Potted Heliconia in winter

[Hardypalms]

Hi

I am in 7b and obviously it’s not staying outside.

How do i make it survive for the winter inside?

I can put it under grow lights or a south facing window inside, in my dark unheated garage that goes down to 35 F (I doubt that).

The flowers do not have to be out in winter. I just want it to survive.

I can also drag it outside on warm days (50 and up).

Thxs

Pat

[metalfan]

What kind is it? Small growing, large growing? Pot size?

Mine stay in the greenhouse year round because they are either in 35-50 gallon tubs or in the ground. They never need any light supplementation even when the daylight wanes after the Equinox. But you do want to really cut down on the water. I only grow larger growing species...rostrata in the ground, some strictas, a caribaea, a few Bihais. I don't mess with the psitticorums anymore

Edited September 4, 2023 by metalfan

[Merlyn]

Somewhere around here there's a "Heliconia Thread" that might have the answer.  I have read about basically cutting them to the ground and avoid watering them until spring, and many of them will grow back when it gets warm.  Keeping them growing under a grow light and minimal watering seems like it should work too.

Adding your question to this might help:

 

[Dartolution]

10 hours ago, Hardypalms said:

Hi

I am in 7b and obviously it’s not staying outside.

How do i make it survive for the winter inside?

I can put it under grow lights or a south facing window inside, in my dark unheated garage that goes down to 35 F (I doubt that).

The flowers do not have to be out in winter. I just want it to survive.

I can also drag it outside on warm days (50 and up).

Thxs

Pat

Assuming its a psittacorum (likely) - Keep it as warm as possible. An unheated garage won't do - it will most definitely perish at 35F in 7b. 

Leave as much of the pseudo stems and foliage on it as possible. Keeping them warm and somewhat humid is ideal. 

In spring (around mid april) clean up last years pseudo stems and spent foliage. Leave 8-12" of pseudo stem and keep it in full sun. Begin fertilizing it with an annual all purpose liquid feed once new shoots emerge.

 

They aren't easy to overwinter outside of the tropics but I manage to every year with great effort. 

 

Psittacorums if taken care of this way in a pot will typically bloom at the beginning of summer and continue until january even indoors. 

[Hardypalms]

21 hours ago, metalfan said:

What kind is it? Small growing, large growing? Pot size?

Mine stay in the greenhouse year round because they are either in 35-50 gallon tubs or in the ground. They never need any light supplementation even when the daylight wanes after the Equinox. But you do want to really cut down on the water. I only grow larger growing species...rostrata in the ground, some strictas, a caribaea, a few Bihais. I don't mess with the psitticorums anymore

I will post a picture tonight! I have no clue what kind it is.

Thxs for the help

Pat

[Hardypalms]

19 hours ago, Merlyn said:

Somewhere around here there's a "Heliconia Thread" that might have the answer.  I have read about basically cutting them to the ground and avoid watering them until spring, and many of them will grow back when it gets warm.  Keeping them growing under a grow light and minimal watering seems like it should work too.

Adding your question to this might help:

 

Thanks for the link!

Pat

[Hardypalms]

16 hours ago, Dartolution said:

Assuming its a psittacorum (likely) - Keep it as warm as possible. An unheated garage won't do - it will most definitely perish at 35F in 7b. 

Leave as much of the pseudo stems and foliage on it as possible. Keeping them warm and somewhat humid is ideal. 

In spring (around mid april) clean up last years pseudo stems and spent foliage. Leave 8-12" of pseudo stem and keep it in full sun. Begin fertilizing it with an annual all purpose liquid feed once new shoots emerge.

 

They aren't easy to overwinter outside of the tropics but I manage to every year with great effort. 

 

Psittacorums if taken care of this way in a pot will typically bloom at the beginning of summer and continue until january even indoors. 

This is great help. Looks like i got a challenge on my hands.

Thanks

Pat

[metalfan]

These are some of the ones I grow or have grown

[Hardypalms]

Lovely!

Pat

[Tomas]

I grow the most hardy Heliconia schiedeana and the stems need at least two years of growth to flower