Is it possible to get surfinias to survive the winter? Well, it will depend on some variables, such as location, that is, where we have the plants; the maximum and minimum temperatures in this zone; air humidity; whether or not they are exposed to drafts, but 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 (except for some points where it is very hot and even subtropical, such as in the south of the Iberian Peninsula or in some places in the Canary Islands), it is difficult to maintain surfinias in winter. But not impossible.
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Inside or outside?
Well, to answer this question, you must first ask yourself another one: what is the weather like in the area where I live? And it is that, starting from the fact that these plants are tropical and that they do not resist the cold at all, if the thermometer drops below 10°C, we will have to take it homebut if, on the contrary, it always remains above these ten degrees Celsius, then it can be left outside.
But anyway it is important that it is placed in an area where there is plenty of lightas it is an herb that needs direct exposure to light to be healthy.
Beware of drafts if you are going to be inside the house
Surfinia is a tropical grass that needs high humidity. But even if it is true that we live in an area where the humidity level is 50% or more throughout the year, as is the case on the islands for example, if we place it near drafts, what we will achieve is that it dries out.
That’s why never never place a plant next to a fan, air conditioner, or other drafty device. Neither from a window that is kept open for a long time, nor in a very narrow corridor, because the continuous friction will damage it.
Spray surfinia if the air humidity is very low
I repeat: only spray it with water if the humidity is very low, i.e. below 50%. I like to repeat this for a reason: many websites and gardening books recommend spraying all plants in the home, but forget that spraying an island will doom that plant to fungus. For example, myself, indoors, I have 70-100% humidity most of the time. It’s so high that one of my Philodendrons wakes up every day with wet leaf tips.
Do you know what would happen if I poured water on the surfinia? Exactly: the mushrooms appeared and rotted it within a few days. For it it is so important to know what the climate of the region is, what temperatures and humidity there are. And that can be experienced with a home-use weather station like this.
In a pot or in the ground?
Since it is very cold, unless the thermometer is always above ten degrees, it is strongly recommended to keep it in a jar. This way it will be much easier to protect it when the time comes.
Now suppose that in your area the lowest temperature is 7 or 8 degrees. In this case, you can plant it in the ground -in the spring-, and protect it with an anti-frost cover like this one or even with a mini greenhouse.
When to water it in winter and with what type of water?
Watering in winter is not the same as in summer. Temperatures are usually lower, and so the plant enters a dormant state. In addition, the soil stays moist longer, so it will need less watering if you don’t want the roots to drown. But, How many times a week should you do this?
This will depend on how long it takes for the soil to dry out. It can be once a week or once every two weeks, but if in doubt, do not hesitate to check the humidity of the said soil. And the most practical and easiest way to do it is with a simple wooden stick, like the ones we are given in Chinese restaurants, for example.
We put it at the bottom, and if when we take it out we see that it is almost as it came in -that is to say more or less clean-, it is because it is very dry.. Then we will irrigate, but using rainwater if possible, or drinking water. We’ll pour until it soaks in well, otherwise it won’t hydrate enough. But be careful: if it is in a pot, you have to think about draining 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 the temperatures drop below 10 ºC. In these conditions, it is necessary to see if the water is lukewarm before watering, because if it is noticed cold, the plant will suffer damage.
When to pay surfinias in winter?
The question is poorly worded, and I’ll explain why: we have said that the surfinia is dormant during the winter. Therefore, we don’t have to pay it, or at least not like we would in spring and summer.. In these last two seasons, we do it in order to produce a lot of flowers, but in winter what interests us is that it simply survives.
So how do we do it? A trick I was taught at the time is this: 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, then water. This way you will ensure that the roots are at a slightly higher temperature than above the soil or substrate.
With these tips, we hope your surfinias will survive the winter.