Re: question about wintering over

They might come through in a very cool, almost freezing basement - and yes,
you'd have to water just enough so they didn't dry out, but...and it's a
rather large one, some of these are evergreen or want to be and would
require good light over winter IMO...Carex is one and possibly your Phlomis
(depending on which one it is - P. fruticosa is evergreen for me).  I have
also found that wintering hardy perennials in frost free conditions means
they will start growth in February (given that they have light) and you
have to provide really strong light and good air circulation until it's
warm enough to harden them off...also aphids love enclosed frost free
conditions, I have found.  Personally think they would be better off
outside in a temporary holding bed/cold frame type situation...

Can you construct a temporary frame near the house that you could fill with
sand or mulch and plunge your pots in?  I have overwintered pots this way. 
In fact, have made plastic 'A' frame type structures over sandbeds to
overwinter things - bit awkward getting in there to water, but it can be
done and would need to be done...or you could rig the plastic so it was
only down when it was really bitter and freezing.  It basically serves to
keep snow out and keep them from icing up so badly that the ice doesn't
melt in the pots and kills the plants at first thaw.

Did a couple of articles last Nov. about building temporary frames and
wintering plants in pots - might be of use to you, tho' you are much
farther north than I.  FWIW, URL to first one is:  

http://suite101.com/article.cfm/222/12377

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
current article:Vines - Part 1
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----------
> From: Isabelle Hayes <bhayes@catskill.net>
> Date: Monday, August 09, 1999 12:38 PM
> 
> Greetings:
> 
> I live in NYS, zone 5, about 100 miles northeast of NYC;
> 
> as you all probably know, we are in the midst of a very dry summer, after
a
> dry spring, and a dry winter;
> 
> I grew the following from seed this spring:  heuchera, poa grass, carex
> grass, mallow, jasione, phlomis, potentilla, and more;
> 
> I have been keeping the plants in containers on the porch, so it's easier
to
> keep them watered;
> 
> I've been waiting (in vain) for there to be enough wet weather to risk
> putting them into the ground in beds where it's hard to get water to them
if
> it doesn't rain regularly;
> 
> it now occurs to me that there may not be enough rain before the ground
> freezes, and I'll either have to risk putting the plants in anyway, or
> 
> maybe I could keep them inside in pots over the winter, somehow.
> 
> I have a basement where they wouldn't freeze, but there isn't much light
> down there;
> 
> does anyone know how to do this?  They would still need watering wouldn't
they?
> 
> TIA
> 
> Isabelle Hayes
> 
> 
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