The vanilla flower, which is also known by the Latin name heliotrope, is mostly cultivated in our latitudes as an annual flowering plant. It is one of the sun-hungry balcony bloomers that prefers a full sun or at most partially shaded location. Unfortunately, the heat-loving plant is not hardy, but can easily be overwintered in a suitable room.
Is the vanilla flower hardy?
The vanilla flower (heliotrope) is not hardy and cannot tolerate temperatures below five degrees. To overwinter, move the plant to a bright, cool winter quarters (5-10 degrees) such as an unheated stairwell or basement and water sparingly.
The vanilla flower in winter
Since the vanilla flower is not hardy, you should bring the plant to winter quarters in good time. Even temperatures of around five degrees can damage it so much that it collapses. In harsh locations, this may be necessary as early as the beginning of October.
Moving to winter quarters
Potted plants are first checked for vermin and plant diseases. Bed plants must be carefully dug up and placed in commercially available potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon), which you mix with a little sand or cactus soil to improve permeability, used. Prick the plant as widely as possible to cause as little damage to the roots as possible.
Slight pruning does not damage the plants, which can reach a height of up to eighty centimeters with good care and is particularly recommended for large specimens and limited space. Take this opportunity to clean the plants thoroughly and remove all dead and dead plants.
The ideal conditions in the winter quarters
An unheated stairwell, a bright basement or the greenhouse are ideal for overwintering Heliotrope. In any case the location should be:
- not colder than five degrees
- not warmer than ten degrees
- bright
be. Water sparingly as the vanilla flower stops growing during winter dormancy. There is no fertilization until spring.
Tip
In the cold season, the solstice loses some of the foliage and some shoots dry out. In spring, remove all dead plant parts and cut back the vanilla flower a little. It then sprouts even more vigorously.
