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By Denise Ellsworth
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Saturday, Oct 04, 2008
Cold weather is right around the corner, with predictions for frost in the coming days. It's not too late to transport summer tropicals indoors for overwintering until next spring, but it soon will be.
Take time this weekend to bring in all houseplants that spent the summer outdoors, and make space indoors for tropicals like giant taro, elephant ears, lily-of-the-Nile and more. With a little winter care, these tropical plants will survive (though they may not thrive) until warm temperatures return next spring.
Alocasia or giant taro
Potted alocasias can be brought indoors and kept as houseplants. Provide bright light, and take care not to over-water. In winter, giant taro performs best in warm locations in the house, in an area with high humidity.
Agapanthus
This lovely tropical plant produces strap-like leaves and tall stalks, with rounded clusters of blue flowers. Bring pots or dig entire plant clumps and overwinter them in a cool indoor location. Plants can be overwintered in a bright, cool spot (40 to 50 degrees), and should be kept nearly dry; add just enough water to keep clumps alive until spring.
Amaryllis
Stop watering amaryllis bulbs to promote yellowing and die-back of leaves. Once leaves have died back, bring bulbs to a cool, dark location, and discontinue watering. After a rest period of about eight weeks, bulbs can again be watered and brought back into the light. The rest period promotes the formation of flower buds, which will then be produced in winter.
Bougainvillea
Cut back on watering and bring bougainvillea into a cool indoor location, where temperatures stay below 60 degrees. Water only lightly in winter, just enough to keep bougainvillea stems from shriveling. Plants can be repotted and pruned hard in spring, just before new growth begins.
Caladium
Caladium, also known as elephant ears, can be dug once leaves have lost all color. Allow tubers to dry for several weeks. They can then be stored in perlite or vermiculite, like cannas and dahlias. Pot tubers up in late winter or early spring.
Cannas and Dahlias
Dig canna rhizomes and dahlia tubers after frost has killed back top growth. Once rhizomes and tubers have been lifted, brush off soil clumps and place the roots out on a tarp, allowing them to dry. Store dry rhizomes and tubers in plastic or cardboard crates, surrounding them with perlite or vermiculite. Be sure root pieces don't touch each other. Keep crates at 50 to 60 degrees through the winter, checking plants occasionally to be sure tubers or rhizomes haven't shriveled. Add a minimal amount of water if necessary to counter shriveling.
Colocasia, Taroor elephant ears
Colocasia can be brought inside and kept like houseplants. Alternately, tubers can be dug and stored, similar to cannas and dahlias. Tubers can take weeks to resprout in spring, so have patience as you wait for signs of regrowth.
Mandevilla
Mandevilla can be overwintered indoors in a sunny, warm location. In spring, take cuttings to propagate more plants. If necessary, plants can be cut almost to the ground in winter, and will bounce back by sending out new shoots.
Papyrus
This striking tropical plant has become wildly popular in the last few years, and is used in display gardens and mixed container plantings. The plant is a tender perennial, meaning it can't survive frost, but it can be moved indoors and kept as a houseplant until spring. Smaller cultivars like ''Baby Tut'' may be easier to manage indoors than some of the larger cultivars, such as ''King Tut.''
Passion flower
Passion flower can be kept indoors as a houseplant, in a bright, cool location. Plants may lose leaves over the winter, and can be cut back hard in late winter if needed.
Denise Ellsworth is a horticultural educator with Ohio State University Extension. If you have questions about caring for your garden, write: Plant Lovers' Almanac, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640. Include your phone number.
Have a gardening question? Ohio State University Master Gardeners operate a horticulture hot line from 9 a.m. to noon each Tuesday and Thursday. Call 330-928-4769 (GROW).
Cold weather is right around the corner, with predictions for frost in the coming days. It's not too late to transport summer tropicals indoors for overwintering until next spring, but it soon will be.
Get the full article here.
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