The overwintering table, part 1

You already know that I bring lots of plants into the garage to overwinter in a semi-dormant state. Although those take up the most room, they're simple -- just let them sit for five months, maybe watering once in a while.

There are other plants that I grow inside under lights, either because they don't do well in the garage, I want to propagate them, or because they're too important to trust to the sometimes unpredictable garage. Although I haven't finished bringing everything inside yet, here's a look at what's in here already.

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First, herbs. I should use these lights to grow something that I can actually use over the winter, right?

Basil is a perfect choice, as is rosemary:

That cutting took forever to root, but I'll pot it up very soon. The parent plant is in the garage and I may end up bringing it into the warmth too... haven't decided yet.

There are plants that smell as good as the herbs but aren't useful in cooking (as far as I know). The Plectranthus 'Cerveza n Lime' is such a favorite of mine:

I grow so many of these to use as filler plants everywhere! A new one for me:

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), a late-summer cutting taken from a public garden. It's not looking great right now, as spider mites are already a bit of a problem. Smells so nice though!

A tiny banana, left behind when I dug up the tropicals:

It's just starting to grow. I'm not giving it as much food or water as it really wants, as I don't know if I want it to start growing full-tilt yet. A three-inch banana plant is fine, but once it gets to three feet I'm in trouble!

Succulents, including a jade plant:

Some smaller elephant bush cuttings:

And my much-loved totem pole cactus:

There are a few more succulents in the garage that I may bring in later, such as my organ pipe cactus. It's probably fine out in the garage, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to walk into it sometime unless I get it out of the way.

The Echium wildpretii, which I've learned can't overwinter without ample light, so I'm trying it indoors this winter:

I still have to take cuttings from the tradescantia, which is still in the garage taking up lots of space:

I need to divide and plant some of the grasses too: the purple fountain grass and the Pennisetum 'Vertigo'. Apparently I have time for those though, as they're tough and can take weeks or months of neglect.

Speaking of plants that can take neglect:

This Cissus quadrangularis became a mystery for me this summer. On one of my visits to Mike's garden he asked about this plant (which he had given to me last year). I thought about it for a minute, and realized that I had no idea where the plant was! The last I had seen it was inside on the edge of my plant table...

When I got home I crawled around, looking under tables and found it -- it had fallen off the table and was just laying on the floor. Barely any light and no water for probably six months or more! I expect it to revive and start sprouting new leaves soon.

I'll probably get the grasses inside over the coming holiday weekend, so more on the plant table in the next week or so.

Are you overwintering any plants indoors this year?

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