Basement bloomer..

Since moving to my new home in the city, I've been experimenting with trying to over-winter as many plants as possible to save on new plant $$$ in the Spring. Last winter didn't give good results, as I kept them on the East side of the basement by the windows, so there was some light there, but not alot.
This year, I repotted half of the Vincas into a long planter box and put them upstairs above Dad in law's apt where they have light pretty much all day (not direct), they look wonderful!
Then I took the other half, left them in the baskets they were growing in, hung them downstairs in the basement. Then only light I have on down there is a 75 watt ceiling fixture, which is on all the time, due to animals and laundry, workshop, etc. I have been watering them once a week or so, depending on how dry they get and so far they have been doing ok. Some of them are turning a little yellow, but I know that's from stress.
Imagine my surprise to find a bloom on 2 of the baskets! These plants are 3 yrs old, I don't remember ever seeing a bloom on them since I bought them! Plus the basement stays around 55 - 60 degrees, not the warm temps like during the summer outside... I feel like a proud mama.... LOL

I planted vinca under a blackhaw viburnum 4 years ago. The first year I had a patch of baby plants. The second year I was sure the patch was dying out but left it alone. The third year the patch was bigger but sparse. It was slated fora removal that I didn't get around to. The next year I was surprised - found myself pulling vinca out of the lawn and ruthlessly cutting it back to maintain its designated area. All the while grinning ear to ear over all the pretty blue flowers carpeted beneath that blackhaw.

Before this experience, I had tried vinca several times and could never understand why others were so thrilled with it. I think it's really cool you got a flower on your basement plants. As you can tell I'm not a vinca expert but at least someone who can appreciate the surprises this hardy and tenacious little plant delivers.

By the way, my vinca is planted as groundcover. Care is reduced to a covering of winter mulch that is cleared off the plants in spring. It sounds like you keep your vinca for container planting, something I haven't used it for ....yet. :)

~Sharon

Hi Sharon,
I love vinca in my hanging baskets! They grow like crazy, when I clip them back at a joint, it grows twice as many so it gets really bushy. When I lived in a 2nd story apt, they grew so long the downstairs neighbor used them for a shade screen! They look really pretty blowing in a slight breeze. I've never noticed the blue flowers on them in the baskets until I brought them into the basement. I have 3 flowers down there now..
My Sister in law worked at a nursery and grows alot of different things at home. She uses vinca as a groundcover and lets it ramble at will. They have a berm home, so it rambles over the retaining walls and along the rocks in the beds below. She suggested I plant it in the ground on the north flower beds over the winter instead of bringing them in, but I couldn't bear to put them out there. I'll have to try it, though. There are different varieties, I have one that has smaller leaves, and it bears more flowers, but I don't care for it as much as this one. It separates well, too, as I have enough for all my baskets and then some!
Try pulling a start and planting it in a pot outside this spring. I plant mine on the north side porch and also the south side, both do well, but really suck the water! I had to trim them back 4 times last summer as they reached the floor and the wind was wrapping them around the porch posts. Good Luck!

I don't know why I've never done containers before. This year I'll toss some of those extra pieces in a pot instead of the compost pile. Maybe lace some through the annuals in the flower boxes too. Thanks for the encouragement.

I had thought about storing outside for you (plant and bury pot in fall, dig up pot in spring). Then decided not to post that as you probably have it in pretty nice containers or hanging baskets. It also sounds like you have enough room that you don't have to leave it outside, so why do extra work in the fall moving it to pots that can be buried? Goodness knows there's enough work to be done in fall already!

Take care!
~Sharon

I always bought the Vinca instead of the other vining plants that they have in the nursery, suppose because I like the leaf better. Not a big fan of asparagus fern, except on someone else's porch. LOL Then I just stuck with it, as I knew how it would fare.
I could pot some up and try burying it next fall next to the porch, just to see if it would keep over. I just didn't want to have a whole bed of vinca! So far, the ones I repotted in a window box planter are doing well, so I'm hoping I have plenty to separate. At $3 a pop, I could save alot of money this spring!!!!
I start potting mine around mid to late April, or whenever it starts to feel like Spring. The first year I moved here to Ohio, I potted them the first of April, only because we were getting married and wanted the house to look nice. But, it was a warm 3-4 weeks, so I felt safe. After the wedding, I had to take them all down and store in the garage as the weather dipped to freezing at night and I wasn't going to lose all that money!
Try potting some up and let me know how it does for you. And I love pics, so I'll be watching for them!!!
Have a good weekend!

Kathy

I think the "perennial groundcover" status is what keeps the price up on vinca. Expensive if you're buying for containers every year. Winter protection and/or cuttings sounds like a good plan. I'm trying to imagine greening up a house for a wedding with it and am coming up with some very nice mental images. :)

Anyhow, I tried to find a way to mark this thread to come back and post a picture later this spring.... Hmmm. I guess a bookmark is my only choice. I'll wait for the vinca to wake up before I start hacking at it so it may be a while. I'll do my best to remember!

Here's hoping spring arrives soon!
Sharon

Good Luck!! I have to 'Watch' the threads, otherwise, I lose them!