Storing My Tropical Plants Indoors
All my tropical plants are now safely stored indoors for the winter.
As many of you know, I have quite a large collection of warm weather plants at my farm, including citrus trees and other specimens. Because I live in a four-season region, during colder months, it’s crucial these plants move inside, where the temperature and humidity levels can be monitored and controlled. Plants that spent the summer at Skylands, my home in Maine, or at Lily Pond in East Hampton, are all brought back to Bedford for storage. Most of them are kept in one of two large hoop houses designated specifically for these container plants. It’s a tedious process to put all of them away, but a very important one that keeps all my plants healthy.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Here are some of the plants waiting to be brought indoors. The weather here in the Northeast is starting to get chilly, so it’s important to start this process. In general, there is more room at my Bedford, New York farm to store these tropical specimens, so many from Maine and East Hampton are also returned here after the summer.
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- This greenhouse works by heating and circulating air to create an artificial tropical environment. The entire structure is built using heavy gauge American made, triple-galvanized steel tubing. I chose this gothic style because of its high peak to accommodate my taller plants.
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- I have a large variety of special planters – antiques and reproductions, planters made of stone, lead, fiberglass and resin, and in a wide array of shapes and sizes.
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- All the plants that have been displayed around the farm are brought to the greenhouse and placed outside, so each one can be inspected, and trimmed or repotted if necessary. Then, by size each one is brought into the space.
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- The left side of the hoop house is filling quickly. These plants grow a little more each year, so the placement of these specimens will change every time they are stored.
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- Some of the container plants can be wheeled in on a hand truck. This pot is an antique made of lead – it is very heavy. Chhewang, Pete and Carlos move it in carefully, so the branches don’t get damaged.
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- Some plants are brought in using my Polaris Ranger Crew 1000. This vehicle is so handy around the farm and it can be backed right into the hoop houses. These plants are in my faux bois pots from my Gardening Collection at QVC. https://qvc.co/2MhibR9
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- Some of the heavier potted plants are brought in using our new Kubota model M7060HD12 tractor. This tractor is used every day at the farm – for carrying heavy items, transporting mulch and compost, and pulling or pushing agricultural machinery. https://bit.ly/2knE1XZ
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- Some of these large pots weigh about 500-pounds each. This one is an original “Watts Pot” made of limestone and concrete.
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- The shelves on both sides of the greenhouse are tiered to make the best use of the shape of the space. The old lumber and stumps are saved materials from the farm – I always try to reuse and repurpose.
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- These plants actually spend about seven months of the year in this heated shelter – but they definitely thrive.
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- The tractor can also just roll in – this makes moving the plants much easier for the crew.
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- The heater is checked a couple times each day to make sure the temperature remains comfortably warm inside. Too cold, plants will freeze – too hot, plants will rot. This greenhouse is always kept above 50-degrees Fahrenheit.
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- This greenhouse has three circulation fans. The crew makes sure no part of any plant is blocking the fans.
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- The plants are all arranged with enough space in between them, so they don’t touch each other.
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- Moving blankets are placed on the forklift and tractor to cushion the cement pot as it is being moved.
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- The most critical factor in moving houseplants is temperature. Avoid prolonged exposure to heat or cold, with temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit or higher than 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
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- The sago palm, Cycas revoluta, is a popular houseplant known for its feathery foliage and ease of care. This very symmetrical plant supports a crown of shiny, dark green leaves on a thick shaggy trunk that is typically about seven to eight inches in diameter, sometimes wider. I have many sago palms in my collection.
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- Here is Gavin tending to one of the bird’s nest ferns, Asplenium nidus. Bird’s-nest fern is a common name applied to several related species of epiphytic ferns in the genus Asplenium.
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- This greenhouse is covered with two rolls – one is a heavy-duty, woven polyethylene that features an anti-condensate additive to reduce moisture buildup and dripping. The other contains UV additives that allow the fabric to maintain its strength. It also has manual roll-up curtains on both sides for ventilation purposes.
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- My citrus trees are also moving into another greenhouse next door to my Equipment Barn.
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- Ryan adjusts the plants in this greenhouse, so every specimen has ample air circulation. The shelves here are also tiered to use up all the space in the structure.
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- I keep my citrus collection here as well as my agaves. Agaves are so beautiful, but they should be kept in low traffic areas as their spikes can be very painful.
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- The tall ceiling of my vegetable greenhouse also helps in storing some of my potted plants. Here, the crew moves in one of several tall tree ferns.
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- These small black bricks are used as shims and placed under all the pots to allow for good drainage.
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- We will still plant lots of delicious vegetables in this greenhouse – the planter boxes below have all been filled with nutrient-rich compost. The potted plants will add more beauty to the space during the cold winter months.
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- The greenhouses were filled quickly. Back down at the tropical hoop house, look how organized and tidy it is. The weather and schedule allowed the team time to make the greenhouses look great. These plants will be very happy here this winter.
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