How do you keep plants warm in winters? – Protecting plants from cold

How do you keep plants warm in winters? Not all plants can bear cold weather or season. The frosty winds and cold nights can severely damage some plants. If you have realized that your plants are not able to tolerate winters, then it’s good that it’s not too late. You can protect your plants even if they are outdoors with their other fellows in the garden, porch, or stairs. We will also tell you how to protect indoor plants from winter. But, first of all, you should know what plants will be needing winter protection. This will ease up your multiple searches at just one spot.

Key takeaways:

  • The pants that need to be protected from are soft plants, seedlings, tender trees,
  • The plants which have big surface areas can be easily blown off by winds and winter weather.
  • The different ways to protect the plants from winter are providing them with sunlight, watering, Fertilizer, Potting, etc.

Which plants need protection from winter?

The plants are summer-loving and not much winter tolerant.

The soft plants, seedlings, and tender trees are more prone to get affected by frost and cold winds.

The plants that have bulb flowers as they have a big surface area can be easily blown off by winds and winter weather.

The plants that are not much hardy and cannot bear frost that well.

Some annual plants like dusty miller, petunia, pansy, etc. cannot survive winter that well. The seeds of annual plants are usually stored during the wintertime. The dormant stage is usually seen in these plants while winters are there. 

How do you keep plants warm in winters?

Sunlight

During summer sunlight is not much regular and is short with low intensity. In such a case, if the plant is placed inside, move the potted plant near the window where the sunlight is more. If outside, the plant can be placed in a sunny spot, make sure to provide the plant with noon heat or sun rays.

Watering

Avoid too much watering of plants in cold weather. Stay connected with the weather updates, if windy make sure that you don’t let your plants get dry at night. It is advised to water the plants before sunset or in the afternoon. Don’t go for regular watering, instead, look at the soil and leaves. If dry then you should water them.

Soil

The soil in winter should not be damp for too long as it may cause water clogging. The soil needs to be well-drained in winter. Too much water in the soil can lead to many diseases, rotting conditions, and unhealthy growth. Porous soil helps plants tremendously in winter. It is crucial to maintain good air in the soil. 

Fertilizer

Use peat-free fertilizer in winter. Fertilizing sparingly will be beneficial for the plants in frosty weather or winters. Before the last frost, be sure to fertilize otherwise later you are not allowed to do that if you want healthy plants in winter too.

Potting

Use pots that are not too heavy so you can move them easily to multiple favorable spots. The pots should have holes so that the soil doesn’t stay drenched in water and gets well-drained.

How do you keep indoor plants warm in winters?

We know as compared to the outside, the inside of the house is usually warm. But, in the areas where the temperature goes too low, the plants need to be kept warm indoors as well. Use lights to keep plants warm in winters. You can use heat lamps indoors that will keep them warm. It is important to keep such heating appliances away from the plants to avoid burns.

Other than this, you can also wrap the plants with light-weighted fabrics or sheets to keep them warm.

How to keep outdoor plants warm in winters?

Bring the plant inside into the warm conditions of a room while its windy or frosting outside

You can mulch the soil with shredded bark or softwood pieces that can retain the heat of the earth and help warm the plants

As the temperature drops too low on winter nights or frosty times, make sure to provide the plants with soft blankets to keep the air inside warm. You can also use winter sheets but make sure to use stakes so that plants don’t get damaged.

Jute sacks can also be a great option to keep the plant or soft trees warm. You can wrap the jute cloth around the shrubs or soft trees.

Though there is sunlight in winter too, it is not as strong as needed. Some plants need warmth and heat to grow well. The less hardy plants can be protected by covering them with black fabric to absorb more heat and sunlight. 

Landscape fabrics are used to cover the landscape while it is frosting to keep them safe from freezing. 

Covering the plants with fleece: this is a great option to protect plants from the last frost. Fleece helps keep the plant warm and also protects them from winds and strong rain. They are helpful to cover plants outside.

For more such plant related-articles, you may also read, Spanish Bayonet Yucca ‘Yucca Aloifolia’ – How to grow & care for Yucca Bayonet?

How to keep outdoor potted plants warm in winters?

The outdoor potted plants in winters can be easily moved and placed in a safe shredded area like 

Greenhouse

Cold frame  

Polytunnel 

Wrapping up the context:

So by now, we hope you have now understood all the ways you can keep your plants safe in winter. It is equally important to know what plants need extra care during winters. You also come across that covering the plants will help them not to freeze. The water on the plants can easily frost as well as the temperature drops. All these things should be kept in mind. 

FAQ:

Can I cover plants with garbage bags?

Until the nags are not touching the plants, the garbage bags can be used to cover plants. Use stakes to keep it in place and avoid it from getting blown away by the winds. 

What temperature should I cover my plants?

The winter nights are too cold and the temperature turns drastically low in many areas. The temperature in winter is believed to be harmful to plants if it goes around 28 degrees Fahrenheit and also for a long time. Then, it’s high time to cover your plants with winter sheets, blankets, fleece, tarp, etc. 

What plants should I cover in a freeze?

Plants that need to be covered in freeze are sun-loving plants, less hardy plants, like cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, celery, lettuce, etc.

How do you insulate potted plants?

The potted plants can be taken inside or wrapped well with warm cloths, bubble wrap, bedsheets, etc. using stakes so that the cloth doesn’t touch the foliage.

Becky Decker

Becky Decker, our esteemed Editor-in-Chief, is a passionate gardener with years of experience in the world of horticulture. With her guidance, BonjourGreen.com aims to be your trusted companion on your gardening journey. Featured In   Becky Decker’s expertise and gardening wisdom have been recognized and featured in various prominent publications, including:   Homesandgardens.com Yahoo.com Urbansplatter.com Inkl.com Foliagefriend.com Yahoonews  Experience & Background   Becky Decker’s love for gardening has been a lifelong journey. She has honed her skills through countless seasons of planting, nurturing, and harvesting a wide variety of plants, flowers, and vegetables. Her deep-rooted knowledge is complemented by her Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from the University of Green Valley.   Prior to leading BonjourGreen.com, Becky worked as a garden consultant, helping countless individuals turn their outdoor spaces into vibrant, thriving gardens. Her experience spans over a decade, making her a trusted authority in the gardening community.   The Birth of BonjourGreen.com   Inspired by her passion for gardening and her desire to share her expertise with a wider audience, Becky Decker launched BonjourGreen.com in 2021. This platform serves as a hub for gardening enthusiasts of all levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.   At BonjourGreen.com, we are committed to providing you with comprehensive guides, expert advice, and hands-on tips to help you achieve success in your gardening endeavors. Whether you have a small balcony garden or a sprawling backyard paradise, we have the information you need to make your garden flourish.   Our Mission   BonjourGreen.com is more than just a gardening website; it’s a community of gardeners who share a common love for nurturing the Earth. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and resources to create beautiful, sustainable gardens that bring joy and tranquility to your life.   Join Us on This Green Journey   We invite you to explore BonjourGreen.com and embark on your gardening journey with us. Whether you’re seeking advice on planting techniques, pest control, landscaping ideas, or the latest gardening trends, you’ll find it all right here.   Connect with us, ask questions, and share your gardening stories. Together, we’ll cultivate a thriving community of gardeners and help each other make the world a greener, more beautiful place.   Let’s dig in and grow together at BonjourGreen.com, where gardening dreams bloom!

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