Is the convertible rose hardy? All information

That Convertible rose Lantana camara is one of the most popular Potted plants. As a bedding plant, it is rarely found due to the lack of winter hardiness and is mainly kept in pots. This plant is very sensitive to frost and should therefore be brought into the house in good time to ensure frost-free overwintering. The respective wintering room is just as important as proper care in winter. The demands on care differ slightly depending on the accommodation.

Sensitive to frost

Wandröschen is not winter-proof

Given its original home in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America, which have a mild climate all year round prevails, Lantana camara is not sufficiently hardy in our latitudes to be planted in the garden or permanently outdoors stand. If the temperatures drop below 5 degrees Celsius at night, this can be very bad for this plant. Therefore, they should not stay outside too long and should definitely move to their winter quarters before the first frosts.

Prepare to hibernate

Prepare for wintering

The wintering season begins around the middle / end of October, provided that the nights are still frost-free up to this point. Now precautions must be taken so that this ornamental wood survives the winter time without major damage.

• A slight pruning is recommended before putting away
• cut off everything withered and withered
• In addition, shorten the shoots that have grown in summer by about half
• Cut back the crown of tall trunks so that it forms a compact ball
• so it takes up significantly less space
• In addition, due to the smaller leaf mass, it evaporates less moisture

Tip overwinter

Depending on whether the plant hibernates warm or cool, it often loses a large part of its leaves anyway and can sometimes even become completely bare. But that doesn't matter, because if the conditions are right during the winter, they will reliably drive them out again in the spring. Do not forget gloves when cutting, as this plant is highly poisonous.

Winter quarters

Since Lantana camara can overwinter both cold and warm, there is a classic wintering place Cold house (unheated greenhouse), a light cellar, a hardly heated winter garden but also the living room in question. However, the convertible rose does not really hibernate in a warm quarter.

It continues to thrive and is now producing new flowers. However, the plants are then significantly more susceptible to Pests. Another disadvantage of this type of wintering is the formation of so-called horny shoots, which often form. These are very long, thin and powerless shoots that do not develop flowers. They should be removed as regularly as possible.

A light, airy and, above all, cool quarter is always preferable to a warm living room, provided you have the choice. Bright means that the room such as B. a cellar, over a window or another source of daylight or at least one bright light source. If the plant has already lost most of its leaves, it can easily stand darker. The temperatures should be around 10 degrees and, if possible, not exceed 20 degrees in the living room. Strong temperature fluctuations should be avoided. If the living room is the only alternative, maintenance is a little more complex than, for example, in a cold house.

Care in winter

• the demands on care depend on the respective location
• If the plant is cold and has hardly any leaf mass, care is limited to watering
• it is poured only occasionally and sparingly
• Regardless of whether it is wintered warm or cold, the substrate should never dry out completely
• it is best to water as soon as the top layer of substrate has dried a few centimeters
• water more frequently in warm, heated rooms
• In the warm quarter, fertilize once a month even in winter
• Only give fertilizer in half the concentration

Tip care

In the warm living room, the plants should be checked regularly for pests and these should be eliminated immediately.

After hibernation

Prepare for the outdoor season

Starting in February, Lantana camara is slowly being prepared for the outdoor season. First you set it warmer and then pour a little more. The later you take it out of hibernation, the later the first flowers appear. Now is the best time for a maintenance cut, which can also be a bit stronger.

It is used to achieve or achieve a harmonious shape. to get this. To do this, cut off dead, crossing, transverse and protruding shoots. In addition, all remaining shoots are cut back by a third or half. Without this pruning in spring, flower formation subsides relatively quickly.

Around the end of April, the watering quantities are increased again and for the first time again fertilized with a liquid fertilizer, again in half the concentration. This is supposed to activate the plant's metabolism and stimulate it to sprout and buds. In most regions of Germany, the winter break for the changing rose ends at the beginning or in the middle of April. In particularly cold locations, this point in time can be delayed somewhat, so that the wintering period lasts until May.

When you can finally put the convertible rose outside again depends on the weather conditions. This is usually the case from the middle or end of May. The daytime temperatures should no longer drop below 5 - 10 degrees at night and between 15 and 20 degrees during the day. Now Lantana camara can slowly get used to the changed conditions again, because the young leaves are still very sensitive to direct sunlight.

As a result, you first put them in a sheltered place for 1 to 2 weeks and only then in their final location. Even if this plant makes certain demands on its overwintering, it is worth every effort and thanks this year after year with vigorous growth and colorful blooms.