Alternatively, when you use an all-natural pest control solution, you can effectively debug houseplants without all the nasty chemicals and carcinogens. It’s safer for you, and the earth! If you’re wondering how to debug plants before bringing them in the house, look no further than insecticidal soap.
As a general rule, tender plants should be brought in when nighttime temperatures are below 50 to 55 degrees F, even if they are hardy for your zone. A plant's roots are more exposed when planted in a container versus in the ground.
And they do just fine. The key to success with garage storage is that this area is attached to the house but not heated. The garage never goes below 32 degrees but tends to hover in the 40's and low 50's all winter. This keeps the plant dormant but the plants never freeze.
Thoroughly Water plants if it's not going to rain before the freezing temperatures arrive. It may sound illogical. However, a moist ground stays warmer than dry soil. Watering the night before the freeze comes will insulate the root structure of the grass and plants and decreases the potential for cold injury.
Bed sheets or comforters work best for covering large plants and shrubs. Newspaper can be used on low-growing foliage, but it can often be difficult to get it to stay in place. You can also use old pillowcases, sheets, towels and even cardboard boxes.
From that experience, I've found the best frost protection for your outdoor plants is either free or cheap. Cardboard boxes and brown grocery sacks make perfect frost cover and at the end of the season can be recycled. I keep various boxes on the patio and when frost is forecast simply put one over the plant.
Deep water plants before ground freeze, and continue to water during winter months when temperatures remain above freezing but without precipitation, Erect physical windbreaks. Wrap problem plants with burlap or other material to protect from wind and subsequent moisture loss to evergreen shrubs and small trees.
Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants. Cover plants before dark to trap warmer air.
Avoid watering when temperatures are below 40°F or when sustained freezing temperatures are expected within 24 hours as this water will freeze and not be available to the plants.
Know Your Plants' Cold Tolerance
Some frost-tender plants need to be covered as soon as the temperature hits 32°F, while others can handle lower temperatures and/or longer freezing periods. You'll need to look up each of your plants to verify its cold tolerance.
1. In order to overwinter a perennial or shrub in a container outside, it needs to be two zones hardier than the zone you live in. 2. Perennials and shrubs that are in your zone or one colder can be overwintered in an unheated garage, buried in the ground, or transplanted.
On woody plants, the leaves will yellow and drop off. Keep the dormant plants dry, but not so dry that the soil becomes powdery. Check soil moisture often and if very dry, lightly water. In most situations, light watering will be needed every two to four weeks.
Each plant has a different threshold when it comes to dealing with the cold. Some plants can survive outside even when temperatures hit freezing. Others need to be brought indoors when temperatures reach the mid-40s.
Planters made from modern substances, like fibreglass, fiberstone, and non-porous plastic composites can safely remain outside over winter. Fiberstone planters are made from a mix of limestone and fibreglass, which forms a material that looks like stone but weighs a fraction of the natural material.
Clay or terracotta pots are prone to cracking in frost so either avoid using these for your winter displays or look for frost-proof pots and containers. Plastic, fibreglass, wooden and treated terracotta and clay are all good materials for winter pots.
Before bringing your plant inside, remove any insects by hosing your plant off with a strong stream of water. I recommend doing this a couple of times. Immediately before bringing them inside, give your plants' leaves, stems, and trunks thorough spraying of insecticidal soap.
Burying the plants – pots and all – is best for insulating the roots. Cover the dormant plants with a couple of inches of leaves or wood mulch for extra protection.
A fabric covering is best because it will allow moisture to escape while still protecting your plants from frost. Fabric coverings will prevent the freezing air from coming into direct contact with the moisture on the plant while also capturing the heat that is radiating from the ground.