You have to realize with horror: summer is over, winter is approaching. Many plants will now have to end their existence. But what about the horned violets in the bed? Can they survive frost?
Are horned violets hardy and how do you protect them in winter?
Horn violets are hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to -15°C. In winter they should be protected from severe frost, e.g. with leaves, brushwood or fleece. In the pot they can overwinter in a garage or cellar while the pot is insulated outside with fleece.
What winter temperatures are the minimum for horned violets?
Due to their origin in mountainous areas, horned violets can easily tolerate cooler temperatures. Even frost does not cause this plant to fall. But it shouldn't be too cold. The minimum that some hybrid varieties on the market can tolerate is temperatures around -15°C.
Often not shrinking due to the cold
If you find out in spring that your horned violets did not survive the winter, poor winter hardiness does not necessarily have to be responsible. There are three main reasons why many horned violets don't survive the winter:
- Damage caused by cold frost<
- Damage caused by permanent moisture
- Deterioration due to lack of energy due to old age
When should you protect horned violets in winter
If you live in harsh locations such as mountain ranges, you should protect your horned violets over the winter. Even in regions where there is a tendency to be wet in winter or, on the contrary, frost, it is better to overwinter horned violets in a safe place. On top of that, horned violets should be winterized in pots on the balcony or terrace.
Overwintering Horned Violets
Horned violets that are in the outdoor bed can be protected from severe frost from the end of October with leaves, brushwood, spruce branches, fir branches, fleece or a layer of compost. All you have to do is cut it back to just above the ground and then put a protective layer over it.
Horne violets in pots can be overwintered in the garage or basement. They can still stay outside. But they should be placed in a protected place. The pot should also be wrapped with fleece (€34.00 on Amazon) so that it does not freeze in the event of frost.
Tips & Tricks
If you don't feel like overwintering your horned violets because that would be a huge hassle, how about leaving the seed heads? Horned violets like to sow themselves. So next year you will have a new generation of horned violets.
