Anyone who grows tender tropicals or succulents in pots often uses the garage for storage during the Winter months. Here’s a nice article on how to make your garage a more friendly plant place.
Many of us have potted plants on our patios or in our gardens and every winter, we come across the same problem. How to protect the plants during the cold winter? It is difficult to take care of potted plants in areas where extreme cold is frequent. During the time of winter or fall, your potted plants require extra attention and love. Most plants do not do very well in winters, so your precious potted plants must be taken indoors for the entire winter season.
You can move your potted plants into an unheated garage but make sure the temperature remains above freezing. You can also use your garage to grow plants away from adverse weather conditions and then, if you want, you can also shift them in the great outdoors again.
Source:unsplash.com
Why Grow Plants in Your Garage?
The common question that arises in mind after reading the title of this article is why a garage and why not somewhere else? Almost everyone has access to a garage. It is an extra space that can be easily converted to support your gardening hobby. It is close to your home, making it an accessible place to store your potted plants while being able to take care of them. A garage has enough shelter that can save your plants from the unmerciful weather. Plus, it is almost the go-to place for all our gardening equipment, the shovels, the pots, gloves, etc.
Planning and Preparing Your Garage
Before we start storing our potted plants in the garage, we need to decide which plants need to be stored and where they should be placed in the garage. Some plants may require sunlight while others may not.
To prepare your garage for the plants, you need space. The first step is to create space for the potted plants by removing all the clutter. Organize the stuff you have by neatly placing it into shelves, storage cabinets, etc. The next step is to make sure that before you set up the pots and trays for your plants, there must be a provision for the light to reach them. You can put them on any table or shelves you may have in the garage.
Source:unsplash.com
Some Precautions You Need to Take
Potted plants will do well in your garage if they are insulated. If they are not, then you may have to take some extra precautions. One of the precautionary measures is to make sure that you place something between the pots and the floor. Otherwise, as the sun sets, the plants will grow cold, being in direct contact with the concrete floor. If your garage doesn’t have many windows, then you can install some artificial light to support the healthy growth of your plants.
Another precaution is to make sure that the plants are not overwatered. Watering is required but not too much or too often. Watering needs to be done keeping in mind the size and the type of plant. Excess water can rot the roots of the plants.
Garage plant storage becomes tricky when the winters are about to end. As the days lengthen, the plants start to come out of dormancy. It is essential to make sure that the plants are not immediately introduced to the outer world because it may cause sunburns.
Source:unsplash.com
Advantages of Storing Potted Plants in A Garage
The primary reason for storing potted plants in a garage is to protect them from adverse outside conditions. A garage’s temperature tends to hover between 40 to 50 all winter. This is the reason why plants remain dormant but never freeze.
Moreover, a garage consists of shelves and storage areas that can be helpful in storing and organizing all the gardening equipment. This contributes to the efficient caretaking of potted plants. This way, even when the weather is getting colder, you can exercise your gardening skills all year round in your garage.
These are some ways in which you can use the extra space in your garage to save your potted plants from adverse weather conditions and can continue to pamper them long after the planting season has passed.
Reference Links
- https://www.danleysgarageworld.com/garage-garden/
- http://www.allmontdoors.com/blog/using-garage-grow-plants-spring/
- https://www.offthegridnews.com/survival-gardening-2/6-ways-to-protect-your-potted-plants-this-winter/
- https://www.gardenlady.com/over-wintering-plants-in-garage/
Author’s Bio: Jon works for Acron Garage Doors Ltd – Novoferm Garage Doors. Helping clients in complex situations is what he loves most about his job. If not working, Jon can be found behind any new romantic novel. He also loves to blog about his experiences & challenges he faces at work.