The single or double blooms of Hollyhock plants are a lovely sight during the spring and summer, but this plant is not as visually attractive during the winter. Hollyhocks are a perennial that dies back when the weather turns cold. This plant does not require much winter care, keeping with its low-maintenance nature. Winter care for Hollyhocks consists of pruning back growth in the fall and waiting for spring.
Protecting Hollyhocks in Winter
This plant is an herbaceous perennial; the foliage will die when the weather turns cold. Protecting Hollyhocks during the winter is unnecessary because this plant goes dormant. Roots and seeds in the ground are well-insulated against the winter chill and will sprout in the spring.
Cutting Back Hollyhocks For Winter
Hollyhock growth should be trimmed back in the fall or as the last of the flowers fade. Pruning for winter consists of cutting back the Hollyhock stalk to just a few inches above ground level. Cutting the stalk back keeps your outdoor space tidy and doesn’t harm the plant because all new growth emerges each spring. Removing the growth is beneficial because it reduces the risk of mold or fungus forming, which can be damaging to new plants.
Hollyhock Winter Care in Pots
Hollyhock plants grown in pots should be moved to a protected area during the winter. The space does not need heat, so a basement, garage, or shed are good choices. The ideal spot will keep the container out of the deep freeze of winter, which may damage roots.
Watering Hollyhocks in Winter
It is not necessary to water Hollyhocks during the winter; its growth dies back, and the plant goes dormant. Start to water the plant in the spring, when the weather is consistently warm, and new growth appears.
Growing Hollyhocks Indoors
Some plants can easily transition to living indoors, but Hollyhocks are not one of those plants. The sheer size of some cultivars makes growing Hollyhocks indoors a challenge. Even smaller Hollyhock plants will struggle inside due to limited levels of light. Plants in south-facing windows may get enough light to survive, but plants that do not get enough sunlight will not grow as tall or as strong, and the stalk may fail to stand upright.
Steps To Care For Hollyhocks in Winter
Hollyhocks are low maintenance during the spring and summer and become no maintenance during the winter. This plant is an herbaceous perennial, and all of the growth dies back, so no winter care is necessary. Cut back the stalk in the fall after the last flowers fade, and wait for new growth to appear in the spring.
Step 1 - Remove seeds from spent flowers if you plan to grow more plants the following spring
Step 2 - Cut back the stalk to a few inches above the ground
Step 3 - Apply a layer of mulch to protect the root zone from hard freezes over winter
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Author Alison Cotsonas - Published 08-11-2022 |