The PIGG Pin

Urn with Permanent Shrub

I know of many people who want to have urn type pots on their front porch but don’t want to replant them every year with annuals, so they plant them with permanent plants like shrubs.  That works really well and looks good most of the time.  They always do a really good job of watering in the summertime, but wintertime is where they can kill their plant the fastest.

Several things occur in the winter which most people do not realize.  First is the pot is usually under shelter and does not get the rain water like yard plantings get.  Again, they realize this in the summer when they know they have to water.  The second thing that is critical to the survival of a plant in a pot, is it must stay wet.  It is the same reason why Eskimos can stay warm in an igloo in the arctic.  There is a concept of thermal warmth that occurs inside an icicle. This means the roots of the plant need to have plenty of water around them when the soil gets below freezing.  The water actually protects the nature of the roots and will keep the plant alive.  If the roots completely freeze while the roots are bone dry, the plant will die.

There is a happy balance though of these potted plants.  You can overwater and drown the plant.  The reason this can happen more often in the winter is because the pot does not dry out as fast.  It is critically important for you to pay attention to how much water you are giving the plant and how warm the weather is outside.  Stick your finger way down into the soil to check the moisture content often.

One more thing about the pot you are using…make sure it can withstand the outdoors.  Water freezing inside of a glazed or non outdoor pot will destroy the pot in one winter.

Happy Potting