Many gardeners enjoy incorporating a wide variety of plants into their flower gardens in the spring that can add a punch of flower color or foliage that is possibly more interesting and appealing than the usual annuals and perennials that one might grow.
South Dakota gardeners are used to such plants as geraniums, Impatiens, begonias, coleus and many others that we usually think of as annuals here in our cold climate, that just cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. But did you ever try keeping some of these plants over the winter months? Here are a few tips.
Probably some of the most common plants that gardeners might try to overwinter in their homes are Joseph’s coat (Alternanthera), geraniums (Pelargonium), wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens) and Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana). Since each of these may grow to become quite large by the end of the growing season, often the best way to bring them into your home for the winter is by taking cuttings from the outdoor plants then rooting them indoors.
Healthy looking stems from 2 to 4 inches in length will probably work best. Remove any flowers and flower buds as well as the lower leaves from the bottom 1/3 of the stem. While trying to root them in water is sometimes successful, you will end up with a stronger plant with a better root system if you propagate them in a propagating media or regular packaged potting soil. Check the Plant Propagation chapter in your EMG manual for more information.
There are many tender “bulbs” that can be grown in our gardens. While they generally would not survive our winters, they produce over-wintering structures like corms, rhizomes, tubers, tuberous roots or bulbs that often can survive if dug after the tops have frozen and placed in a frost-free location for the winter. Some of the plants that originated in warmer climates need a warmer place to spend the winter than others that can survive in cooler storage areas.
Be careful while digging so as not to dig into the bulbs. Shake off excess soil or use a gentle stream of water to get rid of most of the soil. Wait until spring to divide larger bulb clusters or rhizomes.
Place in a warm, well-ventilated area to dry for a few days before putting in storage. Layer bulbs in slightly moistened peat moss, sand, sawdust, coir or similar material.
