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Hebe Protection over Winter
smigger55
Posts: 34
Hi all... I've got 2 lovely Hebe (Jewel in the Nile) - I'm going to bubble wrap the pots and store in a sheltered area outside. How much light do they need? As I was going to make a makeshift canopy to protect from bad weather etc Or shall I just leave up against house wall with pots bubble wrapped and the actual plant ???? in the open air.. thank you
Last edited: 03 October 2017 20:47:18
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Most Hebes are quite hardy in much of the UK. Some are frost hardy, meaning they will withstand some frost but not for long periods. If you are concerned, I think you should stand them near a warm wall, preferably a southerly aspect and put them into a larger pot.
Surround your pot with bubble-wrap and sink it into the larger pot with drainage holes. Then I usually crush up left over polystyrene foam from packaging, and push it around the sides of the pots to fill up any gaps. They are also great for using as a cover for drainage holes. Your plant should be fine. If you need extra protection on the top, just loosely drape fleece when it is extra cold, but during the day time, it will probably be fine.
Thank you Borderline that's great advice. The wall I'm thinking of using has actually got a radiator the other side... not that you'd feel anything through it... but it's a South facing wall as well .. and I may get some winter sun at some point. Fingers crossed we have a mild winter. ?
The variegated and bigger leaved ones tend to be less hardy, but as Borderlne says, there has to be prolonged spells of frost to see them off. We lost some a number of years ago when it was minus ten for a while, but that's quite unusual. Our ground is cold and wet which makes it worse when there's prolonged frosts.
In pots, it's easier to keep the drainage good too - the combination of wet and cold is worse for them than just dry cold.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you Fairygirl - I've actually bought some 'feet' to stand my pots on to keep off the ground... so hopefully good drainage and protection will keep my hebes safe & sound through the winter.
Just make sure you don't wrap the plant in plastic. They need ventilation or they'll rot. If you're worried, take cuttings.
So no bubble wrap? Was just going to wrap pot.. not plant... is that OK?
Yes, bubble wrap the pot to keep the roots frost free but only porous fleece if you need to wrap the visible parts of your plants.
Last edited: 04 October 2017 17:05:24
Thank you... I've bought fleece too ?