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Overwintering Alstromeria

I have kept my tender Alstromeria in a pot in the garage and barely watered it.  It has several tall thin shoots coming up.  it is too early to put the pot outside so should I cut the shoots at the base or twist and pull them out.  The shoots look too spindly to produce flowers.

Silly granny

Posts

  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653

    I've put mine outside a few weeks ago as there were a lot of shoots coming up, however, I've surrounded it in a pot with wool pellets & I'm in SE England. The only thing I've found that deters the slugs. I would leave them for now, they'll thicken in no time if it's this years growth. I cut mine to the ground in autumn. 

    Last edited: 12 March 2017 16:58:54

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    Here in Devon, I brought mine out of a cold polytunnel and split them up 3 weeks ago. Lots of nice new shoots emerging. 

    I'm planning to leave them in the ground next winter. Do or die. Their choice.

    Devon.
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718

    Down here in SW France I have them in the garden and in pots. We had some severe frosts this winter but I left all the ones in the ground in situ, the top growth died back but they are all romping away now. The ones in pots I moved under cover, I have divided them and re potted and they are also doing well.

  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    Two pots of alstromeria have sat outside all winter with out any  protection.  Leaves now two inches high. . . . in SW Scotland.

    SW Scotland
  • BONE MEALBONE MEAL Posts: 18

    Five plants left in garden all year, cut back foliage to about 12" in the Autumn and tidied up and fed in Spring. 

    Done this for about 2-3 years, no problem, so far !!!!!.......SW Scotland.

  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653

    What varieties are you both growing..? Perhaps the RHS has drastically underrated their hardiness.

  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    Mark56.  I've lost the labels.  Bought them potted up in B&Q,  so they wont be any special variety.

    SW Scotland
  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653

    Interesting but nevertheless a bonus - I have very little patience for tender stuff here image

    Last edited: 15 March 2017 17:53:40

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355

    Mine stay in the ground all winter - heavy clay soil which gets cold and wet and a bit compacted in the winter (Suffolk). They don't exactly romp away but they put on a nice enough display. Can't be done with tender plants that need to be lifted. Those stay in pots and get moved to a sheltered spot. Everything else takes it's chance

    Last edited: 15 March 2017 17:57:58

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • My one stays in the ground all winter too,under exactly the same conditions (northen germany) where it can get pretty parky. As soon as the new shoots appear, Ihave to take it out and and pot it up or else the snails will  be there. It´s got too big for the pot now so I will have to divide which I have read is a dodgy business because the rhizomes are so fragile. Has anyone any advice on this? 

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