Don't give up on your annual plants and flowers at the end of the growing season. Overwintering annuals is easier than you think.
As the end of summer draws near, you might be thinking about overwintering your favorite annuals. For your annual plants, it’s a whole different world inside. Gently acclimate them to indoor conditions by adjusting watering frequency as you gradually move them from the sunniest window to their final winter location.
Before bringing plants inside, check the soil for pests, trim foliage and make sure pots are well draining. Find the right light and temperature conditions, cut back on watering and fertilizer, and boost humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier.
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www.provenwinners.com ‘Double Up Red’
Begonia
Begonia
Fibrous begonias such as bedding and angel wing are some of the easiest annuals to overwinter and grow inside. Well before frost, start gradually adjusting them to lower humidity indoors. Then trim back the stems and place your plant in bright filtered light with excellent humidity, allowing it to partially dry out between waterings.
Why we love it: The adorable flowers in bright and pastel shades and shiny greenery make begonias a mainstay.
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Ball Horticultural Co. Beacon select mixture
Impatiens
Impatiens
These annual flowers are beloved for their nonstop summer blooms in shade (or, for the SunPatiens series, their ability to thrive in both sun and shade). As is standard advice for overwintering annuals, bring impatiens in before the first frost. Cut them back to one-third and offer them humidity and a bright window.
Why we love it: Available in many colors, impatiens are perfect for edging borders and filling pots. Some varieties are resistant to downy mildew, which affects traditional impatiens.
Related to lantana, this sun lover can be placed inside, but it prefers hot, bright conditions and may stop flowering without them. Give it your sunniest spot and mist with water for the first couple of weeks.
Why we love it: Large vivid flowers make a big impact as a ground cover or in pots, and verbena is tolerant of some drought.
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Courtesy Ashley Andersen
Geranium
Pelargonium
Geraniums are everywhere from your neighbor’s porch to the hanging baskets of Europe. The more sun, the better your chance of blooms, Byron says. When inside, they prefer cooler temperatures, especially at night.
Why we love it: From trailing ivy types and variegated fancy-leafs to scented varieties, there’s a geranium for everyone.
A delight to have at the ready in the kitchen, mint is reliable indoors. To keep it bushy, offer it strong light and harvest regularly while retaining some new growth. Keep it away from drafts or heaters. Let it almost dry between waterings.
Why we love it: Mint is a fast-growing and vigorous herb that adds a fragrant note and a refreshing spark of flavor to sauces, fruit salads, teas and cocktails.
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Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea
For the brightest flowers, put bougainvillea in the sunniest spot you have and fertilize with an organic slow-release formula such as 1:1:1. Byron suggests a clay pot and recommends letting the plant dry to almost wilting to promote flowers. Overwatering can cause bud drop or root rot.
Why we love it: This showy equatorial native brings instant tropical splendor to an indoor pot.
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www.provenwinners.com ‘Luscious Royale Red Zone’
Lantana
Lantana camera
In mild climates, lantana covers roadsides in blooms all year. But in cooler climes, bring it inside. Extra light may be needed to keep that flower power going, or let plants go dormant with minimal water in a cooler room. Lantana is invasive in some areas, so research it before incorporating it in your outdoor space.
Why we love it: Lantana is long blooming, and its heat and drought tolerance make it easy to care for.
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www.provenwinners.com ‘Endless Flirtation’
Browallia
Browallia viscosa
This heat-loving Central American native shines in partial shade in beds or hanging baskets. Inside, it likes a south, west or east window, Byron says.
Why we love it: Looking like a violet on steroids, this blooming powerhouse offers long-lasting purple, blue or white blooms.
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www.provenwinners.com ‘White Knight’
Alyssum
Alyssum maritimaÂ
With humidity and cooler temperatures—about 60 to 70 degrees—you can enjoy alyssum for another year. Find alyssum a spot protected from the afternoon sun, perhaps on an unheated indoor porch.
Why we love it: With a swoonworthy vanilla scent, alyssum offers textural accents in mixed plantings.
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HAS/Getty Images
Clereodendrum
Clereodendrum thomasoniae
This tropical climber reaches 6 feet tall in a container. Inside, it prefers full-to-partial sun, with a consistent daytime temperature of 55 to 65 degrees. Pause fertilizer and water every two weeks.
Why we love it: Lush leaves add drama to clereodendrums, but flowers that look like creamy tomatillos with red lips pursed for a kiss make them stand out.
About the Expert
Byron Martin is a horticulturist and co-owner of Logee’s Plants for Home and Garden, a Connecticut-based nursery specializing in fruiting, rare and tropical plants.
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