Instead of posting fabulous photos of prolific blooms, as so many of you do, I am now reduced to asking advice on overwintering. My ten seedlings are now lusty baby trees that need to be taken into protective custody from our fierce Canadian winter.
Some can go to a friend's solarium; two will fit in my sky-lit stairwell. The others... I need to know about dormancy in my basement.
I tried 'Classic Threads' but couldn't find details on drying-down, light, temperature etc. If there's a link, please let me know! I don't want folks to restate what's been said many times. But all advice would be appreciated.
Overwintering, sigh
I put most of my big ones in the basement, under florescent lights. Basement stays 62 degrees all winter long. I only cut back what I have to so as to carry them downstairs. If you don't cut them back, they have a better chance of blooming the next summer outside.
Keep them on the dry side all winter, just enough to keep root system from drying out too much, water about once a month or as needed, don't overwater.
This was in December in basement.
Another pic. Sometimes they bloom until February.
I don't know if I do it "right" or not. I've had them for 4 years, I think, so guess I'm doing something right. I've started weining them off fertilizer, and did scratch in some Bayer Rose food/insecticide. I'm under the impression it helps ward off spidermites, ?. I also strip them of a lot of leaves cause they would lose them anyway.... I've kept them completely dormant, but I found with some light and a little more water they stay alive (be careful not to over water) with minimal growth and bloom sooner in spring/summer. I also spray the trunks and whatever growth they have with an insectide/miticide/fungicide a couple times during the winter. About January I'm down there thinking how pathetic they look and long for the feeding/watering/spraying frenzy of the growing season.
Wow, that is gonna hurt. Cutting back my unknown to almost nothing. :(
Someone is going to have to do it for me. I honestly don't know where I'll begin! Maybe we just won't have winter this year. :)
whats Winter ?
Awww, you are so lucky. You don't know what you're missing!
Since one of mine 'Y'ed a few weeks ago, it has started producing a lot of flower buds. It's getting colder now, down to the low 50s at night, but I couldn't resist fertilizing it today just in case. The daturas around town are all in bloom now, and I might just squeeze a bloom out before a killing frost hits. I'm praying for a mild fall!
I'm a little confused about light requirements for dormancy for the plants I want to put in my basement. Fluorescent lights on a timer, or natural light from the single window-well? I would prefer the second option. The basement's about 60F over the winter, dry, and I go down there only every 2 weeks to do laundry (good time to water sparingly). I expect to lose the leaves; I also fear brug bugs (mites, etc.). Is it better to strip the leaves or just let them fall off?
My plants are all one-year seedlings, and only one has Y'd. I'm planning to keep her in my skylighted stairwell, which will be room temperature (72F daytime, 65F at night). She'll get bright indirect light.
Thanks for everyone's help!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/395104/ this thread has a good discussion on the subject of wintering over... also the links give additional info.
Judy
They will be just fine in conditions you describe. Don't cut them back and don't water them very much. The leaves will most likely start falling off .. don't worry .. that is perfectly normal. The thing you need to watch out for is spider mites. Keep an eagle eye on them and the second you think you see some, spray all of the plants whether they appear to have them or not - don't wait until you know you've got them. You also might want to mist them occasionally if they are keeping their leaves.
For total dormancy you can leave them in a mostly dark place where it doesnt freeze and again withhold water. My rule of thumb for watering dormant brugs is when the top 2 inches of soil is bone dry or when you can stick your finger in a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot and its barely moist. Letting them go dormant this way in my opinion is the best. Again, you need to watch out for spider mites.
If they start to put buds on before April, you should cut all of them off except for maybe 1 or two just for the thrill. It takes a lot of energy for plants to make flowers and in my opinion I think it make a healthier plant in the Spring if you don't let them flower.
About a month before your last frost start introducing light, more water, and feed them. Now is the time you can decide if you want to cut them down to the ground or allow leaves to develop on the existing stems/trunks.
X
Thanks, Judy, the links were great. Looks like I can grow my Y'd baby as planned and let the others go dormant in the basement. I don't have access to, or room for, a greenhouse.
Here's a photo of the one I plan to keep going (Rosamond x Rothkirch) where she lives now. She has her own pot inside the big container, and I'll pull her out before the frost hits.
Great directions, X... I have very few houseplants so I hope spidermite won't be too much of a problem. If they are, I know my pesiticides pretty well and how to use them. Thanks.