I overwinter plants hardy to zone 6 (same zone I am in) in pots, using chopped-up leaves as mulch. Pots are sitting directly on ground, I only put a layer no more than 1-2" on top of soil, but more around the pot itself. Also surrounded by a 'cage' made of chicken wire to make sure the leaves don't get blown away. Grouping pots also helps, leaving some space between pots filled with leaves too. Most important, I think, is to make sure there is good drainage. If water sits in the container, the roots may rot. I don't think more than that would be needed unless you try to overwinter plant rated for lower zone than yours - like the fig tree: friend of mine built a wire cage around his fig slightly taller than tree (after pruning so it's not so wide); wrapping this cage with burlap and filling it completely with leaves (straw is good too), covering top of the tree with few inches of it too. I read (maybe here on GW?) that you could build enclosure and have christmas lights inside (not led) and they would warm-up inside sufficiently...and here is a link to thread using fluorescent lights in styrofoam enclosure: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/farnorth/msg1211132530111.html Rina

The danger is, the bulbs must be watered; water must reach the bottom of the bulb--but not stay there--for the bulb to initiate root production. It must have roots before the worst of winter sets in otherwise, the bulb, without roots, is useless...the freeze will kill the bulb. With roots, they are protected against anything winter throws at them. The tulip bulb --let's say put down 6 - 8 inches...would have 6- 8 inches under them. The problem then is to try to keep the water in so little soil from freezing and causing the bulb to freeze. Normally the advice is 'dont' try it'...the bulbs cant survive winter's freeze. But, if you can protect the container from the freeze, and the thaw...then freeze, then thaw...then freeze...you stand a better chance of growing bulbs this way. Put a cardboard layer over the outside surface of the container. If its wood, so much the better because it doesn't attract heat nor cold.....when watered, it can absorb water and freeze when temperatures go down. This then transfer cold to the soil...and to the bulbs therein. So, protect the container from freezing. The cardboard layer can help and when you put an aluminum foil cover over that, the sun will be deflected. Snow must not be allowed to sit on the surface. It can melt, then run into the top surface of the soil, where it then freezes. It therefore, cannot be allowed to be hit by sunshine which will do the thawing but cant protect it against nighttime freezing. If you can, put an A-frame...a lean-to effect over the container to prevent rain/snow/snowmelt from entering the container. It must also not be where it is hit by wind which will dry out the surface much quicker. Such good place to put such container is amongst your foundation plants, next to the building. Mulch the surface to keep the temperature more uniform. In any case, place the container where it will get some protection...as next to the building, out of the sun and away from the wind.

Cut back the dead stuff for neatness sake but it has no effect on the plant. It's bone hardy and should start sprouting if it's survived the harsh winter you had over there. I don't know when it should start in your zone. Here it's already 8 inches high.

In zone 9, pretty much any plant that is perennial (lives longer than a single season) can be grown in a container throughout the winter without worry, as it is considered a nearly frost-free zone. I have dozens of permanent container plantings, including trees, shrubs, dwarf conifers, perennials and vines, that have overwintered for years with no particular attention or protection. Bamboo is an excellent container plant - perhaps better in a container than in the ground :-)) Just an aside, but there are very few locations in Oregon that are considered a zone 9 - the south coast area around Brookings is the only one that comes to mind. Are you sure about your zone listing, as that may influence exactly what you can grow.