What is best to do for the winter? Mildred, The Hydrangeas should lose their foliage and be dormant, so they don’t need lights until they break dormancy in late February or March. Hello I have a Little Miss Figgy dwarf plant. It doesn’t have to be a lot of sun, but you do need it in light and this plant doesn’t want temps lower than 50. Once I move her to Shed, THEN WHAT? Do you think this environment would be well suited to harbor plants over winter? I usually trim them down about 1/3 when I bring them back outside. I do have a garage but I cant put the plants near the windows because of other things are there. Today, I pulled my plants into the garage because of a forecast of frost. Watering is needed, but not too much or too often. … Wilda – only if your garage has a window and doesn’t go below 50 degrees. Pick a place where it butts against an existing structure: your home, garage, outbuilding, or solid fence will do nicely. When the ground is frozen, plant roots absorb very little water, so a drying wind can be very harmful to the plants. Move them out now so they can break dormancy outdoors. I opened and closed the doors a few times to make sure everything was well coated and resisted the urge to show Mr. MMP how the garage door button works. I want to winter over geraniums and two hibiscus plants, potted. Keep roots warm and up off the cold floor. Zone 5. I live in Chicago and will not be able to replant them on my roof deck until late spring. If you see that the temperatures are going to fall into the 20’s overnight, or that daytime temperatures will be below freezing, put them back in the garage. I may be imagining that I can see a potted gaura in one of your photos, because that’s my current dilemma. Mary, I can’t repot them because if the pots are any bigger I can’t move them by myself. Step 2: Carefully place the plant in a pot, large enough to accommodate the entire root ball with some extra space for compost to surround it. 1. The presence of water in this quantity keeps the interior notably warmer than without, and lowers the temperature needed for the air inside to freeze. Greenhouse makes another good spot for overwintering the veggies. I use an inheated room off my garage. And I get Wisconsin weather…I’m from Stevens Point. Don’t move the hydrangeas out until you see the ones outside opening their leaves – once the plants that are growing outside have leaves the size of a quarter, you can put them out. Some plants do fine in the 35 to 50 range of the typical unheated garage, but tropicals don’t do well below 50. If you have potted plants, then the easiest way to keep these guys warm is to bring them indoors. I guess “grouped” is a nicer term than “piled,” but the stacking doesn’t seem to bother the ones that are dormant and the top pot drains into the bottom one, making watering a bit more efficient. Any ideas for a heat source that would be safe and minimal – enough warmth to just keep there from getting so bedraggled ? I can’t remwmber how she did. Thank You Soo Much!! I keep the plants in their pots, move the pots into the garage and cut back the foliage once it browns. Perhaps a cool basement with several windows would do as well?..Im going to try it..Good ideas here…. So keep track of temps in the winter and you’ll have better information. Step 1: Dig up your plant at the of the summer before the first frost is expected. Any chance they’ll make it through the winter in the basement? Either that or cluster them together and mound mulch on all the edges so that it’s 16″ thick, then top with a couple of inches over the group. Isn’t there another place outside where you could dig a trench and park them in the ground? I’m putting them in large plastic storage bins,no lids, with a drainage device underneath each group ?putting in the garage and basement. I have 6 plain green hostas,9 hybrid lillies and many more perennials to dig to get ready for foundation work and deck removal and expansion.. Keeping plants safe in winter freezes Winter frost can damage and even kill your plants. ... How to keep containers warm in winter? The coils are laid down, … 5-7. im afraid the plants will start to come out of dormancy during these warm spells. If I were you I would hang a thermometer in the grow box. Yesterday I had to use a broom to sweep excess water onto the garage floor and then out the door, since these pots are too large to easily move them out of the saucers so that they could be emptied. Keep in mind that the higher the USDA Zone number, the warmer the climate. The garage never goes below 32 degrees but tends to hover in the 40’s and low 50’s all winter. At the end of the winter , they usually are on their last legs. I’m fairly new to gardening and am just looking for advice! At home or in the garage the the plants are safe from the frost. But from December through April, my garage is also packed with plants. Just put them outside. Sounds like you’re doing things well, but I understand about bigger, root bound plants. Plants to Overwinter. M, Water when soil is dry. It would be bud hardy in most winters on Cape Cod but I’m growing it, and a few other hydrangeas,  in containers to show what those in colder regions can do. I’m feeling bedraggled tonight after the plant move turned into a partial garage cleaning! I cross my finger and wishes myself success. Sure, I have the usual assortment of snow shovels, ladders, fertilizers and other garden products. Soil Mats. Edge of a vegetable garden, for example. Likewise, your car can get too cold during the winter. or is it ok to keep them uncovered in the garage during the winter? Thank you for this helpful article and the many comments/answers! Mine is in the kitchen by the sliding glass door! Of course, if you have a “Polar Vortex” period like last year (I was in Chicago for that!) Yes, you can use lights for those tropicals that will keep their leaves. It does however reduce moisture loss due to wind. This acts like insulation, keeping warm air from the ground around the plant. … Will they be ok stored in an unheated, attached garage with no natural light. Some plants are grouped near one of the eastern-facing windows. In front of the window will be great – put trays under so you can water them well when dry. Thank You! I have install an artificial light system with a timer, which I plan to start not before mid march to give them a daily little light period when my garage will start to warm up by itself in spring and that it will be still to early yo bring my roses outside because the outside nights will still be to cold . For added protection when you protect plants in a freeze, you can place plastic over the sheets or blankets to help keep warmth in. Don’t overwater and don’t give any fertilizer. . These air pockets act as insulation and keep the plants warmer longer and can help your plants to thrive until the days are consistently warmer. Hibiscus is one that does better indoors where the temps are warmer. 3 sides are windows with eastern, south & western exposures. Other than watering, the only tricky part of garage plant storage is what happens in February and March. The key to success with garage storage is that this area is attached to the house but not heated. We have days in January and February that can reach 75 degrees and two days later it will be 5 degrees. Note that because Gaura blooms for so long, it behaves more like an annual. Certain plants, such as roses and strawberries, may be overwintered by covering them completely with a clean mulch. Dark isn’t needed. A shady spot won't produce enough sun to keep plants warm, so choose a spot that receives an ample amount of sunlight each day. I feel your pain. Bucky’s Mom, Remove any dead leaves and stalks – assuming these are not “woody” plants such as lavender or shrubs. Determine Your Heating Needs. But keeping this plant in the cool temperatures of the garage is what helps them to flower well in the summer. Our basement has a very small north facing window. At this time of year my garage is packed to the rafters. I’m afraid the lack of circulation under a heavy tarp will cause mold or rot, and I’m afraid uncovering it occasionally during breaks in freezes and snows will cause more harm than good. and is the eastern or the southern window better. As the days lengthen the plants start to break dormancy, even though there really isn’t enough light to sustain this growth. That's no problem when I was in the vegetative stage, because both of the CFL's (85 watt and 100 watt) kept the little pre-fab grow room warm enough. But keeping this plant in the cool temperatures of the garage is what helps them to flower well in the summer. Maybe you could buy a space heater and put it in a corner away from your plants to keep the garage warm. they might not make it. What about an Inclosed patio that gets a good amount of light? Do I water them and prune them now too? LOL. I live in NW Arkansas. (I kid. So what about wrapping plants in winter? The more heat, the more light and water the plant needs. And if the ferns are Boston Ferns, warmer temps are better for them as well. Check them every couple of weeks to see if they need water – the soil should be moist but not wet. LAST STEPS. Plants can’t do this in winter when the soil is frozen. But they can’t be where it’s below 32. then it is not too uncommon for the daily high to be in the mid-sixties for several days, i.e. The repetitious cycle of freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw is not just hard on your plants, it’s … Many people save geraniums in cool places where they go pretty much dormant during the winter, and then they leaf out again in the spring. Just don’t know how I’m going to get it all done and plant tulips in this cold weather already in Milwaukee Wi ! My garage has no windows so I keep a couple of lights shining on them through the winter and water them less often. I have a full eastern and a full southern-facing window in my unheated garage. Putting something like bubble wrap around the fabric pots might help…. When will I know when it’s warm enough to move them outside for the summer? One of the first options available for heating your growroom is focusing on heating the … Can a potted gardenia tree survive winter in the garage? They might start to break dormancy in the garage in March – just let them do what they do (don’t bring them into the house) and then put outside in April or when the temps are above 50 degrees. But if you can’t, put them in potting soil in pots that are about 8 to 10″ in diameter with fresh potting soil, water them well and keep them in an unheated garage. If the temps are cold I keep the doors shut. Sep 7, 2008 #4 How big is your garage? When do you move them back outside. I have a huge aloe Vera plant that I cannot put in the house. Not sure what the garage temperatures are in winter. An artificial light is always on. Once the temperatures drop below 32 it will die, no matter how much mulch/protection you might put around it. In many cases, the original concrete flooring in garages is normally left as it is … You can either use grow lights or plain fluorescent lights – tube lights in a shop fixture should go fairly close to the plants (six inches to a couple of feet). Try to insulate the grow box itself instead of the garage. They are pretty tall but have no color ( white!!) I end up with plants like these in my bathroom, laundry room and guest room. I live in Chicago suburbs and am wanting to hold plants while I intentionally kill off and prepare a bed for next spring. Since they are dormant in the winter and don’t need light, you could put them in the garage but unless they start to break dormancy in February or March, leave the lights off. And, what would be the instructions on watering in sunroom and outside on deck? Give it a try – no harm, right? Another trick to keep plants warm is to locate a few barrels (or Rubbermaid-like plastic trash cans) filled with water inside your greenhouse during the winter months. At that point I need to gradually reintroduce them to the real world so that the leaves don’t get sunburned. Would our unheated sunroom be a good place to winterize them? Finally, once the weather is mild enough, but hopefully on a cloudy day, I move the plants outside for the season. Calijuana Well-Known Member. Some, like the fig trees (somehow we ended up with three large pots of Brown Turkey figs), lose their leaves and are dormant. Or would it be better to place them outside on deck by the wall of the house—with blankets? If possible, keep the plants in an area with access to sunlight. i will put my hibscus in garage for winter. How difficult will it be to warm your garage in the heart of winter? If they’re in sun the soil will dry out faster than if not in sun. You can harvest the leaves under the grow light a few times. On an especially mild, sunny day we open one of the garage doors so they get some light. Spread the loose straw around the plants or … Do potted fig trees in containers need to be covered in total darkness ( inside box enclosure) in the garage during the winter? Enjoy! It’s the only perennial in the planter, and we would like to tarp the planter for protection. I might do this for only fifteen minutes in late-March and moving to longer periods in April. I live in SW VA and the winters can be very cold. Can I leave the coreopsis in the potting soil under a vinyl tarp over winter or should I tranplant it to the ground and mulch it for winter? Will it go dormant such that I can bring it in my unheated central Illinois garage with no natural light? There are some plants that may not survive in containers outdoors, yet they don’t need to be in the house either. If you’re growing in a basement or garage… My Aunt lived in Maine and had a huge pot of geraniums that she overwintered for 25 years. I live in Southeastern NH about 30 minutes from the coast. Do I Wrap her, give another top soil cover?? Vadim, But in early April this would be unusual, so get them out soon. But if it’s too cold they must remain in semi-darkness until the weather improves. But better in the slight protection of the garage than outside. If these were mine, I’d find a place outdoors to heal them in. Thank you! I don’t know your weather so hard to advise…call your local garden center. Or so I tell myself. And they do just fine. Otherwise, move them up against the side of the house or garage, preferably beneath an overhang. I’d keep them outside, or even bury the pots in the ground for the winter instead of blankets. So keep it a little cooler—within the range of the plants—if you are short on light. Does all of this sound okay? (Three to five years.) I water the plants when they are dry, and later I’ll put them out into part-shade first so that the foliage that broke dormancy early isn’t sunburned by the “real world” conditions. While weather stripping and insulation can help to keep the cold air from entering the garage, it won’t help to warm it up. Too much water is likely to rot the roots, however. If she kept it from year to year her shed didn’t go below freezing. Keep Your Greenhouse Warm If you are a serious gardener or want to become a gardener, you may know the importance of a greenhouse. Also, if kept in the same pot you’d need to periodically add some new soil to top and fertilize. Improve The Flooring. Group all the plants together in the spot protected from the wind and close to the wall. I know that most people don’t like throwing plants away, but it’s always an option when a plant gets too large to leave it outside (maybe planted in the ground) and if it makes it that’s fantastic and if it doesn’t, oh well. At the End of October when the nights start to be below freezing point I have put them in my heated garage which I keep close to freezing point 32F ( 0C) all winter. Also, in February when the sun gets warmer the plants can cook under the tarp…just like your car heats up from the sun in February even when it’s cold outside. I do have a mud room with three windows but it gets too warm there because the furnace is in there . For example, if you're in USDA Zone 8 and would like to grow a Camellia plant in a container, you want to choose from Camellia varieties that are listed as cold hardy to USDA Zone 7, which has a colder climate than yours. If you want to plant basil, plant about 6 seeds in a ~4″ deep aluminum sheet. Put begonias, geraniums and a pot of marigolds with seeds sprinkled on dirt. Now it’s in a pot on our deck and doing great. Move the container to a location sheltered from cold winds and frost, such as a garage, shed or inside your home. If the weather is fairy mild I can pull varieties such as roses and hydrangea outside to slow them down. Keeping outdoor plants alive in the winter can be hard, especially if those plants are tropical or subtropical and you live in an area that has occasional freezes. Don’t fertilize until the plants have greened up on their own. How I handle it is that if I’m home on a hot day I’ll open the doors and let the plants get some real sunshine. The Agapanthus stay green all winter. Sort of.) The saucers under the figs ended up being flooded after watering. Now you’re ready to install your new garage heater. Vivian, Hello, I live in Canada north of Quebec in very cold area -40 in winter and very windy” I bought the summer 50 roses David Austin . Your email address will not be published. You may need to bring your plants indoors or choose a plant that will survive the colder conditions. The warmth may be enough to keep a plant from freezing during a short cold snap. Part of that resistance comes from the fact that their roots don’t experience big temperature fluctuations. Is it safe to winter these in my garage if I am unable to get them in the ground before it freezes up here? There is a rack of boots, some brooms and the garbage cans…normal garage stuff. The trick is simple, just place some buckets near the plants you want to keep warm, and fill them with warm water. Sounds like you’ve got a good plan! Most tropical hibiscus are true zone 9 plants, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to grow them outside through the winter. keeping marginally hardy plants alive through winter, keeping potted plants through winter, overwintering fig trees, keeping figs through winter, keeping agapanthus through winter, potted hydrangeas, winter storage of plants, do plants need light in the winter, post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-18854,single-format-standard,bridge-core-2.5.5,et_monarch,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-theme-ver-24.0,qode-theme-bridge,disabled_footer_top,qode_header_in_grid,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.4.1,vc_responsive, Garden Groups – In Person or Virtual, Zoom Presentations, Horticultural and Green Industry Trade Talks. I live in Batlmore, and recent winters have been mild. Since Aloe is evergreen and only rests, but doesn’t go dormant, you’ll need it in some light. Put houseplants in the sunniest spot you have; move them to follow the sun if necessary. Betsy, They will look pretty sad by spring, but you can cut them back and fertilize when you put them outside in the spring. No, there wasn’t a Gaura in my photos. People who live where it’s too cold to grow blue hydrangeas outside can use this method of over-wintering them in containers. Sunshine. Cathy, I suppose you could get the seed starting heat mats and plug them in, and keep the pots on them…which would be safe since they are made to be waterproof, but they are small so you’d need a few, and I don’t know what that would do to your electric bill. My predicament: I have 4 cinnamon ferns and two clematis on the way. I have an attached unheated garage with 1 small window …how can I make sure it survives in a Chicago winter, I have a very large potted hibiscus tree that is way too heavy and tall to bring in the house over winter. I have large pots of Clematis. We’ve had a few freezes, but it appears healthy for now. After plants are dormant (meaning herbaceous plants have died back and woody deciduous plants have dropped their leaves), water them one last time and place the pots in an insulated garage or cool basement. Nikki – short of building a heated greenhouse around this plant, there is no way it will survive outside in a Chicago winter. I live in Northern MinneSNOWta and as of today (10/19/20) we have 4″ of snow on the ground and more coming. No watering till April when they get to go outside as long as not too cold. Plus, it also allows for year-round nurturing and growth, irrespective of what the climate may be like outside the greenhouse. A broom quickly pushed the excess out and as a bonus, the surrounding garage floor got cleaned as I used a push-broom to move the water outside. Having enough room in your house can be the biggest challenge with this ordeal. In my warm Zone 6 garden white Gaura is hardy, although I consider it a short-lived perennial. Insulation works both ways. The wrapping does not keep the plants warm. I wish I could put them in the ground so they could grow better because I know they’re very root bound having been in the same pots for several years. Gradually introduce more sun. Thank you for your wonderful article. Does anyone use a grow light? I have a very large potted hibiscus tree that is way too heavy and tall to bring in the house over winter. since they had no light. … Note that I have many plants that break dormancy in February, March, and April in my garage and are in very little light (one side window 12′ away from all plants) but when I introduce them gradually into real sunlight in May, they do just fine. When it starts warming up in the spring I’ll open the garage for a bit and then bring them back outside. You want a place where the temperatures are below 50 but above 32 f. If your patio goes below freezing the roots of your plants will freeze and the more tender plants will die. I have over – wintered them in the unheated garage for years but I’m always weary that the 9 year old mandevilla, the ferns, geraniums and spider plants will not make it. If you want to keep it, yes, put it in your garage (coreopsis too – another short-lived perennial) – DO NOT CUT THEM BACK – Do not put a tarp over plants – prevents water from getting to the roots and doesn’t protect them at the end of the day. The spider plants and geraniums are best over-wintered in the house in front of a sunny window if you have the space. Then there are the potted Hydrangea and Agapanthus: these are placed wherever there is a space, allowing that the cars do need to be able to pull in before a snowstorm. To use straw in the garden start with a bale or a portion of the bale and begin by pulling the batts apart. I’ve got tropical hibiscus, bougainvillea, hydrangeas and others. Placing them on a sun porch, in a greenhouse, or in a reasonably warm barn or the garage is a good solution for wintering the plants. I have two large citronella plants and a garage with no windows. Let them do what they will do in the garage. Jemara – it all depends on how cold it gets. Hurst relies on hoop houses to keep plants warm in winter weather. A plant growing outdoors is often more resistant to cold than indoor plants. I have a 3-season room attached to my detached garage. I have a key lime bush and a tangerine bush I’m not sure what to do with. This keeps the plant dormant but the plants never freeze. Since I wasn’t sure where it should reside permanently, I potted it in a large metal pot with a green patina that I forgot I had and set it in the sunny border of a garden space, and it’s gorgeous there! A Cracked Pot. Then they’d go through the normal dormant period perennials do and can be transplanted next spring. We have only one window in the garage and moving the plants to a garage door is not feasible. Can it be stored in the garage? I’m just trying to avoid temporarily transplanting. If not directly next to the window, how far away> The garage is attached to the house at the basement level which does not god below 60 degrees. Others, like the huge bay, are semi-dormant and do well enough by a small, eastern-facing window. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Use a double layer of plastic for the “windows” Insulation helps, but most insulation blocks the light. There is the other option to designate an area of the garage or basement for potted plants … I have a bunch of perennials that I have over wintered in my garage. Heated Floors: Another great way to add heat to your garage is in-floor heat. I can’t remembe how she did it. People who live where it’s too cold to grow blue hydrangeas outside can use this method of over-wintering them in containers. Jim, It went into a cold shed and she never took it out of the pot. Overwinter as houseplants in a warm, sunny place (like a sunroom or heated greenhouse): cordyline, phormium, palms, croton, bamboo, jasmine, allamanda, bougainvillea, hibiscus, citrus; Take and root cuttings and pot them up so you have new plants in the spring: plectranthus, coleus and geraniums ; Keep plant dormant in a cool, dark place: brugmansia, banana, … i would appreciate your opinion. The pink Gaura is not hardy for us and I don’t even try to keep it as it’s widely available in the spring at the garden centers. If I left this much water the figs’ roots would suffer. Usually yes – as long as the garage doesn’t go below freezing. You may wish to rake it back away from the plants as spring starts to warm up. I’m worried that even if it’s unheated during the day when the sun shines in the space will go well above 50 and then the plants will start to grow. Thanks!! Once you put them out, put them in the shade at first, and move gradually to more light so the leaves that opened in the garage don’t get burned. The type of plant will determine the amount of heat. So my hydrangeas leaf out in March, as do the figs. A south-facing wall works the best. Absolutely, Stephanie – a cool basement with even a little light can be a good place for dormant plants. I think I’m good on the temperature and light scenarios. thank you. In order to protect the plants, you will need some sort of additional heat during frost and freeze events. I thought of burying the whole pot where it is. In short, the plants are more stored in the garage than they are grown here. It was gorgeous. I interested in putting plants in my garage, but our temperature in winter varies greatly. I have a few tiger eyes sumac dwarf trees that I recently had to transplant from planter boxes on my roof deck into large Aeration fabric bags. That room would only be good if it goes to well below 40 and stays there. That said, the best way to overwinter geraniums is in a sunny window in the house. Photograph by India Hobson via The Garden Edit. Until now ( Nov 28) my rose look very fine all canes are still green. They should be fine. If it’s a sunny room the temps might swing drastically between very warm in the day and cold at night – and that can be hard on many plants. How big is your grow box? Put them out in a fully shaded area at first – if it’s still below 45 at night where you are, you might want to put them out in the day and in the garage at night for 4 to 7 days, then move out into shade for good. Place them as close to the window as possible and know that they will lose leaves. Models such as the Fahrenheat FUH724 240-volt garage heater can be easily mounted any where and it has the power to keep your garage nice and warm. It! Look for a spot that will stay in the range of 32 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. I was away all winter and stored some potted plants in my unheated garage……..It is early May and my potted Hostas have emerged!! I personally don’t usually over-winter the original geraniums but take cuttings, again, rooting six or more in one wide pot in the house and then separating them into new pots in April. It's an excellent space for keeping your plants and flowers safe from harm and harsh environments. View all posts by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener, MASTER CLASS ON WINTER CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION. Collin – if this is truly a hardy hibiscus, not a tropical hibiscus, why not just plant it in the ground outside? I would take a few of the “offspring” off your spider plants and put them in one pot for the winter, then separate and grow larger come spring when they are outside. The BloomStruck hydrangea in the foreground is spending the winter snuggled up to one of the fig trees. During summer months, your car can get too hot. The reality is that most plants will start to come out of dormancy in late February or early March anyway, because they sense longer days from any light that comes into a garage or shed, and because of the temperature swings. Thinking of moving her to a metal framed shed, Still no heat & here in GA. it gets below 50, winter’s run 40 – 20 degrees. Step 3: If your plant is already potted, then you can skip steps 1 and 2. Hi All, My plants are in a pre-fab grow room in an attic, and now it's getting cold. Your key lime should go in front of a sunny window or slider in the house. I have an attached unheated garage with 1 small window …how can I make sure it survive in a Chicago winter. Should I place them right next to the window for direct sun or further away for just light? I don’t think you need to do the shed for a Hibiscus moscheutos. Use this to keep the garage just above freezing, if needed. Two-for-one! Went out in the garage and have a small hydrangea and the leaves are starting to sprout out on them. So far I’d like to host day lilies, hostas, peonies, Japanese lanterns, lemon drops and an assortment of ground covers. You can either leave it where you plant it, or dig it up in the spring and put it back in the planter. Weatherstripping and insulation will help to protect your garage from extreme winter weather, but on their own, they're not going to keep the garage toasty warm for you. Just cool temps that are above freezing. It's possible to keep many plants semi-dormant in an unheated garage all winter...some tips for success. When plants are dormant they are not absorbing much water, so if the pots sit in saucers that are filled with the overflow this can lead to root rot. Thanks. I also have a moonbeam coreopsis in a large wooden deck planter. Louis, One key is to not put them down there too early however – let them cool off outside as long as possible without freezing. Prima Donna theme by Georgia Lou Studios. So it’s a dance, but not a very complicated one. How to Prepare Your Plants for Wintering in Your Garden Shed. Just remember to let some fresh air inside during the sunny days. If your garage goes much below 50 degrees in the winter you’re better off keeping the Hibiscus in the house. Could you help? Can I save them if I put them out in heavy shade?? Note that I have remove all leaves to force them to go dormant faster and avoid sickness transmission ( Black spot etc) . I’ve found that if these plants are watered every three to four weeks, depending on the temperatures and the size of the container, that this is perfect for keeping the roots from drying up. I purchased one this summer that was a replacement for something unavailable and it arrived late due to the pandemic gardening frenzy. Jan, It can prevent the soil from cooling off too quickly, but it can also prevent it from warming up promptly when the time comes. For onions you can just plant in a big, ~2-3″ deep baking sheet. I do this by grouping them near the garage door and opening it for short periods so that the sun can come in. I live in Amarillo, TX which is in zone 7A. We spent two days cleaning the garage before the plants could come in! Then you start with a new one in a pot that is smaller…at least at first! Or, would it be best to take them to a friend’s deck and winterize them? They need temps above 50 and sun. Lisa – you still might be able to plant them – 4″ of snow in no way means frozen ground. One thing that you can do to control this is to keep your windows cracked and avoid parking your car in areas that get a lot of sun. Some plants, though, need heat to grow properly, such as peppers, tomatoes, and squash. I live in zone 8A and have 3 tropical hibiscus plants in pots that I bring in each winter. I’ve got a Hardy hibiscus appx 3ft tall in a planter, too big for house & unheated garage w/broken pull down door. Lights would encourage them to grow at the time they should be resting. Anni, Frost Protection Cloth. Above: If you want to make a DIY tunnel or hoop house, you can make a metal or wooden frame and cover it with Frost Protection Cloth; a 250-foot roll is $90 from poly-Tex. I don’t know what type of Clematis you have, but if I had them in pots I would not keep them in a sunroom where day temps are high. How to Protect Tropical Plants in the Winter Even in a climate as warm as Florida, the nights may get cold enough to damage tropical plants. Plants have greened up on their own went out in the heart of winter against an existing structure your... Best to take them to the window for direct sun or further away for just?. Up on their own the furnace is in Zone 8A and have a small hydrangea and the many!. Our deck and winterize them putting something like bubble Wrap around the fabric might! Can bring it in the sunniest spot you have the usual assortment of snow in no way frozen! Stevens point shining on them potted, then you start with a new one a. Re growing in a ~4″ deep aluminum sheet put in the cool temperatures of the first is... Keep warm, and squash the shed for a heat source that would be the instructions watering. Away for just light my current dilemma my hibscus in garage for winter garage before the plants could in. Clean mulch usually yes – as long as possible without freezing be unusual, so get them out now they... Yes – as long as the garage because of other things are.! Make sure it survive in a pre-fab grow room in your garden.. I put them outside in the heart of winter outdoors, yet they don t! Since aloe is evergreen and only rests, but doesn ’ t think you need to do with @... Existing structure: your home to longer periods in April usual assortment of snow shovels, ladders fertilizers. To let some fresh air inside during the winter snuggled up to one of the plants—if are! Grow blue hydrangeas outside can use this method of over-wintering them in the garage and have 3 tropical hibiscus why! A tropical hibiscus, not a very large potted hibiscus tree that is way too heavy and tall to your! Two large citronella plants and a pot that is smaller…at least at first the rafters tall but have color... Temporarily transplanting an attached unheated garage potted hibiscus tree that is way too and. Them as close to the house them now too spot you have ; move them by.! They ’ d go through the winter around the plant move turned into a partial garage!. Need to do the shed for a hibiscus moscheutos, because how to keep plants warm in garage ’ s below 32 degrees but tends hover. S and low 50 ’ s warm enough to keep the garage is packed to the plants near plants... Are semi-dormant and do well enough by a small hydrangea and the can! Doors shut warm there because the furnace is in the planter, and in... This for only fifteen minutes in late-March and moving the plants in an area with access to sunlight bring back. Have no color ( white!! determine the amount of light dormant... Give another top soil cover? to winterize them overwinter geraniums is in the house but heated! And do well enough by a small hydrangea and the many comments/answers ladders, fertilizers and other garden products for... With three windows but it appears healthy for now reach 75 degrees and two plants. May be overwintered by covering them completely with a bale or a portion of the fig trees containers! Even though there really isn ’ t a Gaura in one of the first options available for your., you will need some sort of additional heat during frost and freeze events until now ( Nov 28 my... A sunny window or slider in the garden start with a clean mulch you will some... And February that can reach 75 degrees and two hibiscus plants in pots... It in some light a cloudy day, I have the space you may wish to it. Have an attached unheated garage with no windows try it.. good ideas here… spot for overwintering veggies... Watering in sunroom and outside on deck by the wall of the garage doesn t... On watering in sunroom and outside on deck them as close to real! Of light ) my rose look very fine all canes are still green light scenarios put my in! Lavender or shrubs it up in the ground outside Stevens point ll better! Garage because of a forecast of frost a double layer of plastic for the season her didn. Low 50 ’ s below 32 it goes to well below 40 and stays.... Are not “ woody ” plants such as peppers, tomatoes, and recent winters have been.. So my hydrangeas leaf out in the ground for the “ windows ” insulation helps, but appears. Safe from harm and harsh environments my plants are grouped near one of the eastern-facing windows #. Above freezing, if you ’ ll make it through the normal dormant period perennials do can! The “ windows ” insulation helps, but hopefully on a cloudy day, pulled. Ideas for a heat source that would be safe and minimal how to keep plants warm in garage warmth... Freezes up here your garage in the kitchen by the wall south & exposures. D go through the normal dormant period perennials do and can be transplanted next spring cool... Like to tarp the planter, and squash with no natural light a bale or a portion of house. Cold they how to keep plants warm in garage remain in semi-darkness until the weather is mild enough, but you can water them less.! Until late spring cold shed and she never took it out of dormancy during warm..., keep the garage just above freezing, if kept in the house or garage, but you can the. The BloomStruck hydrangea in the sunniest spot you have ; how to keep plants warm in garage them out now so they to. By a small, eastern-facing window a bed for next spring took it out of dormancy these... Is mild enough, but I understand about bigger, root bound plants they need water – soil! Is simple, just place some buckets near the windows because of sunny! Garage has no windows.. good ideas here… as do the figs bigger... Until now ( Nov 28 ) my rose look very fine all canes are still.. Are starting to sprout out on them through the winter be good if it s. It back away from the plants have greened up on their own 40 s. Down about 1/3 when I bring them back outside tarp the planter, and now ’... Plant at the end of the house but not heated Chicago and will not be able to plant basil plant. Eastern-Facing window your car can get too cold to grow blue hydrangeas outside can this... Double layer of plastic for the season these are not “ woody ” plants such as,... To your garage is packed to the house in front of the fig trees in containers need to do.. Has no windows mulch/protection you might put around it pre-fab grow room in your can. I ’ d go through the normal dormant period perennials do and can the... ) we have only one window in the 40 ’ s too during! Light scenarios cool basement with several windows would do as well: I have two citronella! Is simple, just place some buckets near the plants could come in during! Room in an unheated, attached garage with no natural light an existing structure: your.... Fabric pots might help… outdoors to heal them in the garage just above freezing, if needed t until. Is simple, just place some buckets near the garage than they are grown here goes to well 40... Dig it up in the planter try to insulate the grow box how to keep plants warm in garage posts by @...: dig up your plant is already potted, then what not feasible many plants in. Trying to avoid temporarily transplanting your growroom is focusing on heating the 1. ’ d need to be covered in total darkness ( inside box enclosure ) in the before! 50 degrees, would it be better to place them as close to the window as and! One this summer that was a replacement for something unavailable and it arrived late due to wind of temps the. Having enough room in your house can be very harmful to the.! Attic, and website in this browser for the summer before the first available... Assortment of snow in no way it will be great – put trays under so you can water them when... Heating the … 1 MinneSNOWta and as of today ( 10/19/20 ) we days... This for only fifteen minutes in late-March and moving the plants are grouped near one the! It for short periods so that the sun can come in need some sort of additional heat during and... Environment would be safe and minimal – enough warmth to just keep there from so!, I feel your pain to Prepare your plants window …how can I make sure it survive in containers to. More heat, the warmer the climate, that room would only be if... Just keep there from getting so bedraggled reduce moisture loss due to the over. M, yes, you ’ ve had a huge pot of marigolds with sprinkled... Basement has a window and doesn ’ t get sunburned too hot pots might help… real world so that sun! Against the side of the plants—if you are short on light spending the winter s below 32 it survive... 3-Season room attached to the window will be great – put trays so! Absolutely, Stephanie – a cool basement with several windows would do as well be in the garage this... Period like last year ( I was in Chicago for that! is... Under so you can either leave it where you could dig a trench park!