Rising up in a tropical local weather, I’ll have taken as a right that almost all vegetation could be anticipated to overwinter outside, with little to no safety from the weather. I now know higher, having misplaced fairly just a few vegetation to my first few zone 8 winters, and have come to acknowledge which vegetation want further assist to endure the chilly climate.
For some vegetation, this seems like an extra-thick layer of mulch or a sheet draped over them on chilly nights. For others, these measures simply don’t minimize it. Many vegetation, particularly these native to tropical climates, should be introduced indoors for the winter, or their roots will die.
Relatively than letting nature take its course, you may preserve some vegetation generally thought-about annuals in your local weather zone by bringing them indoors for the winter. For some vegetation, like dahlias, this includes digging up and storing the tubers. For others, all the plant could be introduced indoors and overwintered as a home plant.
Many vegetation have totally different wants within the winter than throughout their development cycles. Solar publicity and watering can typically be decreased because the plant shall be going via dormancy and never have as nice a necessity for these items. Most vegetation don’t must be fertilized within the winter, both.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at 21 varieties of vegetation that don’t should be annuals. We are going to discover the native vary and local weather of every and handle how their wants could shift within the winter. And eventually, tips on how to take care of every of those vegetation inside the home.
Alocasia
|
botanical identify Alocasia |
|---|---|
|
solar necessities Brilliant oblique solar |
|
hardiness zones September 11 |
Alocasia vegetation are native to Australia and Southern Asia. They’re thought-about tropical vegetation and like heat climate and loads of humidity. Their giant and wonderful leaves have positioned them within the group of vegetation generally known as elephant ears.
Alocasia vegetation are similar to Colocasia vegetation, besides that they don’t like direct solar, and the place Colocasia leaves are arrow-shaped and level upwards, Alocasia leaves level downward. There may be a whole lot of variation between species of this plant in leaf measurement and coloration. They flower in the summertime, however the flowers usually are not particularly notable.
Fortuitously for gardeners residing north of zone 9, Alocasias could be joyful indoors. They thrive with constantly delicate temperatures and require much less mild than many tropical vegetation. They’re understory vegetation and like loads of vivid however oblique daylight. Carry your Alocasias indoors when temperatures dip into the low 50s, and put them again exterior in the identical vary.
If you wish to reduce the area they require, you too can retailer simply the bulbs of Alocasia and Colocasia. Dig up the bulbs, rinse the dust off them, and take away all foliage. Let the bulbs dry and wrap them in paper, then retailer them in a cool, darkish spot.
Banana
|
|
botanical identify Musa |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar to partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 7-11 |
Banana timber are additionally tropical vegetation, though they’re a bit extra cold-tolerant than some tropical vegetation. Some decorative hybrids have higher chilly tolerance, however banana timber ought to usually come inside earlier than the temperature hits the freezing mark.
Bananas will also be overwintered in two other ways. You may convey your potted banana timber into the home and place them in a sunny spot. Their development will sluggish for the winter, and they received’t want as a lot water. The identical stays true for storing the roots of a banana tree for the winter.
Progressively lower watering because the climate will get cooler to protect the roots to replant within the spring. Wait till simply earlier than the primary freeze, minimize the stems to about six inches tall, and transfer them to a cool, darkish room. The soil needs to be saved barely moist however not moist, otherwise you threat root rot.
Basil
|
|
botanical identify Ocimum basilicum |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones 10-11 |
Some herbs are exceptionally cold-hardy and may survive being left outside within the winter. Basil is just not a kind of herbs. Basil is native primarily to tropical and subtropical Asia, with some species discovered naturally in Africa.
Earlier than you convey your basil vegetation indoors, give them a lightweight pruning to encourage wholesome development. You may take away about ⅓ of the plant with out inflicting undue stress. For those who repot earlier than bringing your basil indoors, prune the roots by about ⅓ earlier than replanting it. Basil vegetation do very effectively in containers, which is an effective way to develop them all year long.
Whenever you initially convey the plant indoors, hold it in a cool spot with oblique solar. After every week or two of acclimating to the indoor atmosphere, your basil plant needs to be prepared for water and sunshine. A sunny window will make basil happiest for the winter months.
Begonia
|
|
botanical identify Begonia |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 9-10 |
Begonias are tropical and sub-tropical vegetation native primarily to Central and South America and Asia, with just a few popping up in sub-Saharan Africa. Largely, they’re understory vegetation that thrive in temperate, humid climate with a number of oblique daylight. I contemplate begonias to have comparable publicity must orchids.
Though most of them will survive temperatures nearly to the purpose of freezing, a very good time to relocate your begonias is when the thermometer registers 45°F. Begonias do admire some cooler climate within the winter, so hold them out of the kitchen, and as a substitute, contemplate preserving them simply contained in the entrance door or in a stairwell if in case you have a cool one.
Give them vivid however oblique solar, and cut back watering by half in order that the highest inch or two of the soil dries between waterings. For tuberous begonias, you may minimize the foliage down and overwinter the tubers in a paper bag in a cool, darkish place.
Cacti
|
|
botanical identify Cactaceae |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar to partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 6-12 |
Some cacti and many succulent vegetation can tolerate pretty chilly temperatures, with some that may survive winter, even in zone 3. Nevertheless, most of those succulent vegetation will present indicators of chilly injury when the temperature drops under 40°F.
There are some particular concerns when bringing these vegetation indoors for the winter. Earlier than you convey your cacti indoors, it’s best to attend till the climate will get near that 40°F mark. The cooling climate tells the cactus to provoke dormancy, which makes your plant a lot simpler to take care of via the cooler months.
Cacti shall be fantastic indoors, in average mild, whereas dormant. Since they won’t develop a lot throughout this time, they’ll want little or no water. Don’t water your dormant cacti and succulents greater than as soon as per 30 days, or you’ll compromise their roots.
Caladium
|
|
botanical identify Caladium |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones September 11 |
Caladiums are pretty vegetation that fortunately fill areas within the backyard which might be partially shaded. They’re native to Central and South America, rising in rainforests with distinct moist and dry seasons. That signifies that throughout the winter, they don’t want practically as a lot water.
Caladiums will cease rising and producing leaves at about 55°F. They are often left within the floor past this, however the sooner you convey them indoors, the decrease the danger of dropping the bulbs to chilly injury. You may convey all the plant indoors for the winter or dig up and retailer the tubers if you wish to preserve area.
As soon as the leaves have died off, dig up your tubers and shake the soil off. Permit them to dry utterly, then place them in a material sack or field with peat moss. They want no water throughout this time and could be planted once more within the spring.
Calla Lilies
|
|
botanical identify Zantedescia |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar to partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 8-10 |
These tropical flowering vegetation are well-liked with florists for his or her lengthy vase life and beautiful, distinctive flowers. Calla lilies are native to South Africa and are accustomed to heat climate year-round. They typically develop on riverbanks, the place they get a constant water provide, and that is the situation they like.
Transfer your calla lilies to the shade for just a few weeks earlier than bringing them indoors for the winter. Because the temperature nears 50°F, your callas will need to enter dormancy. Cease watering them because the leaves die, then take away all useless foliage and convey them indoors.
Whereas your callas are dormant, hold them in a cool, dry, darkish area. Their dormancy lasts about two to 3 months. You may repot them after their dormancy and convey them into an area with partial solar. When the climate reaches 50°F within the spring, they’re prepared to return exterior to renew their rising cycle.
Canna
|
|
botanical identify Canna |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones 7-10 |
Cannas are putting tropical vegetation that reproduce prolifically and produce giant, flashy, colourful flowers. They’re native to the Americas and particularly to the tropics, in order that they like heat, humid climate. Nevertheless, they’re extra cold-tolerant than many tropical vegetation and may survive outside in temperatures as little as 20°F.
Canna leaves die again within the winter, so bringing them indoors doesn’t should be a giant area waster. You may minimize canna leaves all the best way to the soil and retailer them in a cool, dry area the place the temperature stays round 40°F or hotter.
Alternatively, you may dig up your Canna bulbs and retailer them as naked root bulbs. It would be best to clear the bulbs after which enable them to treatment or dry in a heat room for a few week. Wrap them in paper with some dry planting medium and retailer them in a cardboard field.
Citrus
|
|
botanical identify Citrus |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones 8-11 |
Citrus timber typically have fruit maturing because the winter climate rolls in. Additionally they actively develop and flower throughout these months. In consequence, they’re barely extra excessive upkeep within the winter, as they want a constant degree of care and fertilizer and loads of daylight on this interval.
Most citrus timber can face up to freezing temperatures. Nevertheless, if there may be to be an prolonged interval of chilly climate, the place the nighttime temperatures dip into the 20s for just a few days or extra, these vegetation might want to come indoors. Citrus vegetation are native to heat and humid areas, so that is the kind of atmosphere they like.
Carry your citrus right into a brightly lit room, the place they’ll get six or extra hours of solar day by day. Preserve the plant away from drafts and heating vents, which could be drying. A sunny rest room is a superb spot for citrus. Alternatively, a humidifier is nice for bringing outside vegetation into the home.
Coleus
|
|
botanical identify Coleus |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar to partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 10-11 |
Colourful coleus is native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Australia. That signifies that they love heat climate and humidity. Coleus is barely totally different concerning how we protect it and hold it rising for the following season.
Coleus could be very simple to develop from cuttings. You may minimize the highest off of a plant and stick the tip within the floor, and likelihood is very robust that it’ll root and proceed to develop with out skipping a beat.
That being the case, if you wish to maintain onto your coleus, take cuttings and put them in a seed beginning tray for the winter. In spring, when all risk of frost has handed, you should have new coleus vegetation able to put within the backyard.
Dahlia
|
|
botanical identify Dahlia |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones 8-12 |
Dahlias are one other plant you wouldn’t essentially convey indoors for the winter. These fairly flowering vegetation are tuberous perennials. They develop from tubers beneath the bottom. These tubers are hardy in zones 8-12 and could be left within the floor in these climates.
For those who reside in zone 7 or above, you’ll should overwinter your dahlia tubers indoors or threat dropping them to the chilly. Wait till the primary frost has killed off the tops of your dahlia vegetation. As soon as the tops of the vegetation are useless, dig up your tubers.
Dahlia tubers needs to be separated and allowed to treatment or dry utterly. You may retailer them in many alternative types of containers, together with cardboard packing containers, paper luggage, or milk crates. The principle goal is to maintain your tubers dry and in a cool place over the winter. Dahlias could be planted as quickly as the bottom thaws.
Geranium
|
|
botanical identify Geranium |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar to partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 9-12 |
Geraniums (Pelargoniums) are generally grown as annuals in all however the warmest climates. Nevertheless, of their native South Africa, they’re perennials, to allow them to be overwintered indoors and can bloom once more within the spring. There are additionally hardy geranium varieties that thrive outside all 12 months lengthy, even in chilly climates.
Geraniums could be introduced indoors of their containers. Purpose to convey them in about six weeks earlier than the primary freeze. Place them in a cool, sunny area, and water them when the highest inch of soil is dry.
Geraniums are additionally completely joyful to spend the winter in dormancy. You may dig up your geranium roots and minimize the plant again to about ⅓. These bare-root geraniums could be hung in a cool, darkish area or positioned in paper luggage. A shed or storage that stays above 45°F is right for dormant geraniums.
Ginger
|
|
botanical identify Zingiber officinale |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 8-12 |
If you’re rising ginger as an edible, bringing your tubers indoors might be already in your listing of gardening duties for the autumn season. Nevertheless, decorative gingers will also be introduced indoors for the winter to guard them from the chilly.
Ginger is native to Southeast Asia and enjoys heat, humid climate and partial shade. Whereas it’s simple to domesticate elsewhere as an annual, it’s good to carry onto your ginger from 12 months to 12 months. Some species die again within the winter, even in hotter climates, however all of them accomplish that north of zone 8.
Dig up your ginger rhizomes the best way that you’d with dahlias. Wash them and permit them to dry earlier than storing them. Retailer them in a cool, darkish, dry atmosphere, and replant them within the spring when the bottom thaws. Most varieties are tolerant of transient durations of 20° climate.
Jasmine
|
|
botanical identify Jasminum |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar to partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 7-10 |
Jasmine vegetation are native to tropical Asia and components of China, and so they can endure some pretty chilly climate, however in some climates, it will likely be higher to convey them indoors. For those who reside in zone 6 or north, there’s a good probability that your jasmine received’t do very effectively overwintering outside.
Jasmine wants some cool climate and shortening days to induce flower manufacturing. For those who convey them indoors too early, you threat stopping flowering for the following 12 months. It’s best to depart your Jasmine vegetation outside to expertise some evening temperatures within the 40s and 50s in order that the plant units buds, after which convey it indoors.
Place your jasmine in a cool spot with oblique mild via the winter. Humidity shall be extra essential than watering, which needs to be completed sparingly and solely when the highest inch of the soil is dry. Make sure that your property’s humidity stays above 40% for this plant.
Kalanchoe
|
|
botanical identify Kalanchoe |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar to partial shade |
|
|
hardiness zones 10-12 |
Kalanchoe vegetation are winter bloomers, so bringing them indoors not solely preserves and protects their roots, however means that you can take pleasure in their colourful flowers inside the home. These great little vegetation do very effectively indoors.
Let your kalanchoes keep outside whereas the climate begins to chill. This may encourage blooming. When the climate heads towards 45°F and colder, it’s time to convey these succulents indoors. Since they’re winter bloomers, you don’t should reduce on watering these vegetation for the chilly season.
Give your kalanchoe water each two weeks or when the soil is dry to the contact. Place them in a spot the place they’ll get a number of vivid, oblique mild, and benefit from the fairly flowers!
Orchids
|
|
botanical identify Orchidaceae |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Varies |
|
|
hardiness zones Varies |
Overwintering orchids indoors is a given until you reside in a tropical local weather. Though some orchid species are extremely chilly tolerant, many of the sorts offered in shops and nurseries usually are not chilly tolerant in any respect.
A little bit of cool climate, and extra precisely, a shift from sizzling to cooler climate, is sweet for many orchids. That is what prompts them to set buds to bloom within the spring. Nevertheless, as soon as the thermometer falls to the low 40s, convey them indoors, otherwise you’re prone to lose the plant altogether.
Orchids make nice houseplants. They want a whole lot of humidity, so bogs are an awesome place to maintain orchids indoors. Preserve the humidity at 50% or larger, and water your orchids as soon as per week. In case your orchid is in a development cycle, fertilize each two to 3 weeks.
By way of daylight, totally different species have totally different wants. Cattleyas and dendrobiums can deal with some direct solar, particularly indoors. Phalaenopsis and oncidium orchids desire to have filtered or oblique mild.
Poinsettia
|
|
botanical identify Euphorbia pulcherrima |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones September 11 |
It might come as a shock that poinsettias usually are not cold-weather vegetation. They’re tropical vegetation that don’t take care of the chilly in any respect, and when the thermometer falls under 50°F, you might be prone to see some injury to the leaves.
Poinsettias are fairly, inexperienced, leafy vegetation for many of the 12 months, and their bracts solely start to show crimson when the sunlight hours shorten and the climate cools down. Consider them like timber that flip colours within the fall. Poinsettias produce much less chlorophyll as the times shorten, and the crimson colour turns into extra outstanding.
It is a nice time to convey your poinsettias indoors. Carry your poinsettias inside in late September to early October, and set them in a pleasant sunny window for the winter. Exposing this festive plant to extra darkish hours will trigger these bracts to turn out to be extra colourful. Water your plant at any time when the soil feels dry to the contact.
Rosemary
|
|
botanical identify Salvia rosmarinus |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones 7-10 |
Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant. Their most well-liked temperature ranges between 55-80°F, and they’re going to start to die when the temperature drops to freezing. If left outside, you might even see your rosemary return after a gentle winter, however if you happen to reside north of zone 7, I wouldn’t threat it.
Whereas rosemary is usually simple to develop, bringing it indoors could be tough as a result of it likes a ton of daylight. Be sure to put your rosemary plant within the sunniest window you could have. For those who don’t have a window that receives six or extra hours of solar day by day, it’s possible you’ll must compensate with fluorescent or develop lights. Water your rosemary when the soil is dry to the contact.
Tropical Hibiscus
|
|
botanical identify Hibiscus rosa-sinensis |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones 10-12 |
One other tropical plant that likes heat temperatures and ample humidity, tropical hibiscus vegetation will want safety from winter climate. Of their native atmosphere of tropical Asia, they’re evergreen and able to flowering practically year-round. For those who depart them exterior whereas the climate cools, they’ll enter dormancy.
Being dormant means they don’t want practically as a lot water and could be saved in a cool spot with decrease mild. For those who convey your hibiscus indoors whereas the climate continues to be heat, it’s going to proceed to develop and probably even bloom via the winter.
Hibiscus vegetation like a whole lot of solar, and so they want a little bit of humidity as effectively. For those who enable the plant to go dormant, water it very sparingly. If not, water as standard, preserving the soil moist however not moist. Reduce on the watering in case your hibiscus doesn’t appear to be utilizing as a lot water as standard,
Tuberose
|
|
botanical identify Agave amica |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Full solar |
|
|
hardiness zones 8-10 |
For those who develop these splendidly aromatic bulb flowers, you don’t should plant new bulbs yearly, even in colder climates. All you’ll want to do is dig up your bulbs and retailer them for the winter, similar to dahlias!
When rising your tuberoses in containers, winterizing is so simple as reducing the foliage to the bottom and bringing the containers right into a cool, dry place. They received’t want a lot water over the colder months, however it’s finest to not allow them to dry out utterly.
In case your tuberoses develop within the floor, it’s essential to dig them up. Take away the foliage, enable the bulbs to dry, after which wrap them in paper. Retailer your paper-wrapped bulbs in a cool, darkish room.
Zebrina
|
|
botanical identify Tradescantia zebrina |
|---|---|
|
|
solar necessities Partial solar |
|
|
hardiness zones September 11 |
Zebrina is certainly one of my favourite vegetation to maintain in hanging baskets. I really like that I can take some cuttings and have a complete new plant in months. The colours of the foliage are daring and dramatic, and when it blooms, the tiny purple flowers are adorably charming.
By way of climate, zebrina doesn’t love chilly temperatures. When the thermometer hits 50°F, zebrina will cease rising; round 40°F, you’ll start to see injury to the plant. Fortuitously, they do fairly effectively indoors.
I like to depart my zebrina vegetation outside, in {a partially} shaded spot, throughout the heat months. Within the winter, make area for these beauties in any room with a brightly lit window. They like humidity, however it’s much less important to their survival than different tropical vegetation. Proceed to water your zebrina, permitting the highest of the soil to dry between waterings to keep away from overwatering.
Ultimate Ideas
If it saddens you to let go of these vegetation thought-about annuals in your local weather zone, contemplate bringing them indoors for the winter as a substitute. You don’t should have a greenhouse to maintain tropical vegetation alive via the colder months. You simply want brightly lit areas and a cool, darkish spot to retailer dormant vegetation and bulbs.
