Kniphofia Growing and Overwintering

I have two Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker) growing in ground. They are hardy to Zone 5 and I live in Zone 3. These plants have to be lifted for winter storage in my area.

[@cheryljohnstone7810]

I'm glad I found this, I'm in zone 3, Manitoba. I bought one this year and am IN LOVE.

[@anitablanco7309]

Thanks for sharing! I love Kniphofia. I live in Indiana. I have three plants, and last year they didn't die over the winter. I'm afraid they might not come back next year. I had in the past, but they died the next year, and found out they needed mulch in winter.

[@debrabuzdor5270]

I grew one this year for the first time and got one bloom! It was in a 12" pot so I brought it in and dug it up, but the roots were so numerous it felt better to put it back into some new, dryer potting soil. I cut it down and covered with pine shavings and a cardboard to prevent light...this is what I do for my geraniums. They can go dry, but I'm a little nervous about letting these guys go dry...will probably check periodically and allow a little bit of damp, watering a little if nec. Thanks much for your video, I hope you follow up next spring with what did or did not work. I love it so much I will def buy new if this doesn't work.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

This video was several years old. It did not survive. I’m not sure if it would have. I moved it and watered it in early spring, then we were hit with a real cold week.

[@williamcolemansgardenandal9017]

Red hot poker are hardy to half hardy and I understand your concerns, but maybe try dividing and leaving a couple out as an experiment. I'm more of a flower man than a veg grower, and can assure you that even in your climate winter drought will be more of a threat than temperature. They naturally thrive in the mountains of South Africa and aren't afraid of the cold. Beautiful flowers and a wonderful hummingbird attracter.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I have divided and planted some kniphofia out in the past to experiment with overwintering. They did not make it. I like to try to push the limits on zones. Often I feel plant hardiness isn’t tested below zone 4. Kniphofia did not approve of our very cold winters - even with good snow cover in a sheltered spot. I agree that leaving plants to go into winter dry is a deadly thing to do. Thanks for your comment.

[@WesleyAPEX]

I’ve heard that they’re hardy to -20F. Sucks to live anywhere that gets that cold. I’m in zone 8. I can grow just about everything here. Lots of palms.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

It can suck sometimes, but extreme heat has its issues too. We got down to -40 over much of February this year. It isn’t normal to stay that cold for weeks on end but we saw it this year. The beginning of the winter was mild (for us) and I had the kniphofia in pots in an insulated out building. When I took them out this spring they were mush. Thanks for watching.

[@segagenesis1989]

@@PrairiePlantgirl I'm in Toronto, zone 6. My kniphofias are in the ground and have survived several winters. If you are in zone 3, unless you can find a location in your home (garage) where you can achieve a maximum low temperature of -28C, I would forgo trying to grow this plant.

[@Mrsnufleupagus]

Beautiful flower, I don't think I have seen one of those before. Hope they store well for you:)

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Thanks. I’ve stored these plants before in the pots they were growing in. They are just very bulky to store. Last year I wound up with fungus gnats in them - not fun. I’m going to try a different spot with them and see how they do.

[@onicax]

I live in Italy. Mines are always in the ground outside even with snow. It's sane and big

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

How cold does your climate get in winter? I purchased a new kniphofia as this one did not survive. We get to -35C.

[@mariecurrie7657]

You made that look easy 😎. I like the idea of lining the pot with fabric. My instinct would be to trim them as you've done in the past, especially if they stay green when stored. The air circulation will be better while they're in dormancy. If they go brown over winter then I'd leave them be (so they can re-energise their roots) and trim them before replanting in the Spring.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

That’s the thing they do brown off a bit. I think it is from lack of water and light as I give them only a minute amount every few months. I still have them outside as we haven’t hit zone 5 (their coldest zone) temps yet. I’m thinking the longer I leave them out the more they will go dormant naturally. ??? Thanks for your thoughts.

[@cheryljohnstone7810]

How did you store it over the winter years before it was in the ground

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

This method did not work. As I believe I said in the video it was an experiment. If I remember correctly I had moved the plant to an unheated shed in early spring and then we had a severe winter storm come through and it froze. I'm not sure if it would have survived if that hadn't happened. I believe I only had the plant for that year. I have purchased another one this year and I am going to try heavily mulching it and overwintering it outside. They are a beautiful plant.

[@BackyardGardening]

Thanks for information..have a great weekend 🌷

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Thank you. Have you grown Kniphofia?

[@BackyardGardening]

@@PrairiePlantgirl actually no but I saw them

[@Melissa54321]

It is such a cool flower. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Thanks for stopping by. The foliage isn’t much and I generally want plants that can get by on more than just flowers, but this flower really intrigues me. The pollinators seem to really like it too.

[@thecount8254]

I removed the seeds from one poker last year, now I have over 300 of them growing in pots , I live in South Wales UK it doesn't get hot here yet the pokers thrive, 6 feet tall and make a fantastic impact in the garden, next year I'm planting some wild in the surrounding area and maybe do some gorilla gardening, theoretically of course for legal purposes

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I love kniphofia. It isn’t hardy here and it is a big plant to store. Mine didn’t make it this year. I have a video I need to put together for that. I’m glad you’ve had great success. I never thought to grab seeds from it, though I don’t think they were ripe before frost hit. Thanks for your comment.

[@Anonymous78666]

My seeds didnt sprout. How long does it take for seeds to sprout. Its been a week and no sprout

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

Impressive! These are gorgeous plants. Greetings from Zone 8.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Thank you. We will find out how hardy they are. I had them stored in an insulated, unheated shed and we had a very cold February with temperatures staying between -30 to -40C most of the month. I’m eager to see if they survived that.

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

I sure hope that they will make it. All the best! 🌼🌱

[@JENITABFWELLWISHESGROCERYHAULS]

Hello, Plantgirl. Great garden share.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Thank you. Take care.

[@GardenObsessions]

Love those blooms such a beautiful plant! Wow they rooted in pretty good very healthy roots. Not sure to cut back I cut my ornamental grass for winter to store away but that’s a different plant. I would love to grow this really lovely. Great video have wonderful weekend.💚💚💚💚💚💚

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Thank you. It sounds like the leaves will winter over if I leave them so I think I’ll try that and see how they do.

[@jeffreyeden6700]

Does it go dormant in the winter or do you grow these in the house during this time?

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I was trying to overwinter it dormant in a cool indoor location. This one did not survive being dug up and overwintered. I moved it in late March to an unheated, insulated shed and then we got a cold snap around -30C. I had one (the same one?) the year before growing in a pot. It overwintered in its pot in the cool (but heated) indoor location. Since this video I’ve heard that some are surviving outdoors in zone 3. I wanted to purchase another and try that, but I wasn’t able to locate one locally. They are beautiful and I will try again.

[@jeffreyeden6700]

Prairie Plantgirl I found 2 at rona. I will experiment it as a house plant during winter. My last one died as I tried to keep it as a bulb

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I’d love to hear how that works out.

[@nancyhouse280]

I just cut the spent flowers and then new ones pop out

[@JermaineGertse]

I don't HV to do any of that stuff ... It's a native here in South Africa.... Grows wild ... Haha

[@soumenroychowdhuryphotogra864]

Zone 11 possible?

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I’m in zone 3. Maybe someone in zone 11 will chime in with info for you.

[@brittanygarrison8030]

I'm zone 7 Ive never ever had any problems.

[@debwall68]

Do you dead head your plant? If so, how do you do it? Thanks

[@cheryljohnstone7810]

@@debwall68 cut the stalks down