How to protect plants from the cold

With the arrival of cold weather in autumn and throughout the winter, it is essential to protect the plants grown in the garden or on the balcony at home to protect them from frost, rain, and hail.

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How to protect plants from the cold

Particular attention should be paid to the more delicate plants, including succulents, especially in areas where low temperatures persist for rather prolonged periods of time.

In general, good protection for plants from the cold involves a distinction between three categories:

Rustic plants: like conifers and some varieties of perennials, they are able to tolerate low temperatures without too many problems.
Tropical and subtropical plants: like bougainvillea or fruit plants such as bananas, they are more sensitive to the cold and require protection.
Potted plantsPotted houseplants and garden plants are particularly vulnerable because their roots are more exposed to frost.

How to move plants indoors

To begin with, the simplest solution is to move plants into the house during particularly hot days cold: place them in a sunny location, possibly near windows, so as to allow the plants to benefit from the sunlight.

Avoid placing plants near heat sources including fireplaces, radiators or stoves as they are very sensitive to dry air.

Wood, straw and dry leaves

If you don't have the possibility to bring the plants inside, keep them in the garden or on the balcony but protect them by sprinkling the external roots with small pieces of wood, straw or dry leaves. For greater coverage of the plants, also wrap the pot with a plastic bag. jute. Alternatively, wrap the jar with newspaper sheets.

Transparent sheet

If they are hardy plants, protect them from the cold by covering them with a transparent sheet able to also let the sun's rays pass through. Also remember to keep some openings to encourage air exchange and avoid the formation of mold.

Mulch

To protect the soil, opt instead for mulching that is, a covering made using materials of natural origin such as hay, pruning residues or dry leaves.

Ridging

Unlike mulching, the earthing up It serves to create a small mound of soil at the base of the plant's stem, to protect it, even from low temperatures. The height of the mound varies from 10 to 20 centimeters, depending on the height of the plant you are protecting. Use loose, loose, and well-draining material to avoid stagnation of water and plan to eliminate earthing up with the arrival of spring.

Watering in the cold

As it regards instead le watering, avoid stagnant water in saucers which could freeze the plant.

How to protect plants on the balcony

There are plants that not only can live outdoors, but also flower during the colder months. An example? violeThe same goes for perennial varieties, primroses, and heather. In all other cases, you must choose one of the most suitable solutions to avoid losing your plants.

Finally, special attention should be paid to the pots containing the plants: they should be well protected to protect the roots. In particular, you should:

Packing the vases: wrap them with insulating materials such as polystyrene, jute fabrics or thermal blankets, which retain heat and protect the roots from the cold.
Place the pots against a wall: near a wall of the house or garage can protect them from the freezing wind and maintain a more stable temperature.
Lift the pots from the ground: use plastic or wooden supports to raise the pots off the ground and prevent cold air from rising from the base.
Carry the pots indoors, in the house or in a garage as long as it is not too humid.
Use thermal blankets Around potted plants: these can be made of mesh or plastic. The important thing is that there is good ventilation and air circulation.

How to protect plants from the cold