Only a few species of Mesembryanthemum are hardy, like the icewort Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. But this plant cannot withstand temperatures of more than around -5 °C to -10 °C, which can make overwintering difficult.
How can you overwinter Mesembryanthemum successfully?
The following applies to overwintering Mesembryanthemum: Only some species are hardy (down to -5 °C to -10 °C). As a precaution, perennial plants should be placed in a frost-free room or winter garden, watered less and not fertilized. Annual species are usually not worth overwintering.
Look at the label of your ice plant when you buy it. To be on the safe side, overwinter a perennial plant in a frost-free room in the apartment or in the winter garden. Limit watering and avoid fertilizer until spring.
It may be that your purchase is an annual ice plant, then overwintering is usually not worth it. But you can harvest the seeds and grow them on the windowsill from February or try overwintering cuttings. This means you don't have to buy new plants in the spring.
The most important things in brief:
- not all varieties are hardy
- Label should provide information
- as a precaution, hibernate frost-free
Tip
If you would like to try overwintering, then choose a frost-free winter quarters.
