Newbie - help - can I save any of these outdoor plants over winter?

last year

I am brand new to any type of gardening - outdoor or indoor. I actually absolutely love plants/flowers/trees - and would love to gain knowledge in this area.

I had some nice potted plants added to my my patio (basic part installed last November w covered area added recently). I used a landscape designer who designed both the front and back yards - with new hardscape + added new plants/shrubs/trees that are appropriate for my area (I live in the midwest in Zone 6 b - both 6a and 6b are in my specific city).

I just had my house painted last week - the crew is finishing up some stuff in the nect day or so. Most of my potted plants have been moved in order to accomodate the painting crew:

I’m adding the above photos because they show the size of some of the plants (since some of them have grown quite a bit over the past few months). I will add more photos in another comment below in order to show the specific plants.

My significant other apparently just assumed that we’d purcnase new plants for next year - but I’m having a difficult time just letting these die! I have really enjoyed them this past spring/summer - and would love to be able to save as many as possible!

I appreciate any advice on what I can/can’t OR should/shouldn’t do!

Thanks,

Dani

Featured Answer

moosemac

last year

Those are beautiful plants! You have a couple of options:

1. Over winter in your house. If you have a basement, you can put them in the basement with LED grow lights. As long as the basement is fairly warm and you maintain the humidity by misting, they should be fine. Before you bring them in, check for pests and treat before you bring them in.

2. Ask a local greenhouse/nursery to babysit them for the colder months. I just delivered my 3 largest plants to a local greenhouse for the winter. All mine were 8-10 years old (avocado, Key lime and Mission olive) and fairly large. It is not inexpensive but it is another alternative.

Comments (14)

dani_m08
Original Author
last year
I also am not sure what topics to tag for this post - if I should change the ones I quickly selected, please let me know!
dani_m08
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Here are some phtotos showing the actual types of plants/flowers better

This braided hibiscus stopped flowering part way through the summer.
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dani_m08
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
dani_m08
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Looks like a mix of mostly annuals or very seasonal plants and tropicals/houseplants. Unless you have plenty of room for winter storage, I wouldn't worry about the seasonals. They are cheap, grow quickly and are easily replaced. But I would try to overwinter the tropicals - bananas, palms, crotons, hibiscus, strelitzia, etc. Most are quite happy indoors overwinter with enough light and reasonable warmth.
dani_m08 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
I do not see anything in those pictures which would survive your winter outdoors. Your designer has given you a whole pile of tropical perennials. They really should have explained to you what you were buying. They must have been very expensive. If you have a sunroom or similar cool bright room, you can overwinter them indoors.
dani_m08 thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
dani_m08
Original Author
last year
I’ve been in the hospital - so, I just now am reading the comments posted!

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK - I really love the tropical plants - and know that they cannot survive winter outdoors. My fiance knew how much I loved tropical plants - so, he told the guy who did all the pots things that I liked - and had them delivered. I don’t know how much he spent, but I assume that it wasn’t cheap. Apparently, his plan was to replace them each year??!!?! But they are BEAUTIFUL - and I’d like to save as many as possible! It also just seems like a waste to let the die.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)- I would like to try to save the tropicals - and house plants. I used to plant annuals every year (before having some health issues) - so, I planned ro just let those go. I’m not sure which ones the strelitzia are. I need have A LOT to learn!
dani_m08
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@moosemac - I have this triangle area of dohble stacked windows in my kitchen that currently has a fairly large square shaped table in it - that I’m planning on trading out for a round pedestal table (that has leaves for expaning when needed). So, this area could store a few of the larger tropicals - it faces west and receives a fair amount of sun. However, in the dead of winter, I assume that I will need to use some supplemental lights?

Sorry - took this in the middle of painting the house last week!

I have plenty of room in my basement for them - it’s a walkout - but currently only has a full glass door. I am going to finish part of the basement shortly, and will be adding 3 windows along that same wall. The wall receives mostly north (with a little eastern) light. I’m not sure how cold it gets down there - but the hvac runs through it - and it has insulation on the walls that aren’t concrete foundation ones.

If I store in the basement, do I cut the plants back? I read something somehwere about how people store just the bottom (plus some roots) portion of the plants over the winter, and then bring them back by repotting them in the spring (begin growing indoors - and then switch them back to outside). I cannot rememember the correct terminology that was used to describe this process, hooefull hopefully, it makes some sense 😂.

I assume that this part is dug up out of the pot - and then stored. However, I have no idea how feasible this actually is.

I would rather keep them looking like they do now vs. cutting them down and storing just the one part.

What temp does the basement need to be at in order for them to survive?

Are there specific grow lights I should purchase?
dani_m08
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@moosemac - I didn’t know that there might be the possibility of having someone babysit them - that sounds like something I need to look into in order to see if it’s feasible to do in my area.

When do I have to bring them inside before I will damage them beyound saving? I am still enjoying them outside (today willl be 81 degrees). I just am ot sure how low the temp can reach before I will harm them. I wish that i simply could wheel them in and out of the house - in order to protect at night until it gets too cool during the day also. However, i have a couple steps up into the kitchen or hearth room area off the patio. I’ve thought about making a simply ramp to use - not sure how feasible.

Thanks for your help/advice!
woodrose
last year
I think your designer took advantage of your and your fiance's lack of gardening knowledge. You don't buy large, expensive tropical plants and just throw them away at the end of the season and replace them the following year. Your fiance needs to bring them inside for you and leave them inside. There's no point in moving them in and out at this point. I don't know where you live, but I live in zone 6b and we've already had below freezing night temps here. No, you don't want to cut back tropical plants, especially the braided hibiscus. I hope you have a very large empty basement, because that's a lot of plants to store. I think your best bet would be to have find a greenhouse that will pick them up and store them over the winter. I hope you can save your beautiful plants.

I'm sorry you're having health problems, and hope you're feeling better soon.
Michael Rivera
last year
I too am sorry your having health issues

As for the plants, I would save only those that I really liked. If your other half wants to replace them and can afford it, let them. Makes them happy doing so)

Have fun and be safe. Beautiful all of them. I know how you feel.

For me, all those plants have always had bug issues and it would be such a hassel to deal with those ll winter. Most like I would keep the temps low and fans running.

Also treat for bugs before they come in as suggested.
moosemac
last year
dani_m08

Yes, you could use that area off your kitchen for plants. If they are full sun plants then you would probably need additional lighting.

If your basement stays warmer than 65 degrees then you could use the basement with grow lights. Here are the ones I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L7YYM6T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought 5 for my plants. They don't use much electricity BUT be sure to get a timer. They don't need to run 24/7.

You have a lot of plants. Keep the most expensive to replace and over winter them. Some you will just have to replace next spring. It is not inexpensive to have a local nursery/greenhouse over winter plants but for larger specimens, it may be worth it.

As for when to bring them in, it depends on the plants but when the forecast calls for the nights to get down to the mid to low 40's, it's time.
getgoing100_7b_nj
last year
People do keep fairly large plants indoors and not necessarily in the basement. A lot of your plants van be kept as regular houseplants and may not even need additional lights and might just be content with regular indoor lights. If I were you, I would rank them in order of preference and then start bringing them in one by one after I have found a spot or corner for them. I would leave the sunny space in the kitchen for the ones that need the most light/sun. You do not need a table to put them on, they all are fairly tall and will be happy sitting on the floor. Buy a bunch of wheeled things that are meant to be kept under large plants to facilitate movement. You could build a ramp or use a temporary ramp and get some help moving them. The majesty palms (I think) can live in any brightly lit corner, so can the sterltizia (look a little like bananas). The hibiscus and crotons need more light and can go in the kitchen. Chop off/prune the seasonals, they might regrow and adapt, at least the ones in the kitchen. If you have large living space, you could find a place for the palms etc. that don't need as much light. You could use table/floor lamps or existing lights and use full spectrum LED lights for the ones that need more light but cannot be accommodated in the kitchen. Anything you just want to overwinter but not enjoy indoors can go in the basement. The overly large seasonal ones like the potato vines may have to go or at least cut back quite a bit. Look for bugs before you move them in. Some people treat everything they move in with horticulture soap, oil, or bayer 3 in 1 to keep bugs out. I have found that if i bring them in after it has turned a bit cold, there are not that many hitch hikers, if any. But my plants live on a fourth floor balcony. I like to let the little garden spiders be and think they may be keeping any smaller bugs like aphids etc. in check. Good luck.