Making Pots Winterproof

The air is already noticeably cooler, and the nights are getting longer again. In gardens and on terraces, asters, heather, and dahlias herald the autumn. So now it's time again to prepare for the cold season and make potted plants winterproof. If plants are hardy, they can certainly remain outdoors during this season, but by no means without protection. Here you will find the most important measures aimed at protecting the plants from drought, frost, and too much moisture.

Your pots first need good insulation. Various materials are suitable for this. Bubble wrap or fleece is often and successfully used. If you prefer to use natural materials, coconut mats, jute felts, or straw mats are recommended. Wrap your pots twice with the insulation you have chosen and secure the mat with a string so that the construction does not come loose even in strong winds.

Your small trees are also plants that need to be made winter-proof. For them, also wrap the trunk with mats. This is particularly important for winter-hardy palms, as they often cannot protect themselves from harsh weather conditions on their own.

Cover the soil in the pot with straw, bark mulch, or autumn leaves. This protects sensitive roots and plant parts from excessively cold temperatures. Also, make sure that your pots do not have direct contact with the ground. If ground frost sets in, this can lead to the soil freezing. To protect them, place the pots on plant rollers, wood, styrofoam, or terracotta feet.

Some plants of tropical origin that cannot tolerate frost (e.g., indoor hibiscus or ornamental banana) must be moved to their winter quarters before the first really cold days in October. It should not be too dark a place. Most plants that do not survive the winter have suffered from a lack of light.

Potted plants from the Mediterranean region are quite accustomed to a few degrees of frost. Nevertheless, more sensitive plants like oleander, olives, laurel, and cistus must be brought indoors when temperatures drop to 5-10 degrees below freezing.

Potted plants must also be watered in winter. Ensure free drainage, which is achieved through good drainage. Grasses and bamboo, for example, tolerate no waterlogging whatsoever. Evergreen shrubs quickly suffer from drought damage during prolonged frost. Therefore, they must be watered repeatedly during frost-free weather. Mediterranean potted plants, on the other hand, should not be exposed to constant wetness but should be placed in a rain-protected spot.