The gardening season is practically behind us, so it's high time to think about wintering your plants. Of course, the date of moving can vary, which is influenced by both the geographic location and the temperature in a given year.One thing is for sure - you should not wait until the last minute to move the plants.
Tropical plants, such as hibiscus, banana or velvet plant, do not tolerate low temperatures at all, so they are placed in quarters where the temperature is around 10 ° C. Plants native to the Mediterranean, such as oleander, olive, fig and pomegranate, may stay outside a little longer, because the first night frosts do not do much harm to them.
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What's more, this form of gradual familiarization with the cold strengthens their immune system and better prepares them for the onset of long nights and low temperatures.Early September or October frosts are usually temporary, so at this time it is enough to bring the plants closer to the wall of the house at night.When the frosts are over, they can be exposed on the terrace, often for several weeks.
Light (or the lack of it) is of fundamental importance for the condition of plants kept in the quarters. They need a bright place during wintering, e.g. evergreen, like laurel and rosemary. It is different with shedding plants for winter, such as datura, fig and lead trees. These can be stored in conditions of almost total darkness. We can talk about an ideal situation when a bit of light enters the quarters, e.g. through a barrel.
The second key point is temperature. Most of the most popular container plants prefer coolness. The most comfortable temperature for them is 5 to 12 ° C.Let's not forget that the drop in temperature in the accommodation must also be accompanied by a decrease in lighting.
Necessary cut
Some plants create not only countless flowers, but also meters of shoots. It is worth cutting them before winter, for two reasons.Firstly, we gain valuable centimeters of space, and secondly, we limit the development and spread of pests.Rantonetti's nightshade Solanum rantonnetii has a nice dense habit - this is the result of treatment with hormones.
Unfortunately, with time, when their effect wears off, shoots quickly become long. It happens that in summer you have to cut them several times.Before placing them in the winter quarters, cut the bushes to 1/3 of the leaf mass. Pon spring budding, another correction is usually required.Winter nightshade in a light but cool place (at a temperature of 5-10 ° C).
First of all, let's make sure that the substrate in the pots maintains a relatively constant temperature, because sudden changes in the temperature of the substrate cause more damage to plants than fluctuations in air temperature. A good solution is to place the containers on a polystyrene pad.
A large wintering plant is a real luxury for many gardeners. Part of the problem of limited space is solved by the possibility of trimming leaf-shedding plants, both foamy and bushy. We can carry out such a procedure, among others on datura, lead and fuchsia.Place the pots one next to the other, as close as possible.Remember not to carry heavy pots, because you can get injured. The plants are transported by wheelbarrows, trolleys, special belts or wheeled platforms.
Plants can be hibernated in unheated basements and corridors, in cool attics, in sheds and garages. A greenhouse or a winter garden can also be used as accommodation.Wherever we keep the plants, from time to time we should check that they are not attacked by pests.We also shouldn't forget about watering and airing the quarters on warmer days.
During the winter dormancy, plants need, above all, peace.Plants overwintering at temperatures below 12 ° C should not be fed or watered.If they are kept at temperatures above 15 ° C, continue fertilization until the end of the year, supplying with winter fertilizers with reduced dose of ingredients.
We water sparingly so that the root ball does not dry out completely. During wintering, plants partially or completely shed their leaves.They need to be systematically collected and removed because they can harbor diseases. Plants kept in warmer than recommended conditions must be treated differently, because they do not undergo a dormancy period.
How to winter a colossus
Datury is one of the most popular container plants for balconies and terraces. Well-kept specimens can reach up to 3 meters in height! And how to winter such a colossus?Theoretically, these plants are not demanding, because they lose their leaves in autumn and can be stored in a dark room with a temperature of 5-15 ° C.
However, cutting is sometimes the only way to fit a bush into the quarters. It is best to cut above the first natural bifurcation; the wounds should dry in the heat. Shrubs trimmed before winter bloom a little later.
