Storing my tropical plants during the cold weather
It's no secret that I love large urns filled with tropical plants, and people often wonder where and how these plants are stored over the winter. Well, the truth is that without the help of a strong grounds crew, some heavy equipment, and heated storage areas, keeping these specimens would be next to impossible. Recently, there was a scramble moving all of these plants to safety before the first frost arrived, and I thought it would be interesting to show you some of the methods that are put to use at the farm.
I loved these photos too. Thanks for sharing your farm with us. I love potted plants and it was interesting to see them being moved - not a simple process.
I used to work in the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh Scotland. The weather was very cold (almost year round) but they had this huge hot house full of tropical plants. I used to spend a bit of time there - I convinced myself the hot house was similar to a sauna and it was helping me lose weight (wishful thinking of course). It also helped me think of sunny Australia when I got homesick.
Posted by: Lilly | October 21st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Dear Martha,
I had two beautiful Mandevilla plants on my deck with a bumper crop of flowers and plenty of buds entwined around the spindles on my deck. I had no idea it was going to frost on Monday and when I saw them Monday afternoon they look terrible! I have cut them off the dack and brought them in my dinning room for the winter. They are looking grey and the leaves are crisp. Is there a possibility the're O.K? All the leaves do fall of during the winter, but I would hate to keep them all winter if I've already killed them.
Help!
Zena Garcia-Vargas.
P.S. I live in Kennett Square P.A.
Posted by: Zena Garcia-Vargas. | October 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 am
I had to do the same thing at my daughters house and my house. However my planters and plants are much smaller than yours - so now I will never complain again. However you are lucky to have 4 strong men to do all of the work - I have my strong son Charles and daugher Jean Ann. Life goes on!
Posted by: Jeanie Curry | October 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 am
Wow! That's a lot of work! But well worth it. Those plants are gorgeous. What I noticed most was how dark and healthy the soil looked surrounding the roots. Goes to show the benefits of composting. Lovely!
Posted by: Julie | October 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 am
We have a lot of large plants like this, but not that much space inside the house either. So this year we cleaned up an area in the garage next to a window. Then we added shelves and other tiers to place all the pots on. Now the wall is totally covered with the plants and it looks like in a jungle. We love just being in that area now!
Posted by: Katrin | October 22nd, 2008 at 4:04 am
It would be interesting knowing the water schedule of your tropical plants and especially once they go in winter quarters.
I am the world's worst for regular watering, fertilizer and even noticing plants once they make it into the house for winter. I know it is the detail of not being sloppy with water when furniture is involved.
Posted by: Margie | October 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 am
Great work by your talented and devoted crew!
Perhaps next year, there will be an answer to rolling cement urns into place via metal pipes.
How about a rolling platform--like a wooden or metal dolly.
By the way, love "Whatever, Martha." Alexis gives us an insight into "Martha" the person and Jennifer is kind and open-hearted. I'm sure that Alexis exagerates just a bit about growing up as Martha Stewart's daughter.
Thanks for sharing all of your talent. I wish our cable network had all of your tapes available.
Cathy
Posted by: Cathy | October 22nd, 2008 at 4:55 am
That's quite a plant operation going on there. The hoop houses must be a great place to visit in the winter, walking into that sanctuary.
Posted by: Joanne | October 22nd, 2008 at 6:41 am
it seems from the pictures that some plants are so high that they are touching the ceiling. aren't you afraid that the tips will get frost bites in the winter, or is there another layer of fabric/plastic/any other material on top with air in between as insulation?
Posted by: liisamarja | October 22nd, 2008 at 6:44 am
That greenhouse looks so adorable...:-)
Posted by: Shawn | October 22nd, 2008 at 7:18 am
Wow!...what a process! This indeed is a labor of love! (Putting the whole yard to bed and preparing the house for winter is a labor of love!) Did you see the 4 guys man-handling that urn?!! - even without the cycad?!! Gee whiz! I see that your hoop house is nearby the sunken garden - that's always a good thing [it's handy]!
We sometimes just end up taking in the days and those last sunrays of autumn, then the threat of the first frost sneaks up on us. I'll bet some skampering took place around your farm to prepare. Luckily, though, you have a trusty and capable staff, so I'm sure everything worked out (even if it ended up being at the eleventh hour...) Everything will be safe-n-sound now, ready to take a winter slumber and prepare for the wonders and hope of a new spring.
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | October 22nd, 2008 at 7:28 am
It might be easier to just move to Ca. It will be in the 80's today.
Posted by: Andrea | October 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 am
Hi Martha, I love your heated hoop house! Where did you get it, how large is it and how is it heated? Wow, how long did it take those guys to move that heavy cycad to the hoop house? What a great grounds crew you have at your farm! I'll bet they work year round, because there are projects that need to be done at all times of the year at a wonderful farm like yours. Kudos to all of your fantastic farm crews! I really enjoy seeing all of the activities that happen on your farm. Thanks again for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | October 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
Wow! I love the hoop house! Your farm looks dreamy. Thank you for sharing and teaching us all more and more!
Posted by: Bakerslove with Andrea | October 22nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
Hi Martha,
Gosh! I thought I had it bad w/ covering my outdoor tropicals w/ blankets. Think you have a much bigger job on your hands! The plants look so cozy in their hoop house...they look happy, too. Could you not just have them all fitted for winter coats?
It's still 80 degrees here!
Have a lovely day!
Tinay
Posted by: Tinnay | October 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 am
Living in Florida, it seems strange to me to be storing tropical plants. I think I have forgotten what northern winters are like! Well now you have the perfect place to throw a party and maybe everyone can wear Hawaiian shirts and sip something cool in a tall glass! That is a great storage place. Trish
Posted by: Trish | October 22nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
That reminds me...I lost three of my potted boxwoods on the front porch last year due to freezing. I need to take the last survivor in from the cold. I posted a yummy Plum Coffee Cake recipe yesterday you might like.
http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
Posted by: kerry macLeod | October 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
Martha, I cannot imagine the size of your Bedford payroll! All those people running the perfect property. Perfection certainly DOES have a price!
Thank you for ALL the lessons you teach! I really do learn "something new every day!". All the Best, Jonathan Brown
Posted by: Jonathan Brown | October 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Come to San Diego--our cycads are happy and growing like crazy year round!
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | October 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
simply beautiful !
Posted by: Alexandre | October 22nd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Martha, you are the greatest, an inspiration to all women !!!
Please continue with your excellent work, your detail and your devotion to women of all types and ages.
I just wish you were on TV more as I have learned so much from you.
Thanks again,
Susan from Canada
Posted by: Susan | October 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 am
Martha:
That cycad is just gorgeous. I love to read your website, watch your show and read your blog cause I learn so much. That hoop house for storage is great. It gets heated and the plants think they are in Florida.
Linda
Posted by: Linda | October 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 am
Martha, you are such a good teacher. And you teach very visually. I think that is why I have learned such a tremendous amount from you over the years.
Posted by: Zona Wilson | October 23rd, 2008 at 11:40 am
Martha,
I am exactly your age and feel we both look incredible. But--do not let your makeup artists leave you without color. A red or coral lipstick will do wonders. I know because I have been a faithful fan. Instead of looking great, why not look beautiful?
Posted by: Lutrelle Smart | October 23rd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Hi, I recently wrote a blog about looking for the best Chocolate Chip Cookie and sent them to your site. Thanks for all the wonderfulg things you do! http://blog.ewm.com/2008/10/22/pinecrest-high-pines-coral-gables-florida-real-estate-agent-looking-for-the-best-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe/
Posted by: Dee Quintero | October 23rd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I am so disappointed that I will not be able to get away from work on Oct. 29th!!! If only your book signing was the 27th or 28th it would of been GREAT.(I'm off those days!) Of course I will still get your book,but I truely would of loved to meet you and have your signature. You are amazing, and enjoy every show. Thank God for DVR's!! Hope someday to be fortunate to have another chance, so write another book soon!!
Thanks for all your talent that you share with all of us.
MarySue (from Michigan)
Posted by: Marysue Hardesty | October 24th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
It was very interesting seeing the pictures in your blog about your tropical plants. This year I had planted an Angels Trumpet tree. It was simply beautiful. Everyone in my neigborhood asked me what it was and where I could get one. So, I decided that I had to try and save it for next year. It was not an easy feat. I had to first find a pot that would hold the huge roots! I did find one but I had to cut the roots back severly. It is doing fine so far in my basement. I go down to visit it every day.
Do you have any additional information about this plant that could help me?
I would appreciate anything that you could tell me.
Thanks,
Eileen Mason
Posted by: Eileen Mason | November 11th, 2008 at 8:43 am
thank you for sharing
I have tried for 2 winters to keep hibiscus indoors over the winter.But I am trying to keep them in the living room and I just dont have the light they need. It is worth it to bring them in just for my cats to curl under them. They think they are "hiding "behind the big pots and I cant see them 
Posted by: lisa brawner | November 15th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Although we live in warmer Southern California, I wish we had that hoop house! We have a collection of unique and rare dragon fruits, but they can barely even handle the So Cal cooler winters.
Maybe we can create something to keep them alive during our "freezing" winters.
Thank you for sharing Martha.
Posted by: White On Rice Couple | November 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Hello Martha, I saw your show about storing plants for the cold. I love to dig up my geraniums in the fall and put them in my sunroom.The temperature stays fairly warm thru the winter, because i don't have a basement. This way i get to look at them all winter and waiting very patiently for spring to come around again. But here is my problem. I re potted 2- xmas cactus into one pot, they were so root bound.I did try to loosen the soil around them,but, I was worried about hurting the roots too much. Should I have cut half of the roots and then re pot them? Thank you, pat schott. 5638862222 Tipton,Ia
Posted by: patti schott | February 26th, 2009 at 2:41 pm