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Protecting Lillies & Hardy Fuchsias in Pots
Lancashire Lass
Posts: 367
in Plants
I have had container lillies & hardy fuchsias for several years and have always put them into an unheated greenhouse for Winter. I cover them with fleece.
I have never been sure when I can put them on the patio. I have searched and found contradictory answers, so I really need someone who lives north of Watford and knows through practical experience, just how hardy container lillies and hardy fuchsias are.
Specifically, do I really need to take them in through Winter? Do I need to cover them with fleece in an unheated greenhouse? If they do need to be protected, can I bring them out once they start growing or must I wait until after the late frosts (about mid May here in Lancashire).
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My lilies in pots have been against a house wall all winter, and are now growing. They will be fine outside. If your fuchsias are hardy, they should be OK outside now, but most of the fancy fuchsias are not hardy. The main problem with them outside in winter is if there is an extended freeze, if the pots are sodden then they will often crack with the frost. If I have space I put lilies inside the greenhouse over winter, but more to keep them on the dry side than to protect from cold.
The fuchsias if you take cuttings and grow them on, then if you leave the fuchsias out and they are lost to the frosts you can replace them with the cuttings you've taken.
I do what Fidget does regarding lilies. Mine now stay outside and I wrap the terracotta pots in bubble wrap to save the pots. In the past they have been in a cold GH uncovered.
Mine are now unwrapped in an open sunny place & I'm on lily beetle look out. If we have a very bad freezing spell I'll throw fleece over them.
Don't grow fuschias but havadayoff's advice is good.
Never had lilies undercover. We have high rainfall ( I'm well north of Watford LLass!) so I've always kept them near a house wall to protect them from waterlogging.
Don't grow fuchsias of any kind, but my understanding is that taking cuttings of the half hardy ones is the right advice to back up any losses.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the advise everyone.
I think in future years rather than putting the pots in the greenhouse, I will gather them all together by the house wall, fleece at the ready. They should keep on the dry side there. I have them all in resin pots so they should be alright without bubble wrap.
My ideas of what to take in and what to leave out have been influenced somewhat by two recent very bad Winters, when there was prolonged frosts. I lost a couple of hardy fuchsias then so I am maybe being over cautious.
My lillies are all showing growth as are some of the fuchsias (all of which are hardy incidentally). I am currently replacing the top two inches of old soil with compost mixed with fish, blood and bonemeal. I'll then get them out onto the patio and water them.