Whether your ice plant or Mesembryanthemum is hardy depends entirely on the variety you purchased. Ice weed (Latin: Mesembryanthemum cristallinum) is considered at least partially frost hardy and you can overwinter it.
Is an ice plant (Mesembryanthemum) hardy?
Mesembryanthemum plants, also known as ice plants, are either partially hardy or annual, depending on the species. Iceweed (Mesembryanthemum cristallinum) can tolerate frost down to -5°C to -10°C. Cuttings can be taken from annual Mesembryanthemum varieties. If in doubt, overwinter the plant frost-free.
The ice herb can tolerate frost down to around – 5 °C or – 10 °C. If severe frost is expected, then cover the iceweed well or overwinter it in a frost-free greenhouse or winter garden. By the way, the leaves of the ice herb are often used in a tasty salad. Steamed or boiled, they produce a spinach-like vegetable.
How do I find out if my ice plant is hardy?
Since different plants are sold as ice plants, you should always pay attention to the Latin name of your flower. However, this is not that easy with the Mesembryanthemum, because, for example, the Mesembryanthemum criniflorum can also be found commercially as Dorotheanthus bellidiformis. Incidentally, it is considered an annual and is therefore usually not overwintered.
It's best to ask when you buy your ice plant or read the care instructions. Ideally, winter hardiness should also be described there. If in doubt, try overwintering in a frost-free room with limited watering and no fertilizer.
Can I take cuttings over the winter?
A popular method of “overwintering” annual plants is taking cuttings. This means that the old plant can be disposed of in the fall and the small young plants require much less space. This is also possible with the ice plant.
Cut the cuttings in late summer or fall. Insert the shoots into growing substrate and keep them slightly moist. When waterlogged, the delicate roots rot easily, but this shouldn't happen. You can plant the young plants in the garden around the end of May. Sowing is possible on the windowsill from February and outdoors from around mid-May.
The most important things in brief:
- only partially hardy depending on the species
- Frost-free wintering recommended
- taking cuttings from annual varieties
Tip
If you have a particularly beautiful or valuable ice plant, it is best to overwinter the plant frost-free and possibly take some cuttings for propagation.
