optimal for flowering, effective against pests, conducive to leaf loss. Conservatories, glazed terraces, bright stairwells, unheated guest rooms or greenhouses with frost protection all find favor with a princess flower as a winter residence. In the shady basement with temperatures around 12° Celsius, a plant lamp (€21.99) compensates for the lack of light when 2000 to 3000 lux act on the leaves every day.

Caring for Tibouchina in winter - tips & tricks

In connection with the autumnal change of location, please stop the nutrient supply. The next time you fertilize a princess flower only at the end of the winter dormancy. On the long journey through the cold season, monthly inspection visits are a must in the garden. This is how you take care of a samba flower in winter:

  • Pour Tibouchina sparingly in rainwater or decalcified tap water
  • Insert a moisture meter into the substrate in the large bucket
  • Place the pot on wood or insulating material to protect against the cold from below
  • Ventilate regularly
  • Cut back and thin out the Tibouchina at the end of February/beginning of March

Always prune a violet tree in the herbaceous area. A tibouchina no longer sprout on old wood and also does not develop flower buds there. After the shape and maintenance cut, repot the princess flower in fresh substrate. If the first roots are protruding from the bottom of the pot, it makes sense to switch to a larger bucket. Of course, more than two fingers should not fit between the root ball and the vessel wall.

tips

Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is a common cause when Tibouchina doesn't survive the winter. The problem is caused by excessive humidity in the room. Regular airing is an effective preventive measure. If the windows do fog up, set up a dehumidifier in the winter quarters. Plants with gray fungal growth should be sorted out and discarded immediately.

Category:

Indoor plants