Does anyone have advice for me on overwintering Iachroma in my area?
I bought 2 this summer; 1 survived, in a pot. When the temps started dipping into the 30s at night here, I cut it back like my Brugs and brought it inside, in a dark unheated closet (no GH or basement). I couldn't find much on care for these things, so I thought that might work.
Well, the little puppy just took off in the dark closet! So I finally brought it back out in the sun where it's just going to town. Trouble is, I have cats that like to chew on my plants, and I've never had an "inside" green thumb in my life.
I'm wondering if I put it somewhere outside with protection/insulation all around the pot and a string of lights over it, if it would make it thru the winter out there?
Or does anyone have them in the ground in 7b or north?
-Cindy
Overwintering Iachroma in 7b?
Gosh.. that's a good question! I can't help you much.. I can tell you that mine froze to the ground and even the 2 pots that were on the porch froze, they all 3 came back. I swore they were gonners.. We haven't had cold like last year in 44 years.. there were several days in a row in the teens..
If that's any help at all..
ZZ it's help to me. I only have a few but want to add to my colection. As always, greenhouse space is at a premium. lol
Yes, it's help to me, too. Thank you! :))
Wow, I can't believe it got that cold in Lodi!!!
Cindy which Iochroma do you have? I've had better success in the cold with I. fucshoides. Do you have a garage? How about a seldom-used room that you keep cooler?
I have the Iochroma cyanea 'Royal Blue'. I don't have a garage and the closet it was in is the coldest place in the house. Even in the dark, it was growing quite a bit - I was so surprised!
I put it on my deck table and I'm just going to baby it, bringing it in when it gets too cold at night.
Thanks!! :))
I'm in Zone 7A..here in NYC...the same zone as my mother in North Alabama.. strange but true..
I've the Royal Blue also...pot grown on the roof.. and I just bring mine inside..where it has continued to bloom.. next to the dinning table... [under a 400 watt MH light..and near a window] it got knocked back on comming inside...but has releafed and the flowers have started back...I can't think of a day in the last 6 months it wasn't with at least a few blooms on it..such a trooper.. Gordon
Wow! My plant is really surprising me, but no blooms yet. I had left it in its original small container when I thought it was going to overwinter in my closet, but since it refuses to do that, I repotted it on Sat and I swear it's grown another 2-3" since, in 2 days. It would be so cool if I got some blooms this winter!
Sorry to sound dumb, but what's a "MH" light?
MH = Metal Halide HPS = High PressureSodium
The most common BIG plant lighting comes in 250 -- 400-- 600---or 1000 watts...
They are either
Metal Halide...which are the blueish looking street lights you see on roadways.. the best of these have to a slight degree.. some of the reds introduced as well ...
HPS are the other type often found... it is the peach colored street lights .. this color promotes flowering.. but it isn't as good as the MH for vegative growth..
I run 3 MH lights of 400 watts each.. ...The one over the iaochromasrs [ and others ] is stationary... the other two run on a track ...propelled by a motor that sends them down the 6 ' or 9 ' track... and reverses and goes the other way...this keeps the lower branches growing..
Gordon
Not sure which Iachorma I have but it has bloomed and thrived in the house all winter long in southwestern Montana. The lady who has a nursery and sold it to me said that hers had died in her house the winter before because of overwatering so i was very stingy and it is amazing.
Would like to be able to propogate this plant and have tried several times and methods and no success whatsoever. Any help appreciated.
Pat Bleecker
Iochromas - got to love them. Can't get a buy a better beatiful bloomer! (say that three times fast...)
The only thing missing with them is the scent.
Iochroma cyanea is listed as being hardy with protection in 7b. For other iochromas you would have to look up their individual plant hardiness.