Winter Care for Gunnera Manicata / Cryptica Plants

In today's video I talk about winter care and the easy overwintering method for Gunnera manicata / cryptica - the 'Giant Brazilian Rhubarb'! With giant leaves, this huge plant is one of my absolute favourites and is a must have exotic plant in my UK tropical style jungle garden. As we enter mid-November, it's time to cut it back here and I talk through my steps to protect this beast of a plant from hard frosts and prolonged winter freezes. I also talk about Gunnera spring care tips, how to protect from late frosts and also how I'd recommend overwintering or winterizing young and potted plants. If you want to know more about winter care and overwintering other tropical style, exotic and jungle garden plants then check out my overwintering playlist and as always, feel free to leave a comment if you want any more info or to share your experiences.
0:00 Intro
0:05 Winter care for Gunnera manicata / cryptica plants
1:26 GIANT leaves on my exotic Gunnera manicata tropical garden plants
3:17 Step 1 - Cut off the huge leaves
7:01 Step 2 - Shorten stems and cover Gunnera crowns with leaves
9:42 Step 3 - Weigh leaves down with Gunnera stems for winter protection
11:39 Early spring frost protection for new Gunnera manicata growth
12:20 Winter care & frost protection for young potted Gunnera plants
If you've enjoyed my content and would like to say thanks for the price of a coffee then please head over to my Ko-fi, any kind donations would be appreciated and put towards creating more exciting content: ko-fi.com/georgesjunglegarden​​
Thanks,
George

[@StuartofShrewsbury]

Love the "fish-eye" lens shots George!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks! Just trying to add a bit more variety to things. Expect to see it overused in my garden progress vids in spring!

[@shineamenmbs3107]

So, you silenced the monster for a while... But, the monster is still alive and may take vengeance next year! And the winner is... We'll see! Take care George.💚

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes Bernard, I fully expect an even bigger monster looming out of the ground and taking over the space yet again in spring! You are right though, we will see! Thanks and all the best to you too.

[@cindyrichards9471]

Thank you George.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Cindy, I'm pleased it was informative.

[@milkweeddreams8828]

Ha, you look like a wee boy wandering around in those massive leaves having the time of your life...very cool and impressive...!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, you've got to have fun haven't you and they certainly are cool plant monsters! If you haven't seen Trebah garden down in Cornwall, check it out!

[@missdimples1982]

Amazing, they look even bigger once chopped 😮

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

They definitely do, I didn’t realise quite how big they were until it came to seeing them on the ground and it’s hard to show the size of plants in videos!

[@beslandczyk]

WOOOOOW.....OMG 😱😱❤❤🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, beasties aren't they!

[@barry6717]

Great production in this one George/ Lucas👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks, I don't know about that, but trying my best to jazz up what is basically just me chopping down leaves and building amateurish green pyramids!

[@tonyworrall7379]

I used to enjoy taking the Gunnera leaves down on our huge plant. We call our Robin...Burt Ward!!!!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Fantastic Tony, not just me then! I won't show my age and reveal I had to Google him, great name choice! I am a fan of the more recent Batman films but they seem to have sidelined Robin these days don't they!?

[@tonyworrall7379]

You are right George. I have to say my favourite character was The Penguin! Burgess Meredith played him brilliantly....not sure we will see Penguin's in our gardens any time soon...despite global warming!!!😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, hopefully no penguins any time soon but who knows! I quite liked The Penguin in the Gotham series but it got a little too crazy at one point so I stopped watching!

[@fraserdavidson2366]

Loved this video George. As always very informative. Loved the music and editing in this video.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! I'm pleased you enjoyed it, I try to do the best I can with the time I have!

[@RimaFair]

Ah, George, what a beautiful family of those gorgeous 'immigrants' 😊 I can't watch it without tears... 😢 I bought one a few years ago and, while moving houses, left it with my daughter - in a large pot... She didn't water it and it ... DIED!!! Since then, they have got up in price, and there no way I can afford it now... 😢😢😢

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much and I'm very sorry to hear about yours. It's maybe worth keeping your eye on Ebay or looking at places that sell aquatic plants, they can be had for good prices but the battle is getting a genuine manicata / cryptica and not a tinctoria unfortunately. I hope you're able to get another one very soon!

[@RimaFair]

@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you for your good advice, George. Will follow it and keep an eye in garden centres...

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No problem and good luck!

[@mrchuffy6535]

I think I just saw one of your big gunnera leaves blow past my house George! Hope its all okay today! excellent video thank you

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks, you just might have done! It could have been a trampoline though?!

[@user-xx8bj3so1e]

Красавец !!!!!!слов нема ...

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks!

[@stevebacon1026]

Blimey george , yours is a lot bigger than mine ! 😂. When i hibernate my gunnies i always put a bit of fleece over them before i make the teepee. Its still very mild down here in kent , and i havent wrapped anything up yet . Great vid as usual george, all best , regards Steve.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hahaha yes, the biggest it's been this year and I can't take the credit, mostly down to the rain! Good idea on the fleece, that's worth doing. Everything is still mild here too, so no imminent rush but I'm busy all this weekend (Harriet's 1st birthday) so spreading my preparations out and trying to do a few vids alongside. A more gradual transition into winter than last year would be appreciated! All the best to you too Steve!

[@lukkens]

Your Gunnera is looking amazing! I covered mine last week. Can't wait for spring and see how much bigger it will get 🤩

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, yes, it's been a mega year for it with the wetter summer. I hope yours grows really well for you!

[@heatherfindler6950]

Another great video, George. I covered mine over a few weeks ago. I can't wait to see how big mine get next year!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Heather, I hope they really grow well for you and get huge in no time!

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

Another fantastic video George! I haven’t got a Gunnera yet but it is definitely on my list for next year! Thanks for another informative and well put together video. Blessings xxx

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Samantha and I'm pleased you enjoyed it! They're one of my favourite plants, not beautiful necessarily but cool and a little bit crazy! Thanks and all the best to you too x

[@DanH282]

I got sold a Gunnera as a 'Manicata' at a local graden centre (proper picture label and everything) but it was quite obvious once it got going that it was a Tinctoria. I was quite annoyed but to be honest my garden isnt that big so a smaller Tinc probably better. Amazing how much of the structure of that part of the garden just disappears when you cut the leaves down!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Ahhh, it's frustrating isn't it - unfortunately a big issue in the trade higher up. As you say though, tinctoria will let you get a similar look on a slightly smaller scale plus they're possibly more resilient. A well grown and proportioned tinctoria would look better than a hacked back cryptica / manicata! Yes, it definitely changes the space doesn't it, you can see why I was questioning how much of it I'm going to change in winter just to give the room for those beauty leaves from late spring through to late autumn.

[@markchitty6505]

Great vid George, something I might well try planting next year... just want to see how my first winter goes with this Tropical Garden :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Mark and it would make a great addition I'm sure. Nice one, good luck with it all, you'll be just fine and learn loads I'm sure!

[@markchitty6505]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Well I have watched nearly all your vids pretty much now... All the older ones included... There is so much infromation, it is great for people like me.. you have a natural talent George, and i look forward to the next.. :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks you, that really is kind of you to say! I'd like to think they're improving over time inn terms of my confidence and the style but I really tried to prioritise the most informative ones when I started, to help as many people as possible. Always good to hear they have and I appreciate your support! All the best and there's a chat about cannas coming out tomorrow.

[@markchitty6505]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden When someone can get across information, with humour, and keep people watching till the end.. After watching others, that are as much fun as having your tooth pulled out... Think you have cracked it mate.. you know your stuff .. simple ..

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I really appreciate it and that's the balance that I want to aim for! I keep trying my best, thanks a lot for watching and your support!

[@wesleyhackney]

Those are just so cool. I missed planting a couple last spring got to do it next spring. Hood I can get them to thrive here in NW Florida. So it looks like yours were under a large tree getting lots of shade. How much sun or shade should they get? Would appreciate your input

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

They are indeed and I hope they'd grow well for you! Mine get a fair bit of shade but I've seen them growing in full sun but in quite damp areas or close to water too. The more sun they get, the more water they'll need and during really hot and dry spells it's natural for the leaves to droop and brown as mine did last year. Personally I'd give yours a bit of shade, I'm not entirely sure how they'd grow with your humidity but worth a go for sure!

[@user-nu1hz1mt7s]

George would you do a Trachycarpus winter vid PLEASE buddy as i have 1 in a 10 ltr pot and i planted a 5ltr in to the ground SO its my 1st winter with my traccys ..i have brought the 10ltr in doors and put it in a spare room on a wardrobe would that be ok ?? do i water it or just leave it be till spring ?? ps this video was brill loved the spin you put on it ,.. take care mate

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, it's something I'll definitely consider, thanks for the idea. In all honesty though, you'll probably be just fine with them outside depending on where you live. The one in the ground should be just fine left alone in all but really severe winter weather and I'd definitely leave the other outside but close to your house or somewhere sheltered / protected and don't let it dry out. Only move it into a shed / garage etc. if there's a prolonged freeze. Fortunei are really tough plants and may only need a bit of help during severe freezes but I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm pleased you enjoyed this vid, thanks as always for the support and all the best to you too!

[@user-nu1hz1mt7s]

thanx george @@GeorgesJungleGarden

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No problem!

[@3D_Printing]

Gunnera manicata or Gunnera tinctoria. to be Banded in the UK

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, thanks for the heads up, a few people also sent me the info about the recent Gunnera x cryptica ban and I've just uploaded a vid on the subject.

[@mexi7290]

Goerge random question on the Gunnera...If you're short of space but want to squeeze one in, can you just cut off the lower leaves on the Gunnera, and leave the leaves that are growing more upwards ...?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and apologies for my delayed reply. I suppose you technically could do but in all honesty, I personally don't really like using plants which you'd have to continually maintain and set back just to fit a space. It's tricky with Gunnera as the leaves grow differently every year and often drop down more during sunny or dry spells in summer or as they mature so you may end up removing more than you'd like. If it's just a case of removing the odd one or two though then I guess that would be fine. If you check out my video at Simon Mabury's small jungle garden you'll see that growing them in a packed border can actually help them grow upwards and more towards the light too.

[@mexi7290]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks George…please create a membership for your KZbin channel. Would make me feel better about asking you loads of questions 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thanks - don't worry, I try to help everyone where I can. I was actually thinking about memberships as a way of letting people support the channel and also helping me get a small amount of money to put towards improving my videos every month. What kind of things would you expect to see for a membership and what amounts or levels do you think would work best if you don't mind me asking? I want to make my videos available for everyone but in my mind having an affordable level than gives all the custom icons etc and priority question answering potentially along with a higher level for superfans who really love my vids and can afford to support me would be reasonable (potentially with a membership area and input on vids)?

[@DJSupaflyguy]

👌👌👌👌Top video as always 🫡 If possible when you come, or if you come to split them is there any chance I cd be 1st in line to buy 1 ? 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! I won't promise anything as I have already got a couple lined up for people but I might be having a bit of a plant sale in spring so hopefully there's more ready to remove and root by then...

[@DJSupaflyguy]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks 🙏 🤞😂