Plant questions

Real questions from home gardeners, the kind people post with a worried photo, answered by GrowPls: what's likely going on, what to do about it, and when to worry.

Showing questions tagged #overwintering · show all

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  tropical canna or banana-type plant

  How can I overwinter the tropical “palm” in my big patio pots?

  That center “palm” can be saved, but it’s a tropical (not frost‑hardy), so you’ll need to lift it from the mixed pot before frost and keep it inside in bright light with much less water. The flowering trailers around it are usually treated as annuals and are hard to carry over.

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  fern (likely Boston fern)

  How do I overwinter hanging ferns in a bright sunroom?

  That sunroom spot should work well if the ferns get bright but not harsh direct sun and the air isn’t too hot or dry. Indoors, water whenever the top of the soil just starts to feel dry, which is often about once a week but depends on your room’s temperature and humidity.

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  Boston fern

  What can I do with large porch ferns before winter if I lack indoor space?

  Large porch ferns that can’t be overwintered indoors can be divided into smaller pieces, shared with others, or treated as annuals and composted after frost. To donate or give them away, take them out of the heavy pots, shake off extra soil, and send them in lighter plastic bags or smaller containers.

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