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Overwintering Abutilon
Meomye
Posts: 949
I have just brought my beautiful potted Abutilon into an unheated greenhouse for the winter. Do I need to put bubble wrap around the pot please, or is that just when pots are left outside? Thanks in advance.
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Sorry, I also meant to ask how often to water during winter? thanks.
Do you know the species/cultivar name of your Abutilon ? There are around 100+ species , plus numerous hybrids .
Paul B3, sorry, I have no idea what it is called, only that it is orange and I bought it in Homebase before the summer. I remember they had a yellow one also. Still looking for tag! I do keep them but you know what it is like when you need something!
Hello Meomye
Absolutely no need to apologise
! Assuming it is NOT one of the woody shrub-like Abutilons , yours sounds like the large (fairly fleshy stemmed) green leaved varieties ; these are often sold during early summer , usually alongside bedding plants etc. in garden centres .
They are not hardy , and any degree of frost can be potentially fatal to them . If you have a fairly sunny spare room where you live it would be happier kept just very slightly damp for the winter . Try to avoid excessive warmth during the 'low-light' period , as this will lead to etiolated (leggy and weak) growth .
Bubble wrap only provides a modicum of frost protection , and who knows what kind of winter we'll get this year ? If you want to risk it by all means go ahead . (A protective fleece will help also) .
I have an unheated greenhouse in which I overwinter specimen Aloes , Cacti and Agaves ; they can all withstand slight frosts , but one year I'll get caught out
!!
Hope this helps you in some way .