Wintering small JM's in pots

I read through all the postings before asking, but I didn't see the answers I needed. I have several small JM's (less than 2' tall) that are currently in plastic pots on my back porch. What's the best way to winter them over? Should I put them in the covered part of my porch where they still get exposure to the elements, but very little water unless it rains. Should they be allowed to dry out and stay dry all winter? I could also bring them into the garage which has light from two windows.

Any advice for the best chance of survival?

Also, I have a 4' JM in an insulated plastic pot that is also on my back porch. I would imagine since its larger and older, it will winter easier than the babies.

Thanks in advance!

If you can bring 'em in the garage away from the windows IE: light...light will likely create early budding before your ready to put back out!! that would be best ..keep unheated...you seem to be in a warm area 8a so they should be fine ...another way is to bury the pots in soil and leave 'em outside trhat insulates them ..you may want to cage 'em for the critters...in your area that would work fine for all your JM's and would be easy and keep 'em in their natural enviorment imho. If you store inside water maybe once a month lightly ..NOT TOO MUCH if outside buried to the top of pot I see no need to water period unless it's a draught winter then sparingly...I am not an expert but mearly repeating what most others do ... some do store in a protected open porch away from the elements wind and freezing rain etc...just depends on your winter ...if it were me I wouldn't risk it othersd here may have other opinions.,.feel free to ask any more questions you wish ..not that we will know the answers ;>) David

This message was edited Sep 2, 2006 5:39 PM

This message was edited Sep 2, 2006 5:47 PM

This message was edited Sep 2, 2006 5:49 PM

Zone 8, Pacific Northwest - heeling them in a bed of sawdust/straw/mulch etc. surely wouldn't hurt, but in your zone, they should be fine simply above ground and in their pots. If smaller than one-gallon, I'd heel em in, just to be safe. Burying them is certainly another fine option - bury pot and all to soil level.

I used to live in zone 8 (Portland, OR) and all woody plants were kept above ground that were gallon size or larger. I was a nurseryman there.

David is right about the caging however as you never know when a rabbit will decide to eat your plants, but then again in your zone, they'll have other food to eat so probably not a threat.

Dax

I am worried about the same thing. I went crazy with 50 gorgeous JMs this summer on e-bay, all in at least 1 gallon pots. I am saving them for my dream home some day, where I'll have a couple of acres, and a
terarium-greenhouse.
My plants are on the north wall of the house, protected from crazy winds though, by a 5-6 foot wooden fence. I am looking all over for info for protecting them from our 1-2 days of possible freeze. I have made their soil quite porous, since our high rainfall known to Seattle area. I am just in love with these gorgeous creatures. So far so good, very glad to hear Zone 8 might be mild enough for the potted JMs. Thanks, Freebird...

This message was edited Sep 17, 2006 2:43 PM

Even the local bonzai specialist overwinters his trees in a lath house outside. I think that you are wise to put them closer to the house. They live there in the summer time too. But if they are in the shade, bring them gradually into the light when you plant them. They will do much better if you move the pots gradually into their planting spots. (This is my JM song).

I'm in zone 9b which doesn't freeze though and don't understand the physics of pots in the cold and most of the rest of us are in colder zones.

Why don't you ask on the Bonzai forum? All of their trees are in pots so they must know a lot about hardiness. Then let us know what you find out! We wouldn't want to make a mistake with that many trees.

What do your local good nurseries do with their potted JM's in the winter? That would be another source of information.

I would also CAREFULLY watch the pots ...for one thing most 1 gal pots are actually grower 1 gallons which are 3 NOT 4 quarts I have yet to buy a 1 gal JM ( i don't often buy that size but have on occasion) but NONE were actually one gallon all grower gallons...they may need to be moved up to two ACTUAL gals 8 quarts as early as next spring and defintly by next fall...if they are NOT planted out next sping or summer...David

Well, you can believe me or not.

Good luck!

Check out the " Boodgood vs Dark Red " thread. Few more ideas. kdcon