What do you do with your potted plants when it gets cold out?

Question

I don't want to bring them in. Do you cut them back and put them in the garage? Will they come back next year like this? Or do you just toss them and buy new ones next year?

Answer 1

It depends on how cold it is outside. Where I live, it can get down to 32 degrees at night. Very cold, but no snow (although water will freeze if pooled on the ground or in plants).

I cover my plants with a clear plastic tarp and have Christmas lights woven trough the plants on a timer that go on at midnight and stay on until 6 AM. The lights provide enough heat and the tarp keeps it in.

I don't do this with all the potted plants, only with the tropicals. There are many that are cold hardy.

Answer 2

You can salvage perennials by bringing them into the garage. I cut mine back and have a flourescent light in there and most will come back the following year saving me $$$. I do bring my herbs inside though I usually either use up the annuals like Basil or they die off on their own. Some I put into the ground and mulch well to over winter them, but I am in zone 9. Last year we got a week of hard freeze and many of my cactus and succulents should have been covered with burlap or brought in for protection because they croaked. I just spend too much money on plants to replace them every year, I like to add to my collection not be replacing it.

Answer 3

Bringing them indoors is the best thing to do with them, but you can create a "hot-house" by placing Vis-Queen [plastic sheeting available at any Wal-Mart or hardware store] over them in a small tent-like fashion. If you wish, you may cut your plants back, and place them in a garage. This will keep them out of the weather - just don't forget to water them at least once a week.

Answer 4

Depends on the type plant they are. I have exotic plants (7 foot tall Plumerias) that would die if I cut them back. Some of my smaller plants are put into the crawlspace for the winter.

Answer 5

I bring them in the house.

I try to do this BEFORE it starts to get cold.

Ever brought a hibernating snake into the house via a potted plant?

NOT FUN!

Answer 6

Put yours indoors, save them, I enclosed my carport and the covered patio saves some of them, but I have gas heat and that will surely kill them, so I have to re-buy that type plant every year :(

Answer 7

Cover them with plastic bags or something similar (big plastic garbage bags work well, depending on how big the plants are).

Answer 8

Well, I always bring mine in for the cold months.

Answer 9

well are they annuals or pre annuls
if they are the king that come back all youe, sutting them back is good, if they dont come back every year, their is nothing you can do