The nightshade genus (bot. Solanum) contains around 1,400 species of plants with very different needs in terms of location, soil, care and climate. Accordingly, the wintering of the individual species must be designed in different ways.
How can you properly overwinter Solanum plants?
Since many Solanum species, such as the summer jasmine (Solanum jasminoides) and the gentian bush (Solanum rantonnetii), are not hardy, they should be overwintered frost-free. Depending on the species, they need different conditions, such as cool and dark in the basement or moderately warm and bright in the winter garden. Avoid overwintering in warm living spaces.
How much frost can solanum tolerate?
How much frost your Solanum can tolerate depends on its type. After all, the genus contains around 1,400 different plant species. The popular climbing plant Solanum jasminoides, also known as summer jasmine, can tolerate frost down to around -2°C, but only for a very short time. Frost-free wintering is therefore strongly recommended. The gentian bush (bot. Solanum rantonnetii) even needs temperatures of at least + 7 °C.
Where should the summer jasmine go in the winter?
The non-hardy summer jasmine can be cool and dark, for example overwintering in a basement, or moderately warm and bright. A winter garden or a heated greenhouse is recommended here. A warm living room, on the other hand, is not suitable. The temperatures in the winter quarters should not be above 15 °C, but not below around 5 °C either.
If the winter is cool and dark, your summer jasmine will probably shed its leaves and sometimes even develop horny shoots (long, pale and leafless shoots). This is completely normal. In spring you can simply cut off the unwanted shoots. The new growth is then strong and green again.
The most important things in brief:
- Solanum often not hardy
- Frost-free wintering recommended, temperature may vary depending on the species
- Summer jasmine: overwinter cool and dark or moderately warm and bright
- warm wintering (well heated living room) usually not a good winter quarters
- Pruning recommended before moving to winter quarters
Tip
Make sure that summer jasmine is kept out of the reach of children even in winter quarters, as it is considered poisonous.
