Can I plant Chinese lanterns outside now?

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mmckeon West Lafayette, IN Oct 02, 2007

I just moved to Indiana from California and am totally lost as to how to treat plants for winter time. I just received some new starts of Chinese lanterns (physalis alkekengi) and some hydrangea starts. I am wondering if I should plant them outside and hope that they make it through the winter- or if I should keep them inside until the spring?

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Oct 03, 2007

either way will be good, pot them up but keep them frost free, just keep the soil moist enough so it dont dry out but not too wet that the roots will rot inside the pots, dont keep the potted plants in a warm place though as they will start to grow and the foliage will be too tender to plant out in early spring if you are prone to late frosts, remember they will loose their foliage over the winter either in pots or in the garden, if you plant them out now, before the frost comes, add a mulch around the planting area to protect them from frost, prob better to keep in pots and sheltered indoors if you have the space than trust new starts to damage by unpredictable early frosts if that happens in your zone, the Chinese Lanterns are a very invasive plant as they spread by underground roots that creep for a good few feet away from the parent plant so maybe you could consider planting them into a large pot and burying the pot into your borders as this will help to contain the root runners that can take over your garden within about 2 years, they are lovely plants and are very colourful, but thought you should be warned about the traveling it can do. you can also cut the coloured flowers(lanterns off and take them indoors, hang them upside down in a slightly warm room till they dry out and use them in winter/Christmas dried flower arrangements or spray the little dried lanterns to match you decorations, good luck, hope this is helpful for you,
WeeNel.

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mmckeon West Lafayette, IN Oct 03, 2007

thanks. I think I will try my luck at planting them outside. Thanks for the warning also, I will keep them where I don't mind if they take over.

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