How do you keep sane during the winter?

7 years ago

This year in an effort to keep myself from going crazy during the winter I went around buying up discounted plants with scented leaves at the nurseries so I can have something to keep me going during the dark cold months ahead. I picked up lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla), Munstead lavender, and a scented geranium (Pelargonium 'Angels Perfume'). They're all small plants growing in the sunny kitchen window.

I also have several small pots of discounted freesia bulbs just starting to sprout and last night I dug up two tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) that have bloom spikes growing in the dim light of the basement. They were growing in a huge pot that I crowded with too many bulbs. They're flopping all over the place so I'll have to stake the bloom spikes and hope for the best. I figured if they're going to bloom in the basement I might as well try them upstairs in a small pot where I can enjoy the scent. I'm also considering starting some Matthiola longipetala seeds in small pots that I can grow next to the cold windows to see if I can grow them inside for scent during the winter.

What ideas do you have for scent during the winter?

Wish my Hoya 'Pink Silver' would hurry up and bloom. :)

-Robert

Featured Answer

scott_madison Zone 5a- Madison, WI

7 years ago

I pot up all kinds of bulbs in the fall to force during to winter months... Hyacinths, daffodils, tulips. Also the bulbs that don't need a cold period... Paperwhites and amaryllis. I work full time in a garden center/greenhouse/florist shop... So I am around flowers almost everyday of my life. There is no shortage of yummy smells... Fresh cut stock, roses and carnations in the floral cooler, pots of Jasmine polyanthum, rosemary and scented geraniums, primrose, cyclamen and Parma violets in the greenhouses Plus some of our "pet" plants that live at the greenhouse year round and flower this time of year... Camellias, osmanthus, citrus and gardenia. And... Some of the best non-flower fragrances this time of year... All the balsam, Frasier fir and cedar we bring in for Christmas.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

jasminegal
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Lol Robert! I am in the same boat as you. Going crazy without anything to do. My hubby is the most happiest that I am not gardening out. I would be out if I could. Our temps are down sometimes to below freezing now. My anemone de caen corms are sprouting in the yard so waiting if I can get some blooms from them. My miniature alliums too started sprouting so early. Planted a mix of tulips,hyacinths, daffys and crocus. I think I see daffys sprouting.

I have some ranculus to plant in feb. I just keep on visiting all the mail order sites, keep adding stuff and deleting the cart. Lucky for me some of my jasmines and chinese perfume are generous enough to bloom to satisfy my nose. If you keep your mysore mulli in a warm place it will keep blooming for you. My arabian nights too is producing buds now. Moo even in the basement is producing buds. So maybe if you have a very bright and warm spot you could get jasmine to bloom imdoors too.
Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
Original Author
7 years ago
Sigh. I wish my sambac jasmines were small enough to keep inside but right now I only have one under the T5 lights in my bedroom. My Mysore Mulli is down in the basement. Funny thing is my partner can't believe we don't have Grand Duke of Tuscany (we have Supreme) so maybe that's a good excuse to order a small jasmine!

Almost forgot about perlite and freesias. Found this article online about it-

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/freesiasindoors
Related Discussions
How do you protect your plants during the winter?
Q
Comments (8)
How are things going? If what you planted is reliably hardy, no protection should be needed, especially if put in ground in spring. Where the ground does not freeze, heaving is not a problem. Attempting to keep plants that should go dormant in vigorous growth mode at the wrong time of year could be extra stress, not helpful. Unlikely in Z8 but worth mentioning. Couldn't tell if you are talking about plants in pots or in the ground? What plants? If you are zone-pushing Z9+ plants, I don't think I would use any kind of plastic. A pile of leaves is my usual method. Some paving bricks adjacent to the roots (on S side,) or dark-colored jugs of water, dark rocks, can also help keep the ground slightly warmer. Regardless of method, excellent drainage is usually a key factor in successful zone pushing. Wet + cold = rot. Dry + cold = exponentially higher chances of survival.
...See More
What do you with plants indoors during winter?
Q
Comments (5)
Hi Ann, Usually the plant will branch after it flowers. Some people cut their branches to make it branch out more, bur from what I read here on the forum, that delays the flowering, which is what most of us want. I read on here that you can help the flowering by the addition of a fertilizer in which the middle number is high. I think mine that I use is 10-50-10. I have also read that you want to stop feeding at approximately 90 days prior to the onset of the plant going dormant for the winter. After winter, when the plant wakes up, I read it is best to start off with a fertilizer that is higher on the first number. That promotes the growth, and then switch to the higher second number. As far as the time lines, I can't remember excatly when to switch. Someone smarter than me, and there are a bunch of them in here, will help you further. Hope that helps a little. John
...See More
How do I keep a Traveller's Palm warm during winter?
Q
Comments (1)
The nursery I got the Traveller's Palm said that it will be able to tolerate cold at 7 feet tall, but, has anyone had experience growing it in Zone 9b and it surviving?
...See More
How do YOU keep all of the papers etc during your project??
Q
Comments (1)
It really is like a 2nd job! Right there with you on the schedule, etc...I try to organize a bit each day so that I'm not overwhelmed by it at the end of the week but that doesn't always happen ;) Spreadsheets are super helpful - in a dream world I would scan everything in so that I don't have the giant binder of receipts It's my first reno but I think that living under construction is just how it goes. I am attempting to keep all of the project stuff in one room so that it doesn't take over my entire house. I found Houzz.com for my inspiration "tears" so I don't have my huge binder full of inspiration - can just use the computer and print out - saves one file at least. :)
...See More
jasminegal
7 years ago
Any excuse for a new plant works for us *wink*! I have never grown a freesia yet. I remember reading about its exact requirements and decided I could not probably do that and dropped the idea. My tuberose did not bloom this year. Maybe next year!
kemistry
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I bought a bunch of plants and started so many seeds! Fragrant and non fragrant: adenium desert rose, holy basil, heliotrope, and trying to sprout a ginger rhizome and a sweet potato (lol).

I got some rauwenhoffia seeds coming in the mail from Thailand. I really want this plant again and since Logee doesn't offer it anymore, I'm trying my luck with growing from seed.

I also have a crazy urge to grow some pink rain lily... triggered by a childhood memory I guess. But I read that it requires rain or long period of wetness to trigger the bloom. Not sure how I can fool it to bloom indoor.. lol :O))
jasminegal
7 years ago
Wow Kemistry! You are so far ahead :)
kemistry
7 years ago
Yes jasminegal, between Sept and Oct I went crazy on ebay. Lol. My tiny luculia plant I got earlier this year is developing some buds I think. If all is well, I'll report back on its scent :))

How do you keep sane during the winter?

scott_madison Zone 5a- Madison, WI

Comments (7)

jasminegal

Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
Original Author

Related Discussions

jasminegal

kemistry

jasminegal

kemistry

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

How do you keep sane during the winter?

scott_madison Zone 5a- Madison, WI

Comments (7)

jasminegal

Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)Original Author

Related Discussions

jasminegal

kemistry

jasminegal

kemistry

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
Original Author