Protecting potted plants?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:23 pm

I have a good 20 or so small potted seedlings that were too small to go in the ground this year. Im aware that the best thing to do is either plant them int he fall before the ground freezes, or plant them in their pots. I was just wondering if there are any other ways to over winter thing in pots, since I dont have a good cool place?

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:30 pm

I find it depends on the type of plant. Yuccas HATE being inside in winter unless you give them great conditions....they don't like unheated garages. The monkey puzzle always did fine in my unheated garage. The bananas did OK in the unheated garage but others have much better success with no water at all. What types of plants do you have?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:29 am

Eh Tim

I have Black Locust, Pawpaw, Magnolia tripetala, Ginkgo, Maples (norway maple and a small Jap maple), some grape vines and a few others. I have no problem over wintering AGave indoors, or Yucca so far. My Basjoo does well indoors to. I also have some bamboo seedlings that im not sure what to do with. Ive read they do horrible indoors for the winter.

Ive tried some things in an unheated porch, and that experiment failed (coldest it got was -20C). Way to cold to over winter things. My basement stays around 8C ( the floor is colder) too warm to over winter things, except possibly large banana.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:31 pm

If you can protect them from moisture (because drain holes don't work well in the ground), maybe plant the entire pot, then cover with mulch for winter.

Barb

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:02 pm

From years of experience in zone 7a, pawpaw and ginkgo do great in pots outdoors, I kept mine out of the wind. Remember that pawpaws will DIE if left in the sun, until they reach about 3 foot in height or around 3 or 4 years old. They appreciate a north facing wall or shaded area.

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:22 pm

I have overwintered tree seedlings outdoors in pots for several years. I have a box made out of boards that has not bottom to it and i just put the pots in there and cover the pots with mulch and put leaves and straw on top of that. I have overwintered Japanese Maples, White Pine, Holly, Nandina, Butterfly Bushes, and Bald Cypress in this manner.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:53 am

Thats what I was thinking barb. It is by far the easiest method. It just so happens I need to dig up part of the lawn, so it seems to work out quite well.

Adam - Definitely. They are in a semi shaded area with dappled light, and they are growing way faster then I ever expected. Im just worried about the winter because the magnolia and pawpaw are marginal here. Im sure with a good layer of leaves and my reliable, deep snowpack should ensure these guys survive.

Bryce - Im in zone 4, making it way harder to overwinter things in pots. Mind you, i had a pot each of pear, 2 maples survive with me doing nothing, but leaving them sitting in their dixie cups all winter :S

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:38 pm

They're in DIXIE cups, Jesse????

So probably not enough root size/density to get them through winter.

Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:43 pm

I had a few pears and maples and apricots make it no problem last winter in dixie cups... not even buried.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:55 pm

Good.

I had forgotten we weren't talking about really sensitive stuff like palms and bananas.

Good luck with them Jesse.