Hardy or sensitive to frost?

Winter hardiness: conditionally hardy

Only a few types of Milkweed are hardy. Most of them are not prepared for the winter in this country and would be damaged by frost. It is therefore advisable to only cultivate this plant as an annual or to keep it as a container plant and to put it in in autumn. Some species are even suitable as house plants all year round.

Move plants from outside to inside

Have you had your milkweed on the terrace or balcony in summer? Then you should put them in by mid-October at the latest and thus protect them from frost. Bright locations are suitable for wintering. The place should have a temperature of 10 to 14 ° C. Well suited are:

• Winter gardens
• Stairwells
• attics equipped with windows
• cool bedrooms
• Hallways

During the winter time, you shouldn't neglect your milkweed. It is important that your root ball does not dry out. So water sparingly! It is absolutely not advisable to use fertilizer. The wintering room can be ventilated from time to time.

Bring in or protect planted specimens

Anyone who has planted their milkweed in the ground directly in the field does not necessarily have to say goodbye to it. You can dig up this plant in autumn, plant it in a tub and hibernate inside.

However, if you decide to overwinter the milkweed outside, please note the following:

• cut down in autumn
• protect against moisture in the root area
• like to cover with sticks
• At temperatures below 10 ° C, leaves occasionally fall off
• Plant dies above ground
• sprouts new in spring

Move out again from May

When the temperatures rise again in spring, you can slowly get your milkweed used to direct sunlight. From the middle of May the plant can move out completely. It is advisable to add a good portion of compost straight away fertilize.