How Not to Kill Your Plants During Winter

Plants have a rough time during winter, from the billowing winds to harsh temperatures, they’ll be at risk of drying out, freezing off, and just plain dying.

The cold hard fact is that your plants need extra care and attention during the cold season. Here are a few tips on how you can help your plants survive the colder weather.

Gardening during winter is tough, the fluctuating temperatures can cause significant damage to the plant and its root systems. If you have potted plants on pavements or window sills, you should move them towards earth to give them access to natural heat from the earth.

You can also rehome potted plants into your garden bed, giving them direct access to the much needed warmth.

It’s also best to move less sturdy plants indoors. Exotic and tropical plants need more winter protection. Moving them indoors where they have access to sunlight and warmth can help maintain their growth process. The best location in your home is the bathroom where plants are kept warm by the warm moisture showers.

It is true that winter air is dryer but plants have learned to experience a slower rate of growth and some are even dormant, requiring less water to keep hydrated.

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The ideal time to water plants in winter is during the day when temperatures have increased and warmed out. It’s also important to water plants when temperatures are freezing (and the pot is dry) to better hydrate and protect the roots. When water freezes, it gives off heat, ac plants during colder weather.

Huddling together keeps us warm and this works the same way with plants. Grouping plants together help them contain heat and disperse them among each other.

This also tackles the lack of humidity as it is a huge factor during the winter. Plants naturally release water through their leaves by transpiring so when they are placed together, they moisten the environment, a great thing for both you and the plants.

It’s best to place the hardiest plants on the outer circle and more delicate plants towards the centre of the group to keep them warm and adequately nourished.

The same way we put on coats to brave winter, do the same for potted plants. An added layer of protection can make a difference to the survival of your plants and garden.

Add a towel, blanket, burlap, bubble wrap, foam or other such materials to the outer layer of your pots and containers to insulate them. The extra layers will help keep your plants warm, and surviving through winter.

The gruelling freeze-thaw cycle in the winter is not only damaging to your plants but to your containers and pots too. Your plastic pots and containers will crack and clay ones will shatter.

Foam-lined pots and containers are a good option for winter. Although they may also crack under certain temperatures, the foam lining keeps your plants insulated and are sturdier other materials.

SOURCE: gardeningknowhow.com

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