Hibiscus are a favorite tropical houseplant that appreciates vacationing outside during the summer.
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INDEX
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Bougainvilleas are frost tender, so keep them outside in the summer and bring them inside to overwinter in the fall.
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There’s nothing quite satisfying than saving geraniums, coleus, jasmine and other tender, tropical plants year after year. It’s not just because its frugal, I just don't want to them to die, especially if they are looking fine. Over the years, I've have learned a few things, and more so from my failures than my successes.
Essentially, the method of overwintering plant depends on the type of plant. Ones that have fibrous roots like hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, coleus, angel trumpets, geraniums and impatiens, don't need a dormant period. They grow well in containers and make excellent houseplants. Plants with tubers, rhizomes and corms (cannas, tuberous begonias, dahlias, gladiolus etc.) need a dormant period and must be stored in a frost free, dark location. Replant outside the following spring after the danger of frost has passed.
Essentially, the method of overwintering plant depends on the type of plant. Ones that have fibrous roots like hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, coleus, angel trumpets, geraniums and impatiens, don't need a dormant period. They grow well in containers and make excellent houseplants. Plants with tubers, rhizomes and corms (cannas, tuberous begonias, dahlias, gladiolus etc.) need a dormant period and must be stored in a frost free, dark location. Replant outside the following spring after the danger of frost has passed.
Overwintering As Houseplants
Bring in tropical plants from outside before they know winter is coming. Pictured is an angel trumpet (Brugmansia) at Balboa Park, San Francisco.
When to Bring Plants Inside
In late August to early September, bring outside vacationing houseplants and other tropicals inside. As the season changes from summer to autumn, tropical plants, will start to decline. You’ll have more success if you bring them inside before they start to yellow. There are three ways to overwinter plants: use them houseplants, place them in dormancy, or take cuttings. The type of plant determines how to overwinter them.
In late August to early September, bring outside vacationing houseplants and other tropicals inside. As the season changes from summer to autumn, tropical plants, will start to decline. You’ll have more success if you bring them inside before they start to yellow. There are three ways to overwinter plants: use them houseplants, place them in dormancy, or take cuttings. The type of plant determines how to overwinter them.
Coleus make wonderful houseplants!
In late August to early September, bring in in potted geraniums, angel trumpets (Brugmansia, Datura), bougainvilleas, coleus and any other plants you want to save – before they start to decline. I must warn you that bringing in plants from the outside creates a mess. Leaves and flowers continuously fall off in protest to the new environment. After the initial shock, most should rebound and grow new foliage in a few weeks.
Quarantine plants brought in from outside.
Clean Plants & Pots: Before you bring plants inside, wipe down plant pots and drainage trays. Remove dead and infected plant parts, flowers, flower buds, weeds and debris from the soil surface and any free loading slugs and bugs. It is not necessary to repot the plants, but if you do, use potting soil, not garden soil, as it contains pathogens. Cut back each stem by a half to a third. Propagate those cut stems if you wish to make more plants, as they will make great cuttings. See below on how.
It’s not essential, but just to be on the safe side, wash plants with dish washing liquid in lukewarm water with a soapy sponge or spray them with soapy water. For small plants, dip them upside down in a bucket or sink full of soapy water. Allow them to drip dry. Quarantine these new plants from other houseplants to prevent the spread of diseases and insects.
It’s not essential, but just to be on the safe side, wash plants with dish washing liquid in lukewarm water with a soapy sponge or spray them with soapy water. For small plants, dip them upside down in a bucket or sink full of soapy water. Allow them to drip dry. Quarantine these new plants from other houseplants to prevent the spread of diseases and insects.
Plants benefit from being misted at least once a day.
Light & Water: Once plants are cleaned up, move them to a bright sunny window or under grow lights. Use a timer to keep the light on for 8 to 12 hours. Water plants with lukewarm water (not cold) thoroughly wetting the soil. Water again when the top ½ inch of soil is dry to the touch. Don’t allow the soil to dry out too much as this encourages spider mites – the nemesis of all plants grown indoors. Mist a couple of times a day to deter pests and increases humidity. They don’t appreciate the dryness of central heating, which also encourages spider mites.
It's usual for vacationing plants foliage to turn yellow when brought inside.
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Due to the lack of light, this geranium is leaning towards the light.
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Troubleshooting: Leggy, weak and pale plants: They are not receiving adequate light. Place them in front of a west or south facing window or place them under grow lights with a timer for 8 to 12 hours.
Mottled, dusty leaves: When plant leaves become mottled, pale and dusty, look for wee spider webs as they are probably infested with spider mites. Use a magnifying glass to look under the foliage for tiny spiders. Wash the plant with a soapy sponge or dunk into a bucket or of lukewarm soapy water. Repeat every 7 days and water plants before they dry out.
Mottled, dusty leaves: When plant leaves become mottled, pale and dusty, look for wee spider webs as they are probably infested with spider mites. Use a magnifying glass to look under the foliage for tiny spiders. Wash the plant with a soapy sponge or dunk into a bucket or of lukewarm soapy water. Repeat every 7 days and water plants before they dry out.
Little webs and mottled leaves are a symptom of spider mites.
Saving Geraniums
These geraniums range from 3 to 8 years.
For geraniums planted directly in the ground, dig them up and shake off as much soil as possible. You have two options: Option 1: Pot them up and overwinter them as houseplants. Use a good draining potting soil. Add sand and/or vermiculite to aid in drainage. Place a drainage tray underneath their pots and water well. Place in a bright but indirect light until they perk up, then place them under grow lights or in front of a sunny window.
Option 2: Hang them upside down, place them in paper bags or keep them in their pots in a cool, dry, frost-free area. Mist their roots exposed roots and potted plants weekly. Their leaves will fall off, but their stems should remain intact. In late February or in March, remove any dead, shriveled parts. Soak roots for a few hours before planting in pots. Water after planting then place in a bright location for a week. Once new growth emerges place them in full sun and allow soil to dry slightly before watering. Note that geraniums do not like wet soil as they are prone to rotting.
Option 2: Hang them upside down, place them in paper bags or keep them in their pots in a cool, dry, frost-free area. Mist their roots exposed roots and potted plants weekly. Their leaves will fall off, but their stems should remain intact. In late February or in March, remove any dead, shriveled parts. Soak roots for a few hours before planting in pots. Water after planting then place in a bright location for a week. Once new growth emerges place them in full sun and allow soil to dry slightly before watering. Note that geraniums do not like wet soil as they are prone to rotting.
In February, the geranium on the left has been under lights and water, while the one on the right was left to go dormant in the basement.
Overwintering Tender fuchsias
Overwinter fuchsias either inside or outside depending on the climate.
There are two methods of saving tender fuchsias: inside and outside depending on how far north you live. If you live in cooler zones from 1 to 6, bring them inside. Store in a cool dry basement, 4-7°C (45-55°F). Slightly moisten the soil every 3 to 4 weeks. To overwinter fuchsias outside, bury them in the garden, pot and all. Cover them with 3 to 4 inches of soil, fallen leaves or another organic mulch. Unbury them in March or April, depending on the weather and climate. The top growth will probably be dead, but the roots should be alive. Wipe off the pots, water and place in a sunny location away from frost. When new growth emerges repot them into the same pot with fresh potting soil or a bigger pot if needed. Mix in a slow-release fertilizer and bone meal, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Water and keep them away from any lingering frost.
Prepare Plants In Spring - Hardening Off
Harden-off plants overwintered indoors before placing them outdoors.
The majority of houseplants are from the tropics, which means they will die if subjected to too much cold, never mind frost. But before they spend the summer outdoors, it’s important to prepare them. After all, the conditions are totally different, and if they are not ready, they will suffer and maybe even die.
To prepare plants, they need to be hardened-off. It’s easy to do. Just take them outside for an hour or two in the shade, then bring them inside. Do they same the following day but extend the time and exposure to sun and wind. It’s a gradual process that takes up to two weeks. Keep an eye on them while they are outside and bring them inside if they start to wilt or brown. Put them out the next day as long when they are not wilted but give them a gentler exposure than the day before. Increase the exposure to the elements as the days go buy. Make sure plants are not thirsty when you put them outside to harden them off and check on them regularly.
To prepare plants, they need to be hardened-off. It’s easy to do. Just take them outside for an hour or two in the shade, then bring them inside. Do they same the following day but extend the time and exposure to sun and wind. It’s a gradual process that takes up to two weeks. Keep an eye on them while they are outside and bring them inside if they start to wilt or brown. Put them out the next day as long when they are not wilted but give them a gentler exposure than the day before. Increase the exposure to the elements as the days go buy. Make sure plants are not thirsty when you put them outside to harden them off and check on them regularly.
Take Cuttings
Take cuttings when cutting back plants. Geranium is pictured.
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Cut just below a node.
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There are many plants including annuals that are easy to propagate from cuttings. An added benefit is they make ideal houseplants. Take cuttings in September and grow them on inside as houseplants so they will be ready to go outside in spring. Another option is to take cuttings in spring when they start to put on some new growth. These plants include impatiens, coleus, geraniums (Pelargoniums), sweet potato vine, wax (fibrous begonias) and coleus, impatiens and other annuals.
Take cuttings from healthy plants, while they are still actively growing and not declining. Each cutting should contain 4 to 6 nodes (bump-like buds along the stem). Cut the stem just under a node then remove any lower leaves, flowers, seed heads and the tip (growing point) of the stem. Place 3 to 5 cuttings in one pot filled with moist sterile potting soil that’s not too peaty. Add vermiculite or sand if it is and mix well.
Water gently with lukewarm to warm water and place in bright room out of direct sun. If you wish, mist a few times daily or place them in a clear plastic bag blown up and secured to keep the humidity in. Once new growth begins, pot each cutting in its own 2-inch pot filled with potting soil. Water gently and keep out of full sun for a couple of days. For more on taking cuttings click here.
Take cuttings from healthy plants, while they are still actively growing and not declining. Each cutting should contain 4 to 6 nodes (bump-like buds along the stem). Cut the stem just under a node then remove any lower leaves, flowers, seed heads and the tip (growing point) of the stem. Place 3 to 5 cuttings in one pot filled with moist sterile potting soil that’s not too peaty. Add vermiculite or sand if it is and mix well.
Water gently with lukewarm to warm water and place in bright room out of direct sun. If you wish, mist a few times daily or place them in a clear plastic bag blown up and secured to keep the humidity in. Once new growth begins, pot each cutting in its own 2-inch pot filled with potting soil. Water gently and keep out of full sun for a couple of days. For more on taking cuttings click here.
PLANTS SUITED FOR WINTER DORMANCY
Store gladiolus corms in a frost-free location over the winter.
Some plants such as cannas, tuberous begonias, gladiolus, dahlias, ginger, sweet potato vine, elephant ears (Colocasia, Alocasia) and caladiums, can’t tolerate northern winters and they also require a dormant period. Allow them to be nipped by frost before bringing them inside. This gives them time to send their food and water to their roots. There’s no need to repot potted plants. Just clean the pots and plants with soap and water and place in a cool, frost free, dark location. Keep the soil dry, but don’t allow it to dry out too much that the soil is pulling away from the pot.
For those pot-less plants that were dug up from the garden, allow them to dry for a few days. Remove any excess soil then place in cardboard boxes, pillowcases or paper bags and avoid plastic tubs or bags as it promotes rotting. Dust the bulbs with cinnamon to prevent fungi, then cover with vermiculite, perlite, peat or potting soil. Place in a frost-free location. Check them monthly and remove any rotting ones and add moisten if they are shriveling.
For those pot-less plants that were dug up from the garden, allow them to dry for a few days. Remove any excess soil then place in cardboard boxes, pillowcases or paper bags and avoid plastic tubs or bags as it promotes rotting. Dust the bulbs with cinnamon to prevent fungi, then cover with vermiculite, perlite, peat or potting soil. Place in a frost-free location. Check them monthly and remove any rotting ones and add moisten if they are shriveling.
There's no need to purchase cannas every year.
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Canna rhizomes are easy to save year to year.
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Cannas: In the garden, cut back stems to a couple of inches when plants go dormant, or frost kills their tops. Shake or hose off soil, then place the rhizomes on newspapers to cure. Dust with cinnamon, then either wrap them in newspaper, or place them in a box filled with vermiculite, coir or clean potting soil. Keep potted cannas in their pots and store all cannas in a cool, frost-free basement or cellar.
This grand tuberous begonia is nine years old.
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The older the tuber, the bigger it gets and the bigger the flowers.
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Tuberous Begonias: Keep potted ones in their containers and lift those in the garden. Plant each tuber in pots slightly wider than the tuber. Bring them inside and place in a bright window and water. Their leaves will yellow and their flowers will soon drop off so be prepared for a mess. Wait until the stems naturally break away from the tubers. Place in a dry, frost free location. Allow the soil to dry, but not so dry it pulls away from the pot. Water them in spring when they start to regrow, repot in fresh, well-draining potting soil, water and place in a sunny window. Once they are hardened off and the danger of frost has passed, place outside in a partial sunny location. For more on tuberous begonias click on Tuberous Begonias
Dahlias: Cut back stems to 4 inches once frost has killed their tops. Wait a week then dig them up. For more information click on Dahlias
Dahlias: Cut back stems to 4 inches once frost has killed their tops. Wait a week then dig them up. For more information click on Dahlias
Wait for glads to yellow before you dig them up to store.
Cure gladiolus corms in a frost free location.
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Remove the shriveled mother corm when planting in spring.
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Gladiolus: Once their foliage yellows, dig them up. Cut off their foliage leaving 1 to 2 inches of stem. Space the corms so they are not touching and place in a dry location for 2 weeks to cure. Sprinkle with a generous amount of cinnamon to reduce diseases. Place in a cardboard box, pantyhose, onion sacks or a cloth bag for air to circulate. Store in a cool dark basement, where they won’t freeze. Plant the following spring, but remove the withered mother corm first.
Gladiolus, Greenwich, UK.