Advice for winter plant care

Just as a chilly wind can cause a person to catch a cold, severe cold torments plants and can even cause them to freeze to death. For this reason, protecting plants in gardens, courtyards, and pots during the cold winter is a difficult task. In particular, unlike garden plants that maintain temperature while being surrounded by abundant soil, protecting those planted in pots is not easy. However, one cannot simply lose the flowers and trees they have cherished and nurtured.

Here is what experts recommend for caring for potted plants throughout the winter.

Professor Hannah Mathers, a landscape scholar at Ohio State University, says that extra attention should be paid to pots containing less mature plants. Professor Mathers pointed out that every type of pot is affected by the ambient temperature. Unlike mature roots that can withstand the cold, immature young roots are easily damaged and therefore require more careful attention, Mathers advised.

Professor Mathers introduced three tips for protecting roots from the cold.

1. Take care during periods of freezing and thawing. Although plants can withstand winter cold, sudden temperature changes can damage their roots. When the first freeze arrives or the cold begins to ease, wrap the pots thoroughly with protective material.

2. Use pots that are as large as possible. Larger pots help plants withstand harsh conditions. They also hold more soil than smaller pots, providing better winter protection for the roots hidden below the surface.

3. Choose the pot material carefully. Ceramic pots are breathable but easily damaged by impacts. In comparison, wooden pots are sturdy but easily weakened by the surrounding environment. Concrete pots are durable but too heavy, making it difficult to move them in response to climate changes. Meanwhile, plastic pots should be handled with care as they can easily crack. Having the sense to choose a pot that fits your situation will better protect your plants.

Meanwhile, the landscaping website Grow Foliage announced five methods for protecting potted plants in winter.

1. When bringing pots indoors during winter, place them in a location with adequate sunlight. In landscaping, sunlight is always the most important factor. Additionally, it is good to provide a fence or a cage to protect the pots from pets.

2. If possible, create a mini greenhouse to group the pots together. Grouping several plants in one place makes temperature management easier.

3. Burying pots in the ground during winter is also one method. Geothermal heat maintains the temperature of plants more effectively than pots alone.

4. Wrap plants using straw, cloth, or other organic materials. Organic materials are advantageous for both ventilation and temperature management.