WINTER STORAGE FOR TENDER BULBS AND TUBERS
Dahlias, cannas, gladiolas and elephant ears are easy to grow in summer gardens and containers. But if you live in the northern half of the country (growing zones 3-7), these tender bulbs and tubers will not survive the winter outdoors. When fall comes, you can either treat them as annuals or bring them indoors for the winter.
Bringing these cold sensitive plants indoors is easier than you may think. Bulbs and tubers are food storage organs and by the end of the growing season they contain all the energy needed to grow again next year. You just need to store them at the right temperature and moisture level until it’s time to replant in spring.
For most of these plants, the ideal winter storage temperature is 45° to 50°F. They also need darkness, high humidity and good ventilation. Potential storage places include a root cellar, unheated bedroom or a cool basement. If you're sure there's no chance of freezing, an attic or unheated garage can also work.
Bringing the Plants Indoors
Start by deciding which plants you want to keep. Make sure they are labeled before the first frost, because you won’t be able to tell them apart them later. Stop watering and let the foliage either die back naturally or be blackened by the first frost. Shortening days and cold temperatures trigger dormancy and will help improve storage success.
If the plants are in containers that are easy enough to move, just bring the containers indoors. Cut off the foliage at ground level and let the bulbs or tubers stay right in the soil. Do not give them any water during the winter.
If your plants are not in pots, dig them up right after the first hard frost. Start by cutting off the stems and leaves just above soil level. Carefully dig up the tubers or bulbs and move them to a warm, well-ventilated place where they will be protected from rain and frost. Letting them cure for a few days will help minimize moisture loss during storage. This is a good time to discard or cut away any that were damaged when digging or that show signs of pests or disease.
Bulbs, tubers and corms may be stored in newspaper, peat moss, mesh bags, cardboard boxes or plastic grocery bags. Figuring out the best technique requires a little trial and error because so much depends on the temperature and humidity conditions in the storage area.
Once the plants are in storage, check them monthly through the winter. Tubers should stay dry, smooth and firm like potatoes. Bulbs should stay firm and heavy. Corms should be firm and dry. If there’s too much moisture, improve ventilation; if too dry, mist with plain water or surround with damp peat moss or growing mix.
When spring comes, divide the tubers, bulbs and corms as needed and replant.
For instructions about overwintering dahlias, click HERE. For other plant-specific information see below.
Tuberous Begonia. Keep as houseplants or save the tubers. To store, stop watering and allow foliage to yellow. Cut stems to 4”. Wait a few more weeks until stems can be easily pulled away from the tuber. Gently brush most soil off bulbs and store in dry peat moss at 45 to 60°F.
Caladium. Caladiums are winter hardy in zones 9-11. In zone 8 the tubers can be dug before the first frost. Let them rest in a warm, dry place with leaves attached for 3 weeks. Remove dried leaves and store tubers in slightly moist peat moss at 55 to 70°F. In colder climates it's best to purchase new tubers each spring.
Calla. Let the foliage die back naturally, then dig up the rhizomes and cut back the stems and foliage. Cure in a warm place for several days, then store in dry peat moss at 50-60°F.
Canna. Cut stalks to 6”. Dig around clump and lift carefully as tubers are very brittle. Leave soil attached to help protect tubers. Store root balls in loosely gathered plastic bags at 40 to 50°F.
Elephant Ears. If in pots, cut back all but two leaves and bring the plant indoors before the first frost. Water sparingly and keep cool so plant stays alive but semi-dormant. If in the ground, cut foliage back as above and dig tuber. Put in a container for the winter and treat as above. For types with large tubers, cut stems back to 6” and store tubers at 55°F.
Eucomis, Hymenocallis, Nerine, Crinum. Let foliage dry until it can be easily pulled away. Leave bulbs in dry soil or store in mesh bag at 50°F.
Gladiolus and Acidanthera. Dig up plants after the first frost. Cut stems 1” above the corm and then dry corms for several weeks. Discard old corms and trim roots as needed. Store in mesh bags at 40 to 50°F.
