Coming in from the Cold

Coming in from the Cold

It's a lovely time of year for most of the U.S. - the nights are crisp and cool, the days bright and still fairly warm. The first frost dates are hovering nearby, if they haven't hit your area already. So...what should you do about those outdoor container plants?

The short and entirely unhelpful answer is: Well...that depends.

Here's the long answer: Many factors should be considered before moving your container plants indoors for the winter.

First and foremost is determining what type of plants you're dealing with, which will further reveal what kind of winter treatment they will require. If you do decide that a particular plant is "tender" -- i.e., it will completely die if you leave the plant outside all winter -- it will obviously need to be brought into the house. Some plants can be over-wintered in a cold garage, but not all.

Once you set aside the plants that definitely need to be brought in, each will need a little kid glove care before they should enter your coveted domain. Keep in mind that many insects would love to have a free ride into your cozy house for the winter.

Step 1: Plant Types and Treatment

I keep all kinds of plants in containers around my patio during the summer months: several small citrus trees, other tropicals like bananas, plus flowering annuals, yummy herbs and many perennials that are in a holding pattern.

You should know right off the bat that tropical plants won't survive in temps that stay under 50 for any length of time, so even I can't just chuck my lemon trees in the garage for the winter, despite the fact that I'm down here in hardiness Zone 8. Any type of citrus, especially, will need to over-winter in the warmth of the house.

Some annuals, like begonias, can be brought in and raised as houseplants through the cold months. Most won't do so well, though. If you don't mind doing a bit of pampering, by all means, stretch those dollars by bringing cherished annuals indoors. Or, take cuttings from the plants and stick them in a pot of perlite until they root.

If your potted basil has gotten out of hand, cut it down by at least 1/3 and bring it in too. Basil is an annual herb among many that will not survive even a semi-mild winter.

Perennials in pots can usually be left outside. After all, it's why they're called perennials - they will return next year, probably bigger and better than ever. (However, if you live in a part of the country where the ground stays frozen throughout much of the winter, you may want to move all potted perennials into the garage just to keep the containers from cracking, especially ceramic ones.)