You should bring these potted plants indoors to overwinter soon

Autumn is approaching and potted plants need a shelter to overwinter in the coming frosty temperatures - but do they survive outside?

In spring and summer, they ensure a colorful and lively exterior view of the house: so that your container plants can shine again next year, you need to protect non-winter-hardy plants from the cold and frost.

But where do they hibernate best?

We have collected options for overwintering your plants -

:

When do I have to consider a shelter for non-hardy potted plants?

When the outside temperature drops to five degrees or less at night, it is time to protect the plants from the cold.

For example, the

following

are not winter hardy:

• Fuchsias

• hibiscus

• Palm trees

• Angel trumpet

• lavender

• Herbs

• Geraniums

• Ornamental lilies

• oleander

If you don't want to leave them outside: container plants can overwinter here

The non-hardy plants are relatively safe in the home.

But even within the four walls you have to note that the flowers need a certain climate.

For example, the temperatures in the living room and bedroom are too high for them.

It is best to choose a

with a window under the roof.

and

are also suitable.

Container plants: is the basement a suitable place for wintering?

The basement is less affordable, but also an option: it depends on how well these rooms are lit.

More sun and a little higher temperatures are a good climate for

.

So if it is quite dark in your basement, the temperatures should only be a few degrees above zero - but never below.

How to overwinter your potted plants outside in the greenhouse

If you don't have space for a large number of potted plants in your house or basement, you can also let the green plants overwinter outside.

There are several options for doing this, including a greenhouse:

A distinction must first be made between

.

Greenhouses in which temperatures below ten degrees Celsius prevail are referred to as cold houses.

These values ​​are particularly suitable for plants such as oleanders or olive trees.

A frost protection monitor that you can get yourself also ensures that the temperatures do not drop any further.

A warm greenhouse, on the other hand, offers temperatures

, sometimes even over 15 degrees.

Warmth-loving plants such as orange trees or other exotic plants feel at home here.

At temperatures between ten and 15 degrees, green rose and agaves, among others, overwinter quite well.

Since every plant has different requirements regarding light, temperature and soil conditions, you should fill your greenhouse with those who have similar preferences.

In this way you can ensure that everyone gets through the winter safely and that no plant is disadvantaged.

Also interesting

An adequate supply of light is one of the optimal conditions for wintering in a greenhouse.

If in winter the layer of snow on the roof prevents the plants from getting sun rays, you should find other remedies.

Because there is not always the time to free the greenhouse from the snow mountains.

This works, among other things, with

that have an additional heat source,

or special

.

The latter promote plant growth.

If these lamps are equipped with a timer, you can ensure that they come on automatically as soon as it gets dark outside and there are no more natural light sources.

Make sure, however, not to place the spotlights too close to the plants, otherwise burns can occur.

Leave potted plants to overwinter at the gardener's

Anyone who does not have a suitable space or the necessary time at home to properly overwinter their plants can obtain

information

from the

.

Most offer a hibernation service, which can include:

• wintering

• pickup

• Repot

• Form and education cut

• Intensive care

You can inquire about the exact services of your nursery online or by telephone.

Sometimes only certain plants are accepted, such as those that are suitable for cold houses.

The price also varies depending on how much care you book.

On the website Ihr-Gärtnerei.de you can find out which nurseries in your area offer wintering.

Preparing for winter: this has to be done with container plants

Before you set up your plants for the winter in the apartment, you should cut them back one

.

In this way, the plants do not waste any energy on growth during the cold days.

However, if they are still in bloom when you bring them into the house, you are welcome to stand by the window for a while and soak up the sun.

During the wintering season, the plants are watered regularly, but only lightly.

Find out here how to remove leaves and who must dispose of them.

These container plants can overwinter outside

If you don't want to do the work of bringing the plants into your house every year, you can also get hardy plants.

are best suited for this

, such as deciduous trees or shrubs, as well as some evergreens.

This includes:

• Klemantis

• Erika

• Mediterranean snowball

• camellia

• Olive tree

• Boxwood

• Star jasmine

• rhododendron

• Roses

This is how your potted plants make it through the winter outside

But be careful

: just because these plants are hardy can they still be

.

This is because potted plants are more sensitive than plants that are rooted in the ground.

Therefore, you should also prepare your hardy balcony plants for the cold season - otherwise the root balls will freeze and the branches will dry out because they lack water.

These tips will protect your crops outside in winter:

• Wrap the potted plants with fleece, bubble wrap, reeds or jute.

• Cover the plants with straw.

• A cover with mulch or compost is an additional protection.

• Plants with large leaves or long shoots can be tied together and wrapped in burlap.

  These also protect against moisture.

• Large plants can be protected from snow falls with pyramid-shaped wooden frames.

  These are very easy to build yourself.

• Frozen root balls can be thawed again if you carefully pour warm water over them.

In addition, choose the

for your potted plants: they should be protected from wind, rain and too much snow.

Parking spaces near the house wall that are easily accessible for watering are suitable for this.

When watering the plants, make sure not to be too generous with the water - otherwise you run the risk of the soil in the pot freezing when frost sets in.

Read here

the most important tips for caring for balcony plants and what you need to consider when greening your balcony.

By Franziska Kaindl