GardenWise – Container Plants that Don’t Defy Odds
We love a quick Q&A, especially when the question involves some- thing a gardener sees with their eye that actually doesn’t match with what’s really happening. Here’s the question:
Q. I have a dracaena spike plant that is in a porch-railing container outside. I am amazed that it’s still alive and looking great. I read an article that said it will stay evergreen in zones 9-10, but I live in zone 5, and we have had some very cold weather. I have the plant facing west and I haven’t watered it since late fall. Do you know why it’s still alive?
It’s so important to remember that the best way to avoid wilted plants and dead plants duirng winter is to bring ’em in, which we wrote about earlier. We’re afraid that the Dracaena is frozen and just appears to be alive. Once warm weather returns, it will start to deteriorate. Many folks have had this happen with dracaenas and many other plants left outside during winter. They looked good, and as you observed, appeared to be alive. But in spring the plants wilted and turned to mush once they thawed.
Now is a good time to think about how you want to fill that container, and do yourself a favor . . . add a note on your November 2011 calendar reminding you to bring in your containers!