If the weather is a bit chilly or the plant isn't fully fit, there are things you can do to help the plant through the winter. It all depends on how weak the condition of the plant is, how cold the weather is, how long the cold will last, and how much energy you are willing to put into solving the problem. For some climate and plant combinations, you don't do anything to keep the plant growing in that climate, but in general, you need to give the plant care to survive and thrive in the middle of winter.
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Step 1. Put potted plants into the room
The most important and easy way to deal with cold temperatures is to move the plant away from a low temperature area. If there are potted plants or hanging baskets outdoors, incorporate them all indoors. Moving the plant into a garage or lighting room can help, as the temperature will increase by at least 12 °C. If you can, the best solution that can be done is to move plants into the interior of the house and make them as decorations. The plant will get the temperature increase it needs without taking up more space.
- Place potted plants near windows to meet their need for sunlight; windows facing east or west will get more light, while windows facing north and south get less light.
- Do not place potted plants near vents, as they will dry out and begin to die.
- Plants can also be damaged if placed near a window, if the outside temperature is too cold; if the plant is in direct contact with the window, too cold temperatures can reach the plant.
Step 2. Add a layer of mulch
Mulch acts as an insulator, so heat and humidity in the soil. Mulch is used to protect the root system of plants from cold temperatures. Sometimes, cold temperatures are not the cause of the damage to the plant, but the freeze-thaw cycle that affects the soil and causes it to "lift" the plant. In addition, cold soil also makes it difficult for plants to absorb water. Whatever the reason, you can cover the soil surface of the plant with 5 to 7 cm thick mulch to prevent these problems.
- Mulch made from wheat or pine straw is good to work with because it can be removed easily when you have to let the soil open again, and both types of straw are also good at keeping the temperature warm.
- Some plants, such as roses and strawberries, can be helped to survive the winter by covering them thoroughly with mulch.
- Insulation has two opposite benefits. Insulation can keep the soil from cooling too quickly, but it can also prevent the soil from warming properly in time. You should remove the insulating mulch when the season has come and the ambient temperature has warmed.
Step 3. Cover the plant
Cover the top of the plant with an old blanket, large cloth, or plastic tent. If you need to protect plants from very cold nights, a simple cover like an old blanket may not suffice. Choose the tool you want to use to cover the plant, then open it as wide as possible so it doesn't touch the leaves or branches. You may need several posts to erect the cover so as not to damage the plant. It is better to use this method to protect the plant from freezing temperatures, not cold temperatures, as simple cover will not result in a significant increase in temperature.
- Remove the cover during the day so the plant can get light and air.
- You may need to squash or tie the cover to prevent it from blowing.
Step 4. Make a cold frame or greenhouse
Make a cold-resistant frame by bending a long iron pole so that it is circular, then driving both ends into the soil along the row of crop fields. Then, place a sheet of plastic long enough on top of the iron circle to cover the plant. This method is great for keeping temperatures warm and preventing frost from entering, and is one of the best solutions for keeping plants safe and warm in winter. On the other hand, you'll need to build one first, and this isn't the most appealing solution to look at.
- Create a more permanent cold-resistance frame, by attaching a window or storm window to one side of the wooden box with the bottom open.
- Make sure that the plants in the greenhouse or coolant frame are adequately ventilated. Imagine how warm the inside of your car is during the day. If the temperature is warm during the day, open the greenhouse to allow air circulation. If you don't, the plant will either receive too high a temperature or become too humid.
Step 5. Water the plant
Water the plant with plenty of water before very cold or freezing nights. The soil retains heat better in dry conditions, then evaporates slowly, thus warming the air around the plant. Don't do it if the next night's weather is not guaranteed to be very cold, because it may even be detrimental to the plant. However, to protect the plant from freezing temperatures, plenty of water can keep the heat that it gets from day to night.
- Don't water frozen soil, as that doesn't help at all and may even make it difficult for the plant.
- Do not water the soil around plants that contain a lot of water until it is too wet, as these plants cannot handle humidity levels that are too high.
Step 6. Provide a heat source
If you are facing extreme cold that is impassable for your plants, you can help your plants survive by providing a medium that generates heat. You can do this either by covering the plants with plastic tents or blankets, or by building a greenhouse (as mentioned above), and then inserting a heat generator inside. Some tools that can be used as heat generators are Christmas lights or 100 watt bulbs; the heat generated by the two tools will not damage the plant, but is sufficient to increase the temperature of the plant. Do not allow direct contact between plants and heat generating equipment; space them apart so that the heat can still be generated without burning the plants.
- Use extension cords and materials that are safe for the outdoors, so you can avoid dangerous situations.
- Remove the plant cover and turn off heat-generating equipment during the day for proper ventilation. You can also prevent fires caused by an overheated bulb.
Step 7. Choose plants that are suitable for the climate
This is the easiest and hassle-free way. Learn about the growing zone you live in (if your country has a classification system; the system in the United States is managed by the USDA) or at least try to find out about the lowest and highest temperatures you'll be experiencing in a year, and then look for plants that can withstand temperatures the. Some plants may die, lose their leaves, or go into dormancy in the winter, so take the time to find out how a plant of choice suited to your region's climate deals with the situation. The disadvantage of this method is that there are limited types of plants that can be selected.
- Perennials are plants that die every year and must be replanted if seeding does not occur by itself. In colder climates, perennials can be grown as annuals if they can't get through the winter. The growth period of some perennials can be extended by using a cover tool or by starting to grow indoors or in a greenhouse.
- Perennial plants continue to grow from year to year. For perennial plants, you will need to learn all the things and care the plant will need to get through the winter, if any.
- Talk to the young plant care people about what to do with winter plants in your area. Also ask about a suitable planting site and how to care for the plant before you buy it.
- Look for plant types and cultivars that suit your climate. There are some types of plants that are tougher than others, so they can be a better choice in colder environments.
Tips
- Find out about your plant as well as information about the cold temperatures it can withstand, how it behaves in cold weather, as well as the best way to care for or protect it in the winter. Some plants survive the closing, transplanting, and digging processes better than others.
- If your plant has been left indoors for an extended period of time, or if shoots are growing indoors, gradually move it outside, starting with getting it outside for an hour a day, and continuing for longer. This method is called "reinforcement," and is useful in helping plants adapt to the outdoors and strengthen themselves.
