Each year, just about this time, I start considering whether or not to bring one more plant in to over-winter. My husband’s a fan of the money saved if I’ll need to replace one less tropical or annual plant come spring.
While I don’t object to saving money, listed here are some factors worth considering when contemplating bringing plants that spent the entire growing season outdoors into your home.
Heavy pots: After a full growing season, annuals like palms and small decorative trees have grown considerably since planted in spring. They’ll be at their prime if they’ve received good care, but they’re also likely to be heavy. What you can see (the trunks and leaves) may be surpassed by what you can’t see (the roots). Think ahead to where you’ll be placing the plants once indoors, with special attention paid to any stairs or other obstacles that need to be overcome to get plants situated in your home.
Room: Not all rooms in the typical home are suited for wintering potted plants. They’ll need to be watered all winter. Wood floors don’t take kindly to getting wet from water spills or porous clay saucers that let moisture through. Carpeting could also sustain damage if it’s suddenly sharing space with heavy potted plants.
Light conditions: To have the best chance of pulling through the winter indoors, plants need light conditions close to the ones they enjoyed outside. Unless you have an area in your home with artificial grow lights or a large, sunny enclosed porch, you’ll be hard-pressed to provide plants with the amount of sun they need.
Moisture conditions: Most homes are much drier than plants can tolerate for months on end. If you have a root cellar, there’s a better chance that plants’ moisture needs will be covered, but light conditions will still need to be addressed.
Physical requirements: This time I’m referring to the gardener’s physical condition, not the plant’s state! You may not have a particularly strong back (or you once did, but you don’t have any longer). An able and willing spouse or friendly neighbor to help with lifting and carrying may be nowhere to be found when needed.
Hmmm, plant replacement over plant relocation is looking better all the time, isn’t it?
When you add in that you must bring plants in before the first frost and take steps to ensure that they’re pest-free, it’s a little more complicated than just moving plants from point A to point B. If your yearly plant budget will allow replacing plants next year, go for it! By then, you may find yourself welcoming the opportunity to try some new plant varieties.
A great article for detailed information on this topic is contained within an interview of Danielle Ernest from Proven Winners brand plants. See the article at this link: garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/How_to_Over_Winter_Plants.
Becky Pinto has been a Master Gardener since 2002 and the Master Gardener newsletter editor since 2005. She’s a Silver Level Master Gardener, based on cumulative volunteer hours served in the program. All opinions expressed are those of the writer. Send comments to therepublic.com.
