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Hello. This was very valuable info indeed. I hate throwing out my faithful summer flowers so I end up with some potted ones in my sunroom. I had a cascading petunia last year- well it looks a bit like one but with even smaller flowers. It started flowering again once the days got longer in about February and gave a lovely display of colour until I was able to plant it back outside in summer. This year I have 2 fuchsias in pots . Still sitting in the cold are my rosemary and a red basil which I had indoors last winter, but they have grown rather big during the summer. Could I leave them in the root cellar I wonder? Also, I collected the rather small bulbs/roots of the bulbous begonias when the shoots got killed by early frost. I want to try and plant them in the spring.
I think you will be able to save the Begonias over the winter.
Here in the Southern US. Zone 7a/b they have been known to survive the winter with a little mulch over them.
I think I'd let the tops freeze down and remove it before potting them in fresh mix rather tightly and keep them on the dry side in a cool room.40 to 50*f. Put them to sleep. as in not providing much light. The paper bag idea sounds right as it will provide a little humidity so they don't dry up intierly. Check on them every three weeks or so. If they look too dry add a little moisture by putting a wet sponge or what ever on top of a piece of plastic cling wrap. If they insist on growing well, you know give them some light. I think you will be able to hibernate them though.
Good luck, Odin
The key to the "hang & hold" method seems to be the succulent nature of Pelargoniums. Although they may not look like it at first glance, these plants have been bred from wild ancestors in southern Africa that are adapted to long periods of drought (some to winter drought, but most to standard Mediterranean-type summer heat and dryness). By hanging them up dry in a cool spot you are taking advantage of their ability to go more or less dormant while retaining the ability to resprout easily from fleshy stems. The lucky thing for us is that they don't seem to mind using these skills in a dark, cold cellar rather than a bright, hot rock grassland.
With this in mind, it would make sense that other herbaceous/semi-woody ornamentals with adaptation to seasonal drought also be able to be kept this way. Immediately to mind come some begonias, impatiens and the less temperate fuchsias.
Hopefully those with both a cellar and a supply of ornamentals will experiment with this and let the rest of us know the results. Meanwhileterday my zonal and ivy geraniums made the annual pilgrimage indoors, still blooming and still in their pots. Kept dry and left in a bright window they'll bloom most of the winter.
Hello odingod and starfarmer. Thanks for your replys. I was fascinated to hear that Pelargoniums originate from drought stricken areas! There is one very striking example of overwintering in African drought conditions: this plant is known as Resurrection plant. It grows in small clumps about 25 cm high. In winter, it shrivels to total insignificance - but put the dry twigs in a glass of water and in less then half a day they look unreckognizable! The leaves rehydrate themselves to look as good as new! It really is a small miracle.
Starfarmer, can you tell me why plants should hang up-side-down? I have dug up my rosemary and basil, split them and put half of each in paperbags to keep in the cold room. But they are just sitting in a bag for now - not hanging and not up-side-down.
I'll keep you informed on the success of overwintering these herbs.
The little begonia bulbs are looking good. I must just remember to check on them once in a while.
