Is it possible to get surfinias to survive the winter? Well, it will depend on certain variables, such as the location, that is, where we have the plants; the maximum and minimum temperatures in that area; air humidity; whether or not they are exposed to air currents, and also the care we give them.
And it is that in a country like Spain, as well as in any other where the climate is generally temperate (with the exception of some points where it is very hot and even subtropical, such as in the south of the Iberian Peninsula or in certain places in the Canary archipelago), it is difficult to maintain surfinias in winter. But not impossible.
Inside or outside?
Well, to answer this question, you must first ask yourself another: what is the weather like in the area where I live? And it is that, based on the fact that these plants are tropical and that they do not resist the cold at all, if the thermometer drops below 10ºC we will have to bring it homebut if, on the contrary, it always stays above those ten degrees Celsius, then we can leave it outside.
But in any case it is important that it is placed in an area where there is a lot of lightas it is a herb that needs direct exposure to light in order to be healthy.
Beware of drafts if you are going to be inside the house
La overfinia It is a tropical herb that needs high humidity. But even if it is the case that we live in an area where the degree of humidity is 50% or higher throughout the year, as it happens in the islands for example, if we put it near air currents, what we are going to achieve is that it dries out.
That’s why never never put any plant next to a fan, air conditioner, or any other device that generates air currents. Neither from a window that we keep open for a long time, nor in a very narrow corridor, because the continuous friction will damage it.
Spray the surfinia if the air humidity is very low
I repeat: only spray it with water if the humidity is very low, that is, if it is less than 50%. I like to repeat this for a reason: Many websites and gardening books recommend spraying all plants at home, but forget that spraying on an island will doom that plant to fungus. For example, myself, indoors I have 70-100% humidity most of the time. It is so tall that one of my Philodendrons wakes up every day with the tips of its leaves wet.
Do you know what would happen if I poured water on the surfinia? Exactly: the fungi would appear and rot it in a matter of days. That’s why it is so important to find out what the climate of the area is like, what temperatures and what degree of humidity there is. And that can be known with a weather station for domestic use such as this.
In a pot or in the ground?
Since it is very chilly, unless the thermometer always exceeds ten degrees, it is highly recommended to keep it in a pot. In this way, it will be much easier to protect it when the time comes.
Now, suppose that in your area the lowest temperature there is is 7 or 8 degrees. In this case, you can plant it in the ground -in spring-, and protect it with an anti-frost fabric such as this or even with a mini greenhouse.
When to water it in winter and with what kind of water?
Watering in winter is not the same as in summer. Temperatures are generally lower, and therefore the plant enters a dormant state. In addition, the soil remains moist for longer, so we will have to water it less if we do not want the roots to drown. But, How many times a week do you have to do it?
It will depend on how long it takes for the soil to dry out. It can be one watering a week or every two weeks, but in case of doubt, do not hesitate to check the humidity of said soil. And the most practical and easiest way to do it is with a simple wooden stick, like the ones they give us in Chinese restaurants, for example.
We put it to the bottom, and if when we take it out we see that it is almost the same as it came in -that is, more or less clean-, it means that it is very dry. Then, we will irrigate, but using rainwater if possible, or water suitable for consumption. We will pour until it soaks well, otherwise it will not hydrate enough. But be careful: if it is in a pot, you have to remember to drain the plate if it has one.
Another topic I wanted to talk to you about related to water is its temperature.. This is especially important if the winter is very cold for her; that is, if temperatures drop below 10ºC. In these conditions, we have to see if the water is lukewarm before watering, because if we notice it cold, the plant would suffer damage.
When to pay surfinias in winter?
The question is poorly formulated, and I’ll explain why: we have said that the surfinia is at rest during the winter. Therefore, we do not have to pay it, or at least not as we would in spring and summer.. In these last two seasons, it is done with the aim of producing many flowers, but in winter what interests us is that it simply survive.
So how do we do it? A trick that I was taught back in the day is the following: add a small teaspoon (of those for coffee or dessert) of universal Nitrofoska (the typical blue balls, which you can buy here!). Do it every 15 days. Spread them around the stem of the plant, and then water. In this way, you will ensure that the roots are at a slightly higher temperature than the one above the soil or substrate.
With these tips, we hope you get your surfinias to withstand the winter.
