Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Storing Your Tender Plants

I have several non-hardy plants that were either gifts or acquisitions along the way. I am not normally a houseplant non-hardy type person in the garden. However, these tenders have earned a spot outside in the summer garden. They look great and add so much to the landscape. What do I do with houseplants in the other three seasons when they can't tolerate the weather outside?? My house is not equipped to handle a ton of houseplants, plus cuttings, plus seedlings inside it, so I had to have another option.

That option comes into play when frost is imminent, like this time of year. My solution is to store many of my houseplants (ferns, tropicals, geraniums, dahlia tubers, Angel Trumpets, caladiums, and aloe) under the house in my crawlspace. Crawlspace you say? How can that work? Not sure, but it does and has worked great for over five winters now. The crawlspace under my home stays above freezing (I haven't actually took the temperature though), is dry, ventilated and somewhat cozy for the plants. Especially the Boston Ferns.
These pictures were taken on the day I pulled my plants out this spring. The ferns are a bit more bedraggled than I would like, but this is the way they went under the house, a bit worn at the end of last summer. You do need to ensure the plants stay moist during the winter. I did not water this year, though I should have. These plants were all bone dry. Check them monthly or so to be sure they are moist, not dripping wet. The ferns do drop some leaves under the house, but that is not a big deal. Better there than in my house.

One of the plants actually came out of storage in bloom. It is shown in the first picture. This is the only plant I have seen which blooms in three colors, Red, White and Blue! It is my patriotic plant and I do like the red, white and blue color scheme in the garden so it is a favorite outside plant during the summer. I know the picture is not that good but still hope someone can help me identify it. Does anyone know what it is called?

A friend of mine from school is skeptical that this is a good way to winter over plants. His problem with it is that there is no light. The vents under my house to allow some light to come through, but truly in the wintertime I think the plants all go dormant and don't need any light.

The really big bonus of storing these plants under the house is there is no mess in the house. Who has messy Boston ferns they store in the house? I don't, not since I store them under the house now.

If you have a usable crawlspace area and some ferns to store, you might try my method. I am NOT responsible for the plants dying though if it does not work out. I can only say it has worked for me for several years. Skeeter tried it last year and I am sorry to report she had no luck at her Georgia house. Still sorry Skeeter! So try it with a plant you generally replace each year anyhow. Good luck.

in the garden....

28 comments:

  1. Hi Tina, thanks for showing this. I actually have a crawlspace similar to yours, but never thought to stuff plants in there because of the lack of light, although there are some openings with screening over them for ventilation. I might have to try it in the future. I wonder if it would work for dahlias? The top plant is a bromeliad of some type. I will see if I can get the family name, I used to know it as I used to grow those potted types along with the epiphytes.

    Frances
    http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/

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  2. Great tips Tina! Even pelargoniums can be stored that way.

    I plan to put a thermometer at the bottom of our stairwell in the garage this winter, and check it regularly to see if it stays warm enough to try overwintering a few things down there next year. It's unheated, but I think it will be less cold than the garage. It might be a good spot for letting dormant plants rest, but I want to be sure before trying it.

    In the meantime, this non-houseplant person stores the tender plants under a light in the basement, with a few in sunny windows in our living space since the basement 'greenhouse' has gotten a bit crowded for everything.

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  3. I was going to say....up here many people put bulbs in their basements, I would think it would work for plants, I like to tend to mine but my firetail looks worse to wear not to mention the little arbor trees!

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  4. I desperately need a place to store plants over the winter, but don't have a basement and our house is built on a slab foundation so no crawl space. What I really want is a greenhouse, but no room for that. I put a few in the garage, but lose quite a few too.. Ironic you posted on this--the problem was in my thoughts all day yesterday! :)

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  5. Tina, HI...I wish we could use our crawlspace for plant storage...it has been encapsulated with thick plastic. Even the windows are covered with thick styrofoam. All to end the moisture problem we have had since moving here. There is only one conclusion a greenhouse! I wish,

    Gail

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  6. Hmmm. Interesting. I do the basement thing but no dormancy there and light is limited. This whole questin requires some experimentation. Thanks for the ideas!

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  7. Tina, great tips! I don't have much in the way of outdoor plants to bring it...I let my cannas, brugs and EEs fend for themselves under a pile of mulch where the sun doesn't shine...so I can see how the basement/crawlspace works for dormant plants.

    I'm after my husband to put up a shelf in front of one of our south-facing garage windows for a few little things that I want to start this winter.

    Cameron

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  8. Interesting way to overwinter tender perennials and bulbs. I have a crawlspace under my house but I would of never thought to use it for that.

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  9. I was thinking about digging up the caladiums this year and under the house might be the place to store them. I just need to install the insulation first. That's this weekend's project. I'm itching already. :)

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  10. Great idea Tina. I don't have a crawl space as I to have a slab foundation. I put some in my garage or utility room. The gas hot water tank keeps it slightly warm. Most of my plants stay outside up against the house. They do get some heat from the house. But sometimes I do have to cover them up with sheets or whatever. I plan to get a row cover {I think that's what it's called} so I can make a cover for my plants.

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  11. Great idea where it stays somewhat warmer, I doubt I'd have any luck with that plan living here in the frozen tundra. I still have my geranium out in the garage. It hasn't frozen in there yet, but I need to get my craft/plant room ready like yesterday if I want them to be around next spring!

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  12. I've wintered over a lot of plants the same way. Apparently when plants go dormant they need very little if any light. Keeping them dry seems to be the key. Pelagorium will overwinter and cuttings can be made in the spring. My amaryllis are headed for the basement with no light or water for a couple months.
    Marnie

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  13. What am I thinking guys? I go comment on all the other blogs, then hit Blotanical and it dawns on me I DIDN'T comment on my blog! Duh!

    Frances, I hope you can ID that plant for me. I'd sure love to know what it is. I just love it as it is so easy to care for and a red white and blue bloom too. Yes, crawlspace works for dahlias. Perfectly. Mine are packed in boxes ready to go there now.

    Linda, I kind of wished I had a basement to store plants. Sigh. Oh well. I may store some in my garage and put a heater there. I have a small greenhouse but no way can I heat it. Wonder if I put it in the garage. Nah. Just thinking. I am going to stick my geraniums under there today! Thanks!

    Dawn, For sure it should work for plants. You could stick some in the garage even. Those arbor trees might need some extra babying.

    MT, I actually prepared this post last spring. Just getting around to posting it. I am way behind on preparing posts and getting them up timely. Sigh. Help! Anyhow, does your garage freeze? I have stored cuttings of woody materials in mine and have had good luck. I just can't fill up my small house anymore. You and I with the greenhouse. Sigh, someday-right?

    Gail, Yikes! Encapsulated? Something from outer space? Definitely do not store plants there then, they would add moisture, not a good thing for you.

    Troutbirder, It has really worked for me. Now with you being so far up north, use care and do experiment. Good luck!

    Cameron, That is only smart not to get more tenders. I can't figure out how I collect so many! Oh yeah, good friends give them to me:) That is okay as I love all plants. Do get that shelf up.

    Racquel, It was an act of desperation for me. I could not stand the leaves falling in my house of the ferns so I stuck them there. It works. Another friend of mine (VERY experienced) gardener also does it this way. It works!

    Dave, Yikes! I hate working with insulation but it will be worth it when it is done. You are doing the floor? Let me know how it goes. I need to do mine soon. You get good tax credits with insulation.

    Lola, There you go Lola-the garage is good. I think I may migrate some plants there too. Right next to that water heater. Good idea!

    Cinj, Do bring in that geranium from the freeze. It will thank ya!

    Marnie, It works great doesn't it? I need to put my amaryllis out of the way too. Soon. That word is hard to spell! You take cutting of the pelagorium in spring? Good to know. I took some now and hate having to grow them under lights in the house. Hmmm. Might just wait until spring then. ttyl

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  14. Small house Tina? When we thought we would sell our house many years ago and build a different one the realtor said ours was above normal size and I think yours is bigger than ours.

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  15. Good morning Mom! Yes, it is adequate in terms of square footage, but kind of small to store a ton of plants. Do you remember my ficus tree you liked so much? It is nearly takes up half of my craft room and is as tall as me. I almost couldn't move it in the house! I don't know what I'll do with it. I love it so much but can't store it well. at all. This plus the others. I had to move some to the crawlspace. The garage is also a recipient of plants. Do you have room for a tree? btw, how is you J. Maple doing? Mine are so great. I wonder if yours changed color to the red yet. Mine haven't. ttyl Gotta go garden now.

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  16. I don't have a crawlspace, or even any room to put things in the garage really. So I just cut my Boston ferns back when they turn brown, leave them out, and typically they shoot out green after the cold season is over. (Which here is not all that cold, being East Texas.)
    Brenda

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  17. What an interesting use for a crawlspace. You certainly think outside the box! I’d think plants would need some light. Wouldn’t they need a bit of water? Nice foliages shots below - great sense of light.

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  18. Yep, I tried the crawl space last year to no avail. Maybe if I had watered the plants at some point, they would have survived. But being in a damp environment, we dont need the extra moisture under the house. Would play rough love on the wood floors of the house..... I long for the day I have an attached garage again! I have room for plants in the sunroom but the cats will eat then barf it all up or get sick from poison so the plants go into the guest room and we will work on what to do when we have guests! lol the ferns go into the compost pit as they are too messy in the house. :(

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  19. Hi again Tina. What has worked for me in the past is to store the pelagorium (with or without soil on their roots). In the spring I submerse the whole thing in water for a couple days and then take cuttings. Often if you soak it and repot plant it will start to leaf out.
    Marnie

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  20. Right now my non-hardy plants that I am trying to save are in the garage, but I'm planning to move them to the basement. Neither has very much light coming in, though some. The garage is heated, but still much cooler than my basement. I'm wondering if the basement might be too warm for them?
    My one Boston fern is in the house (the $5 bargain), but I'd forgotten how messy they are, not to mention it's so big I don't have a great place for it! It may find its way down to the basement, too.

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  21. Hmm, I thought I came right back and posted the name of the brom, aechmea, I believe but would have to see the whole flower.

    I know that I wrote this somewhere, perhaps on another comment on another blog? That would be pretty funny.
    Frances

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  22. Hi Tina,

    I think the bromeliad is Aechmea fasciata. Take a look at this link and see if that's what the flower looks like when it's fully open.

    http://www.photographybyjohncorney.com/flowers-plants/pink-bromeliad-4.jpg

    Ellen
    www.downanddirtygardening.com

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  23. Brenda, I will have to try that. I would think it would work no problem here too.

    Thanks Sarah, Your post on our visit was very lovely and brought back so many memories of home. Yes, I do water the plants occasionally. And yes, I am known to think outside of the box. A good trait I hope:)

    Skeeter, Yup, gotta water them. They still need that even though they are dormant the roots do still work. Yes, make room as we hope to come visit you guys in December is you can move those plants. lol

    Marnie, Someone at garden club was just asking me about this. I told them I did not know how to rejuvenate them but now I do. Thanks for the help! I will pass along the info and do it with mine too.

    Rose, I would think either a garage or a basement would be fine to store plants. As long as it does not freeze it will be great. So good to have a basement.

    Thanks Frances for taking the time to look for the name of the brom. The flowers hang down and hard to see in the pic. I will post a better picture. I'd sure like to know how to care for it someday. I've had it three years and it now needs dividing. Can I do this? I am scared to as it is thick. Urgh.

    Hi Ellen, Thanks for dropping by. You live in a lovely area of New York for sure. The flower is similar to the link you sent, but more defined petals and all. I am going to post another picture soon. ttyl

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  24. I wish I could store plants in our crawl space but we have moisture issues as well. I hate how my ferns drop leaves all winter making a big mess in the house!

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  25. Hi Tina, I know you can divide these and normally the mother (flowering) piece will die so it is best to discard it and repot the others. The thing I do know about caring for these is to keep water in the *well* in the center, but the soil around it does not have to be wet, in fact should not be. Shady spot outdoors in warm months. I believe there is a bromeliad society web site with lots of good info. I used to grow this type of brom but they took up too much room in the greenhouse. Now I have the tillandsias and cryptanthes only, much smaller.
    Frances

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  26. Thanks Frances, I am going to go to the Brom website. They do get RATHER large. Nice plants though. Next year I must divide it.

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  27. Hi Tina. I overwinter a zillion tender tropicals in my basement each winter and have great success also. It's probably warmer than your crawl space but very little light. I barely water (maybe a sprinkle once a month ~ just enough so they don't die) then in spring I bring them back upstairs and begin hardening them off. Isn't it wonderful to keep plants year to year this way? I don't have room in my house for them all either but making them go dormant is the perfect solution.

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  28. Hi Kathleen, That is so great! Especially since you are further north than me. It is encouraging that other northern readers can also store their plants in their basements and be successful! You all hear that? Yes, I think dormancy and water are the key and an easy way to store plants. A zillion plants? And I thought I was a bit overwhelmed:)

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