bring in or leave out

I have a few plants that I potted up in small 3" - 5"pots. They are outdoor plants (dug up from my own yard)but since they are in pots, do I leave outside for the winter or bring them in with my other pots for the winter?
There are; gardenia bushes, nandina, elephant ear bulbs, mimosa tree and a couple of cedar trees.
Thanks,

In this area, we don't (usually) get hard freezes. I would say that since they are already used to being outside, it would be safe to leave them. Just cover the pots with leaves or some other kind of insulation so that the roots don't freeze if it gets especially cold (3-5" pots won't have a lot of dirt to act as insulation) and/or stash them on a protected Southern wall out of the wind. I have several potted plants that do just fine outside here - though I try not to leave out anything smaller than a gallon size pot. And you guys on the Southside usually beat our temperatures by a degree or 2 :-)

Note - the elephant ears might need a bit more protection. Aren't they just barely rated for our zone? Might put those pots to the center of the cluster for more protection.

Thanks Backyardzoo, I think I'll keep them near the house(sheltered but outside) I will bring the ee's in after they go dormant. I wonder if they go dormant in the tropics?
Dawn

I don't know - might want to do a bit more research on them. I'd do it, but I just don't have the time right now - I'm at work. But let me know what you find out. I've been eyeing them for a while, just didn't know how they'd do in this area. Yours seem to be doing ok in the ground? Also looking for some kind of edible banana that could survive here...ah, well...

I keep all my ee's stay in the ground. They do great! Always have. I have been looking for banana trees that will do good in this area and have found that musa basjoo is the one for us. Look it up in the Plant Files and you'll see it there. I am hoping to get some for postage or maybe trade. If not I'll buy one from a nursery and hopefully it will multiply. They like alot of water too which I have siince we have purchases "swamp land"! I'm at work too :)
Dawn

Greetings from the central part of the state to both of you. I onced dated a guy in Poquoson and have also had some good times in the Chesapeake area too. This was my first year for elephant ears and they have surpassed my expectations. I will try to take a picture tomorrow of my largest one and post it here. I would guess that the largest one is about 4 to 5 foot tall and even wider than that. I plan to overwinter the bulb inside. Just not looking forward to cutting it back in order to find the bulb. ha-ha.

I bought the bulbs at Walmart last spring for what I was thinking was $2.97 or either $4.97. I see some of the mail order nurseries are selling them for $15.97. Too rich for my blood.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello to you fellow Virginians and tell you that you will love the elephant ears. I did read a forum somewhere in the last few days stating that the ee's are invasive and will take over, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, happy gardening.

Ruby

Hi Ruby,
I have grown the standard green ones for years and never bring them in. Mine get pretty big also. I would like to try other types but only see the green ones here. I'll have to check the net. They do multiply.
Dawn