Agapanthus is a lovely perennial endemic to the southern part of Africa. These plants require heat and sun to thrive and are cold hardy in zones 7 – 10. In cooler climates, agapanthus plants will need to be brought indoors over the winter to protect them from hard freezes. Luckily, they perform well in containers and make excellent houseplants.
Protecting Agapanthus in Winter
In places with cold winters, agapanthus plants will need to be brought indoors for protection. They should be potted up and placed in a sunny window. Most species are borderline hardy in zones 6 and 7, so plants left outdoors will need to be heavily mulched and potentially covered during hard freezes. In climates with heavy winter rain, the rhizomes will rot without fast drainage, so site them where the soil drains freely or where they receive overhead protection from the rain.
Cutting Back Agapanthus For Winter
Some species of agapanthus are deciduous. For these plants, the foliage will die back in the fall and can be removed before the plant wakes up in the spring. For evergreen species, any tattered leaves remaining after the winter can be cleaned up when new growth starts in the spring. Do not remove the leaves after blooming as this can deprive the plant of energy needed for next year’s growth.
Agapanthus Winter Care in Pots
In cooler climates, bring your potted agapanthus indoors for the winter and place it in a sunny window. Keep the soil on the dry side and only water once a month so the plant can rest. Potted plants can be placed back outdoors in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. In warmer climates, potted agapanthus can stay outdoors; however, make sure the pot stays on the dry side by placing it under an eave, and consider covering it or bringing it into a garage or basement when temperatures dip very low.
Watering Agapanthus in Winter
For the most part, agapanthus planted in the ground will not need to be watered in the winter. Only water it once or twice if winter precipitation has been very scarce in your area. For containers, only water plants about once a month if they have not been exposed to rainwater.
Growing Agapanthus Indoors
In cooler climates, bring your agapanthus indoors over the winter to protect it from freezing temperatures. Set it in a sunny window and reduce watering to around once a month to let the plant rest. Do not fertilize in the winter. Pots can be brought back outdoors in the spring after the threat of frost has passed.
Steps To Care For Agapanthus in Winter
Agapanthus is easy to care for in the winter if you live in zones 8 – 10. Make sure the soil drains well and the roots don’t sit in standing water, leading to rot. In cooler climates, provide extra winter protection with a thick layer of mulch or a blanket to insulate the roots. Plants may need to be brought indoors if your area experiences extended hard freezes.
Step 1 – Dig up plants in areas with cold winters
Step 2 – Pot them up and bring them indoors
Step 3 – Place them near a sunny window
Step 4 – Water monthly
Step 5 – Bring pots outside after risk of frost
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Author Jessica Mercer - Published 6-28-2022 |