Winter Protection for Plants - Which Plants Need Protection & How/When to Protect Them | 117

[@Collington23]

Here in central Florida you can occasionally see poinsettias and amaryllis growing as perennials in garden beds. Certain varieties grow very well in the ground here yet you still always see them sold as annuals for the holidays. What’s funny are all the 30 foot tall Norfolk Island pines in people’s yards that came from people planting little Norfolk Christmas trees.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Haha, yes! We see a lot of Norfolk Island Pines sold in stores as holiday decorations here. Though ours won't survive in winter so either a longtime house plant (like mine 😄) or a seasonal annual for those in cooler climates ☺

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Love the explanation of the distinction between horticulture and botany, Stacey. Also can we mail sweatered amaryllis to Rick care of the studio address? 😉

[@pwcolorchoice]

🤣🤣🤣

[@norakins3856]

Once again, your episode topic is right on time! (How do you always know?) Thanks for the good information and dispelling a lot of the noise. Your solid advice will help keep me from fussing over my plants during their first winter. Hoping for the best! 🤞

[@pwcolorchoice]

So glad that you found this episode helpful! It can be a confusing time of year - deciding which plants to move inside and which to keep outside ☺ ❄

[@petegdula4749]

I've been doing some things wrong for so long down here in Pennsylvania! Thanks for another great show.

[@pwcolorchoice]

We've all been in that boat, friend! Learning is a part of gardening ☺ Thank you for watching!

[@elainewashington3004]

I used frost cloth over my rhododendrons last year and for the first time in many years they were in full flower this spring. Beautiful! They really do need some protection here in southern Ontario!

[@pwcolorchoice]

That's fantastic! It certainly gets cold where you are ❄

[@marvelhammer4992]

For many years, I would send my mom an Amaryllis bulb for the holidays that she would pot up and thoroughly enjoy. After she had some health issues that required her to move to a nursing facility, I shifted over to a waxed bulb that didn't require water and as much space in her small shared room. Both my mom and her roommate enjoyed watching the waxed bulb grow and eventually blossom beautifully. Neither the staff or the pair needed to do anything but keep it in their south window. And I could keep up with our loving tradition!

[@patty8193]

That’s exactly what I do too! And I only paid $15, and was successful at saving the bulb after it was done blooming (and late spring), I put it in the ground and I have another amaryllis for my collection. I bought a fresh waxed bulb again this year and it is looking great in my mom’s window at the nursing home. No watering or care required!

[@youbetcha108]

@@patty8193you can get them for very little cost after the holidays.

[@pwcolorchoice]

That's so lovely! What an enjoyable tradition! ❤

[@anthonyfrisk449]

Minneapolis recently changed from zone 4b, to 5a. I thought, why not experiment by planting a zone 5 plant. I chose two plants, Pink and Blue chiffon Rose of Sharon. I made sure to give them a nice soak before the ground froze, and I wrapped the plants in frost cloth. Fingers crossed!

[@pwcolorchoice]

You'll have to update us on how they do! 😄

[@kaystinebrink1220]

Love your program!!! Keep up the good work. Is it too late to use Wilt Stop on boxwoods? Zone 5a Omaha, NE.

[@rickvuyst]

Not too late. Preferably however to spray when temps are above freezing for good coverage

[@youbetcha108]

I have purchased waxed amaryllis bulbs for the last 6 years. The first time was from the Monticello catalogue. I thought I will give it a try. These are worth the money. You can get them anywhere. Even at drug stores. Beautiful flowers and the number depends on the bulb width. After it flowers you can easily peel the wax and plant them outside in spring. They will give you nice foliage. This winter I took the bulbs into the garage and will plant them in spring. This is a great item for anyone. No water no pot no dirt. Only light. They give you flowers and fabulous ones. Get them while they last. They are terrific !!!put the waxed bulb on a candle holder base or plate as wax can stain surfaces which is why good nurseries put them on a base. The screwed in metal base does not hurt them either. At the end of the holidays you can buy them very cheaply and keep the joy coming. Waxed bulbs are the best way to enjoy this plant hassle free! Get the red ones for Valentine’s Day ! The white ones for winter. No need for dirt or soil. Also they sell them unwaxed if you are a purist. That works too. I got both types.

[@pwcolorchoice]

They are a nice way to enjoy nature inside (and outside if you choose to plant them afterward) 😄

[@merriescottagegarden8607]

Need this episode !! ❄️🌲

[@pwcolorchoice]

🤗❤

[@heatherderganc5984]

Such interesting information about Amaryllis! Thank you for annnother timely and entertaining show!

[@pwcolorchoice]

Thank you, thank you! 🤗❤

[@dustyflats3832]

Ugh! That frost cracked tree was about the same size as my Autumn blaze maple when it cracked. I forgot to cover the trunk! By spring it was in bad shape and no saving it as it tipped over by summer.😭 The heavy bark had not developed yet and the crazy temp swings was too much. I learned burlap draped over boxwoods and Alberta Spruce prevents the burn. Great advice about Christmas lights. Just got the last bulbs dug in before single digits and now will be mulching and burlapping. Z5, WI. I think our winter has returned after two years of extreme heat. Just when I was getting use to some flowers overwintering in the garden.

[@pwcolorchoice]

I'm sorry to hear about your maple! Good timing with getting your bulbs in before the really low temperatures, we're starting to get our first snowfall here in West Michigan 🌨❄

[@MourningDove-bn4dk]

Fun fact: Most Christmas cactus you see in garden centers are actually Thanksgiving cactus. Christmas cactus do not have "needle" like edges on them.

[@nallen1833]

I planted some clearance boxwoods this fall - mulched them well and fingers crossed they make it. I think I need to go pick up a waxed Amaryllis bulb - my kind of houseplant when doesn’t need water😊

[@josweatt898]

Loved your Limerick Rick! I knew you were going to say Amaryllis with all the gimmicky marketing I see. I did cave this year and bought 3 waxed bulbs hahaha. I thought great gift for those who don’t want to do a thing and get flowers. Hope your Thanksgiving was great and thanks again for all the info.( Did purchase a slew of boxwoods on clearance: planted in wind protected loamy raised bed close together in hopes of planting out in spring.)

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yes, they are great for those who don't want to have to do much at all and still get to enjoy flowers ☺ We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[@angelakading8497]

I have a Tri color Beech about 12 years old that doesn’t grow. It leafs out fine each year but stays about 7 ft It’s root flare is exposed

[@pwcolorchoice]

Tri color beech are relatively slow growing trees, so that's not necessarily surprising. Do you find that the foliage burns really badly in the summer and perhaps that's why it's not growing well? If you'd like more suggestions, visit our website and send us a message with your location as that would impact our advice and possible solutions. www.provenwinnerscolorchoice.com/contact-us/

[@paulotto2475]

Amaryllis really are spring bloomers, and only flower for Christmas because they have been grown in the southern hemisphere, and have been held back to force quickly for Christmas. Also, they re flower best when they are grown in a heavier , more fertile soil. Unfortunately the boxed bulbs usually have light peat like soils, which hold very little fertility, and so the Amaryllis isn’t fed well enough to rebloom. So sad.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Yes, they don't reach their full potential in the wax or smaller garden center pots. That's why putting them outside after the holidays can be a great idea if possible!

[@kimberly6123]

I am a plant lover who would be totally taken in by a bulb with a sweater on it. 🤣

[@dustyflats3832]

😂😂 and a hat. I went to plant more bulbs and discovered a pile I forgot to plant-the poor things were out in the cold for several days.

[@pwcolorchoice]

@@dustyflats3832 The little hats are so funny 😆

[@pwcolorchoice]

😂❤ They can be pretty cute, haha!

[@lilyw.1788]

In zone 5b6a and we went through 2 nights of 25 degrees and I forgot to throw a frost cloth over my big leaf hydrangeas. Are the new buds damaged already or can I still put over some frost cloth ?

[@pwcolorchoice]

No, it's definitely not too late. They can easily take some cold - quite a bit, in fact - and 25°F is nowhere near the level it would damage the buds. ☺

[@emkn1479]

The only thing I need protection from is the deer! In winter, all bets are off. If they don’t eat it, the bucks destroy it with their antlers. We have wire and bamboo fencing everywhere right now 🙄

[@dustyflats3832]

Oh I so know what you have as my yard is the same! We are on a deer run and the rabbits 🙄. Difficult to garden and view. If we didn’t fence we would have nothing as no plant is safe.

[@pwcolorchoice]

Ugh, they can be such pests - particularly in the colder months when their food is more scarce!

[@TiffanyCohen-b2l]

I really appreciate your efforts! I need some advice: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). Could you explain how to move them to Binance?

[@rogerboeve4658]

Monty Don stomps

[@Flower_hoarder]

🪴

[@pwcolorchoice]

❤❤