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How To Keep Plants Warm In Winter using 11 Genius Tips

So, you have a green thumb and are interested in gardening. You buy your plants from the store, keep them healthy with plenty of water and care, then bring them home and place them in a sunny window.

You protect your plants from hungry pests by using pesticides and garden gloves, but there is one thing that you might haven’t gotten around to How To Keep Plants Warm In Winter.

There are various reasons why your plants don’t want to be left out in the cold during the winter months, from frost and heavy snow to rain and strong winds.

How To Keep Plants Warm In Winter
via Pixabay

A Tip Guide on How To Keep Plants Warm In Winter

Fall’s cooling is both a disappointment and a thrill. Cooler temperatures are welcome after a scorching summer, but they also mark the end of our heat-loving flora.

A sudden frost, high temperatures, or protracted cold spells can all harm your garden over the winter. Or you could be the type of gardener who succumbed to temptation, being unable to resist the allure of a “sensitive” plant that would thrive in a slightly warmer climate.

You owe it to your delicate creature to keep it alive as long as possible. Plant protection in the winter can take various forms: warming the soil, wrapping a shrub, and blocking the wind. Let’s see tips on how to keep plants warm in winter.

Cover Plant in Old Sheets and Blankets

Your best option is to create a greenhouse-like atmosphere around your prized plant. This can be done simply by draping old sheets or blankets over the plant and securing them with tape or clothespins.

The fabric will trap heat and insulate your plant from winter’s worst weather. It also helps place a small electric heater nearby for extra heat, especially on cold nights.

Wrap Your Plant in Bubble Plastic 

Bubble wrap is another simple solution that works well for plants on the patio or in an outdoor planter. If you’re good at making your gifts, then this project should be right up your alley. All it takes is a ball of bubble wrap and some tape for small plants.

Wrap several layers around the plant base to protect against cold air escaping through the soil. Just make sure that the bubble wrap doesn’t come into contact with your plant’s foliage, as it can trap moisture and cause the leaves to rot.

Use Overturned Cloches or Pots 

How To Keep Plants Warm In Winter 2
via Pxhere

For shrubs, vines, or smaller trees that you’d like to shelter from the elements but don’t necessarily want to bundle up in blankets, try using upside-down cloches or plant pots.

You can make your own “cloche” by cutting the bottom off a plastic storage bin and placing it over your plant. Or, try placing a large flower pot over the plant, filling the pot with soil to weigh it down and hold it in place.

Use Row Covers

Row covers are a great option if you have a collection of plants that need to stay warm in winter, rather than just one or two. Row covers come in various forms and materials, from lightweight fabrics to heavier plastic sheeting.

They work best for small-scale plant varieties such as leafy greens, but larger crops like tomatoes and strawberries can also benefit from a row cover.

Cover your crops with a row cover at night to keep them warm and insulated, then remove it during the day when the sun is out or if you need to work in the garden.

Using Hoop Tunnels

Hoop tunnels are easy to protect your garden from the cold with little effort. They are large hoops that stretch a fabric tarp or plastic sheeting over, then weigh down the edges of the fabric with soil or rocks.

The structure is very versatile and can be configured in various shapes and sizes to accommodate most plant varieties. Just be sure to remove the plastic or fabric covering during the day so that your plants can get some sunlight, and check on them often to make sure that the soil isn’t becoming too hot.

Use a Cold Frame 

Like grow tunnels, cold frames can be configured in many different ways to fit your garden’s needs. Hoops are attached with string or plastic zip ties to create a frame, then covered with a transparent or translucent sheet.

As with hoop tunnels, make sure you remove the cover during the day so that your plants can get some sunlight. You can fashion a cold frame out of almost any container, from plastic tubs to cardboard boxes. If you have extra topsoil lying around, pile it up to form the cold frame’s walls.

Try Mulching 

Mulching is an easy way to provide insulation to your plants, which works especially well with expansive beds with lots of ground cover.

Pile mulch on top of the ground around your plants, and make sure that it comes into contact with the plant’s foliage. Different types of mulch have different benefits, so be sure to choose the right one.

For example, straw provides good insulation but isn’t an efficient heat reflector, so it’s best for use in areas with lots of shade. Wood chips are great for reflecting warmth towards your plants but won’t insulate them very well.

Bark nuggets are a good option because they provide insulation and reflect heat, but you’ll need to apply more than other types of mulch because it isn’t very good at retaining heat.

Use an Electric Heater

If you have a small greenhouse, bring your plants inside for the winter, or are preparing tender plants before spring arrives, you may want to invest in an electric heater. Electric heaters are a great supplemental heat source for your plants in winter, but always be sure to monitor them closely so that they don’t get too hot. If they are too close to your plants, for example, their heat can harm or kill them.

Use an Infrared Lamp

LED infrared heat lamps are a great option for smaller plants or growing spaces. They provide the right amount of supplementary heat to keep your plants cozy but don’t produce much heat themselves. This makes them ideal for smaller greenhouses or indoor growing spaces that may not get enough sunlight to keep themselves warm. They are also more energy-efficient than other options, so you won’t have to worry about high electric bills.

Use a Space Heater

Space heaters provide supplemental heat and can be used to keep your plants warm in winter; just be sure to monitor them closely. It’s important to choose the right space heater for your plants and grow room, as different models produce very different amounts of heat. For instance, ceramic heat emitters produce very little warmth but are safe to keep near plants because they don’t get too hot, whereas other models may produce too much heat.

Use a Heater Pad

Heater pads are another great supplemental heat source that can be used to keep your plants warm in winter. They are similar to electric heaters, except they use electricity and water instead of oil or gas.

Just be sure to monitor them closely, so they don’t overheat, and place the heater pad on a flat surface instead of attaching it to the side of a container.


Final Remarks

Now that you know how to keep plants warm in winter, you are ready to try out your new skills. You can start by growing a few extra veggies or flowers in winter, or you might even want to keep your outdoor summer plants alive in winter by moving them indoors!

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, there’s always something new to learn about keeping plants warm in winter, so be sure to keep educating yourself. Heed the tips mentioned above for keeping plants warm in winter, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful blooms all season long!