The strap flower performs a masterpiece in the garden that secures many admiring glances. Its foliage is strikingly dark red, bright pink flowers enhance the intense play of colors from March to April. In autumn the foliage remains on the plant, but would freeze to death outside if left unprotected. How to overwinter Loropetalum.
How can I protect and overwinter Loropetalum in winter?
In order to overwinter Loropetalum successfully, outdoor shrubs should be protected with plant fleece, leaves or brushwood. Potted plants require frost-free winter quarters at 8-12 °C and sufficient light, with reduced water requirements and without fertilizer.
Winter hardiness is not enough for icy times
The red shrub from the Far East is a shaky candidate when it comes to safe wintering in this country. The frost does not have to become a danger if it is in the single digits.
- can survive down to -10°C
- some recommendations draw the limit at -5°C
Since winters can be icy in our latitudes, cultivation in beds does not offer a safe life. That's why the shrub often leads an existence as a mobile potted plant.
Be sure to protect yourself outside
If you are lucky enough to live in a mild region of the country, the chances of getting Lorepetalum safely through the winter outside are good. But everything possible must be done to achieve this. When planting, the plant should be provided with a protected location so that it is not exposed to icy winds.
If the first frosts are approaching, the branches of the strap blossom must be given a protective cover. Wrap the crown with special plant fleece (€34.00 on Amazon). Also protect the root area with a thick layer of leaves or brushwood.
Overwintering potted shrubs
It would be far too risky to overwinter a container specimen outdoors. Even the tried and tested winter protection measures cannot compensate for its lack of winter hardiness. Because the pot offers a good surface for frost to attack from all sides. Invite the shrub to take up guest quarters until spring.
- it should be frost-free
- ideal is 8 to 12 °C
- as bright as possible
Tip
In its native China and Japan, Loropetalum is often cultivated as a bonsai. This is also possible with us and also makes wintering easier.
Care in winter quarters
In winter quarters, the strap flower does not need fertilizer, but it does need to be supplied with water. But this should definitely be done according to needs. It may be that the plant receives too little light in its location and as a result sheds some leaves. This also reduces your water requirements.
The room temperature also influences the plant's water consumption. The colder it is, the less you need to water so that the soil stays evenly moist.
