Saving outside plants through the winter

Question

My grandmother used to successfully winter over some of her outside flowers such as geraniums, spikes and vines.  (We live in Minnesota)  She kept them in a room in her house and they did well.  I've tried but they are barely alive by spring.  Any tips?

Hannah V · Answer

Check out these great tips! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/grow/plants/5-steps-for-bringing-your-plants-indoors-for-the-winter-4532813

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Garden matters has some great tips. 
I do bring in many plants each fall and have for years and one of the best things I do is have them in a cool room with a window. My house is set at 65 all winter so my house is cool sometimes too cold for most but I am originally a northerner and I like cooler rather than hotter temps and so do many houseplants in winter. Just remember to 'debug' and then bring in and do not over water! To be honest here, losing leaves and looking pathetic is not something to be afraid of because I have a couple plants that do that every year and each year they get bigger and more beautiful by fall. Losing leaves is okay. I had a neighbor over 23 yrs ago who had a geranium that was at least 5' tall and wide! her poor 70+ yr old hubby had to drag that thing in and out each year and it was in an old coal ash pot and she never transplanted it ever. It looked like horrible every spring but by the time June came the thing was beautiful. Many gardeners have many tips and my advice is to read them and find what feels right and what you can do. The spikes will grow in the house as a houseplant and depending upon what kind of vines they will most likely need trimmed down at some point and kept in front of a window. When spring time comes take them out and fertilize (I use fish fertilizer) and patiently wait for them to take off again.good luck and happy gardening

Douglas Hunt · Answer

For more suggestions on overwintering geraniums in particular, see this post: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/grow/flowers/overwintering-geraniums-575967

Amanda · Answer

I over winter plants inside because I live in NW Ohio & do not like having to buy plants every year.  I do use a lot of tropical plants in my patio landscape which do well over wintering inside. I have had a spike, which is now very large, for many years. I haven't had as much luck with geraniums. I've tried many techniques, but my best success has been to keep them potted in a sunny window. Cut them back when you bring them in. Prune in late winter to have a nicely shaped plant in the spring. Be sure to prepare plants for coming inside. I allow them to feel the cooler temps. Moving plants into my garden shed for a few days prior to bringing inside help to prepare the plant for the reduced lighting inside.  About 2 weeks to one month before bringing inside, spray the plant with insecticidal soap. I also use granular insect control in the soil all the time. I had a terrible gnat infestation a few years ago. If you are not going to re-pot the plant, flood it with water just before bringing it inside. This will help move out insects hanging out in the soil.  If you do not plan to re-pot, keep the pot from having direct contact with the patio or soil, by keeping it in a saucer. This keeps insects like ants from crawling up the drain hole of the pot & taking up residence. Spray with insecticidal soap again on the day your bringing plants inside. Also, make sure to clean the outside of the pot thoroughly especially under the rim to clean off any hitch hikers there as well. Keep insecticidal soap spray handy throughout the winter & watch for any infestations diligently. Mildew, little webs, gnats flying up when you water are indications you need to treat & quarantine the plant so the infestation doesn't spread throughout all your wintering plants. I guess you can tell that insects can be fatial for your winter garden. The weakened wintering plant is much more susceptible to insects, plus I think it's just gross.  All the trouble is worth it to me though because it allows me to enjoy a sense of gardening all winter and I save a lot of money.

Debbie · Answer

I am thinking of taking my geraniums out of the soil and keeping them inside over the winter in buckets with water and plant food.  I have grow lights over them.  Has anyone tried this?  What were your results?

Debbie · Answer

Douglas, Space is the big reason and the pots are very heavy and as I get older it has become harder and harder to haul them down to the basement which is the only place I can keep them.

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