Potted roses can live for several years if well cared for. They bloom profusely and in many colors. So that you can really enjoy them for a long time, you should overwinter your potted roses properly, because they cannot tolerate severe frost.
How do I properly overwinter my potted roses?
In order to overwinter potted roses successfully, they should be stored cool, dark and frost-free, e.g. in a garage or cellar. Protect the roots from cold, reduce watering and avoid fertilizer. From March onwards they can slowly get used to the outside conditions again.
When planted in pots, the roots in particular freeze easily. Therefore, protect the root ball from the cold from below, for example with a sheet made of Styrofoam. You can wrap the above-ground plant parts in a special fleece or bubble wrap (€14.00 on Amazon) or cover them with leaves and brushwood. Remove the winter protection around the end of March, when the severest frost has passed.
The ideal winter quarters for your potted roses
It's best to overwinter your potted roses in a cool, dark place. A frost-free garage, an unheated winter garden, a cellar or a greenhouse are ideal winter quarters. Be sure to protect your potted roses from cold drafts.
Don't forget to water the plants, but reduce the amount a little compared to the amount of watering in summer. The potted roses do not need fertilizer during this time. After the Ice Saints, the potted roses can go outside again. Slowly get the plants used to fresh air and sunlight again.
The most important winter tips in brief:
- Winter outside only in a protected place
- Protect root balls from frostbite
- Create heat cushions for above-ground plant parts
- Remove winter protection in March
- easier: winter indoors
- ideal winter quarters: frost-free, dark, cool, protected from drafts
- slowly get used to sunlight and fresh air again
Tip
If you can, move your potted roses to suitable winter quarters. This means their chances of survival are greatest and the plants will quickly be fit again in spring.