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British Columbia, Canada Ca

Agapanthus. I would be pleased to hear how other members with cold winters carry their agapanthus plants over in their containers. Does one keep the soil moist or dry? Also how do I start to condition them to go out in the spring.
My best plant died and I haven't had success with any blooming since.
Apologies if I can't get to thank you for response as I haven't figured out how to move around here yet.
Clementine




Answers

 

Hi Clementine, Welcome to GoY. Where in BC are you? I'm in Kamloops. I am trying this year to over winter mine in an outside mini greenhouse with a lightbulb on for warmth. I had to insulate the greenhouse with bubble wrap, "fleece" or row cover, and when it got really cold (-18C) I threw an old quilt over top. So far the temp inside has not dropped much below freezing if at all. I gave them a bit of water before they went in and that's all they've had since. I'll let you know in spring if they survived. LOL

24 Jan, 2010

 

Clementine - all you do is type in the 'Answer this question' box! It's as easy as that.

Welcome to GOY - don't worry, you'll soon find your way round. :-)

24 Jan, 2010

 

welcome from me too.
I leave mine outside but I dont know how they will have fared when we had -12 this winter.
they flower better when they are pot bound or congested. They like to be kept dry.

24 Jan, 2010

 

I use the same method as Gilli,but this year,put mine in the mini plastic greenhouse too,instead of the shed.Seeing as we have had the coldest winter for years,maybe I shouldn't have put it in there.I will have to wait and see if it has survived,later in the year.Welcome from me too,I'm sure you will soon get to know how it works on here.We all had to start at some point..and still learning !

24 Jan, 2010

 

I've never tried it but in the old days potatoes were stored over winter in what I think were called a 'hogs' basically straw covered with soil. As your Agapanthus is dormant I don't see why a similar method wouldn't work.

24 Jan, 2010

 

If you're on the coast you will have a much easier time of it but if you are in the interior then it is a challenge to overwinter anything unless you have a garage which is slightly heated. I'm thinking of digging a small "root cellar" for things like this.

24 Jan, 2010

 

"Root cellar" not heard of that term over here but assuming it's obvious what it is then it's a great idea. What do you cover it with? it sounds like hard work lol

24 Jan, 2010

 

Thank you all for your help.
I am on the Arrow Lakes in the interior. We had -18 so far this year and only 19 inches of snowfall instead of a normal 8 feet of snowfall. We have about one inch on ground. I had thought of trying to plant one out but glad I didn't.
I brought the containers in,three older ones which never bloomed (thanks for help on this) and two which I started from seed in 2009. I had them on a shelf in a cool-room in the basement. They got very cold and the leaves looked frozen. All but one I brought upstairs and they are in full leaf growth, albeit, floppy. The one I left in the cool room has also started to grow.
I do have a root cellar in which we keep potatoes and apples. I shall try a couple in there next year. I keep some geraniums in there, dry.
Our garage freezes like a rock!
I love these plants, such a beautiful blue. Probably second on my list next to clematis.
Thanks again. Clemie

24 Jan, 2010

 

Blimey Clemie 8' of snow, you must have a strong roof!

26 Jan, 2010

How do I say thanks?

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