Some garden owners may be surprised if their potted plants, which are advertised as hardy, do not survive the winter unscathed. They overlook the fact that container plants need special protection from frost, unlike the same plants in a flower bed.
How can potted plants be protected from frost?
To protect potted plants from frost, the pot should be insulated from all sides, including from below, for example by using a wooden plate and wrapping it with blankets or bubble wrap. Hardy plants can stay in the garden, but sensitive ones must be moved to cool, dry winter quarters in good time.
The perfect winter quarters for potted plants
Depending on the type of potted plant you have, the perfect winter quarters look different. Ideally it is always cool and dry. Hardy plants can overwinter at temperatures around freezing point, while very sensitive ones need at least 10 °C and sometimes even 15 °C.
Most potted plants do well at around 5 °C to 10 °C. Be sure to bring sensitive potted plants into the house or into their winter quarters in good time. Even the first frost of the night causes them to freeze to death. Some plants even suffer damage at temperatures of around 10 °C.
Do all potted plants have to overwinter frost-free?
Not all potted plants need a frost-free winter quarters; hardy plants can also overwinter in the garden. However, they also need good protection from frost there. You should therefore definitely winterize your potted plants. Permanent frost is particularly dangerous without a protective snow cover.
How do I protect potted plants from frost?
It is important for potted plants that they are protected from frost on all sides, including from below. Unfortunately, this is often forgotten. A thick plate made of wood or Styrofoam is sufficient. Then wrap an old blanket, a few jute bags or bubble wrap around the entire bucket. But make sure that your plant still gets enough light and air.
The most important things in brief:
- particularly dangerous: permanent frost without snow
- When overwintering in the garden, protect the pot from below too
- Pruning in autumn only if the winter is frost-free
- ideal winter quarters: cool and dry
- ideal wintering temperature: usually between 5 °C and 10 °C
- ideal lighting conditions: bright for evergreen plants, dark for deciduous plants
- Make sure to bring sensitive plants to their winter quarters in good time
Tip
Evergreen plants need sufficient light even in winter, while deciduous plants can overwinter in darkness.
