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Winter plant ideas


12 Best Winter Plants for Pots Jay Scotts Collection

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You want to upgrade your house this winter, but you haven’t found the way?

We offer you a list of the 12 best winter plants for pots. They not only tolerate wintry weather, but some of them can produce lovely flowers and berries, perfect for adding color to your home and boosting psychological health in these cold, bleak months!

If you’re after winter decorating advice, we have that too. Check out our guide to winter decor with planters!

1. Violas

There is no surprise that violas are the most popular winter plant for pots. Viola can bloom through the winter and, with proper care, in summer too. Its flowers, in a wide range of colors: white, pink, yellow, red, can definitely brighten your house even on the gloomiest day. Plus, Violas are edible – you can garnish your food or candy them for cake decoration.

Violas do not need a lot of care. Just remember to water your violas regularly and place them in partial shade or full sun.

Top tip: Deadheading also helps make them grow faster.

2. Pansies

Remarkable as a winter plant, Pansies can survive freezing coldness and can thrive vigorously when summer returns. Its “smiling face” flowers are vibrant in color and fragrance that can fill up your space with so much joy.

Pansies are fine with normal potting soil, with a bit of general, all-purpose fertilizers. Deadheading faded flowers and sun exposure are needed to produce more blooms.

Top tip: One of the most common problems when growing pansies is underwatering. So, make sure to water your pansies regularly.

3. Erica carnea

Erica carnea is a sun-loving evergreen. Low maintenance, winter hardy, disease and pest-free, and a plant that exhibits an abundance of pink and purple flowers in winter, this plant definitely deserves a “pot” in your house.

Erica carnea does not mind some neglect. However, some sunshine (6 hours per day) is crucial for the vibrant color of their flowers.

Top tip: Your Erica plants will require moist, well-drained soil. So, let the top of the soil dry slightly before the next watering.

4. Gaultheria procumbens

Gaultheria procumbens is a type of evergreen shrub, with dark green, red-tinted leaves. Nothing can bring as much Christmas vibe as this winterberry. Its bright red berries are truly the most beautiful baubles you can add to your house. It can make an appealing decoration at your house entrance.

They do not need a lot of water and can tolerate drought. They can grow well in both full shade and partial shade.

Top tip: Gaultheria procumbens love acidic, moist but well-drained soil.

5. Clivia

Clivia is popular as an indoor flowering plant. From a giant bulb grows thick, dark-green long leaves. Clivia plants bloom a cluster of 15-20 smaller flowers in late winter. Although it is quite expensive – the price can be above $20 per plant, it is easy to care for.

Clivia only needs some basic care. In the winter months, your clivia requires a minimum amount of water to keep its foliage moist. It thrives in any type of well-drained soil with organic matter.

Top tip: It is shade-loving. Therefore, the early morning sun is preferable.

6. Hellebores

Not a lot of plants can compete with hellebores when it comes to winter tolerance. Hellebores are known for their nodding, fragrant and long-lasting flowers which bloom in a wide range of colors, even when the ground is covered with snow. Hellebores’ foliage is aesthetically pleasing with serrated, leathery leaves.

Place hellebores in well-drained, organic soil. Hellebores do not love so much sunlight. They prefer filtered sun, dappled light, and shady locations but make sure to water them regularly.

Top tip: Removing old and damaged leaves at the end of the season is necessary to prevent leaf spot disease.

7. Sedum

There is a variety of sedum ranging from low-spreading to high-spreading. Creeping and medium Sedum are the most suitable varieties to grow in pots. Even though they are mainly grown for their colorful foliage, Sedums can produce short sprays of lovely flowers. Like any type of succulent, Sedum is really hardy, and drought tolerant.

It is easy to take care of Sedum plants. You can use any form of succulent mix and well-draining soil. Make sure to have a drainage hole in your planters to keep your plant healthy. Most Sedums enjoy full sun or partial sun. In winter, do not water your Sedums too regularly, this will prevent winter rot.

Top tip: For succulents in general, underwatering is much better than overwatering.

8. Boxwood

Boxwood is a perfect winter plant for pots. Thriving all the year, through harsh winters and hot summers, hardly in need of any maintenance, a pot of nicely pruned boxwood shrub is a living sculpture that can bring year-round color to your house.

You need to pay extra attention when choosing a pot for your boxwood. The pot should be large and tall and have a good drainage hole. Boxwoods do not like to sit in wet roots. Other than that, taking care of a boxwood is easy. Water your boxwood moderately through the year and reduce the water in winter.

Top tip: You can add some wood chips and leaves to the soil in winter to keep your plant warm.

9. ZZ plant

Easy to take care of, stylish, extremely cold tolerant, a ZZ plant is the safest plant to grow in pots in winter. Its oval-shaped, glossy, deep green can work as décor for your house.

ZZ plant is suitable for any busy owner because you don’t need to take care of it much at all. Watering it once a month in winter is enough to make it happy. ZZ plant loves low, or medium-light so you can place it everywhere in your house.

Top tip: Fertilize it once a year with worm compost and you can enjoy its shiny foliage for the whole year.

10. Jade plant

The Jade plant is a succulent with thick stems and oval-shaped leaves. In late winter, it produces white, mildly fragrant flowers.  Tiny, about 3-6 inches tall, the Jade plant can be placed anywhere in your house – on a table or bookshelf. Many people prefer placing them in their working corner as the Jade plant is regarded as a lucky plant.

The Jade plant is succulent; therefore, it enjoys well-draining soil. Do not water them too often. Overwatering can cause root rot and fungal disease.

Top tip: Jade plant is happy with indirect light. Too much sunlight means its foliage will get burned.

11. Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley exhibits delicate, bell-shaped, white flowers. The fragrance can easily fill up any room in the house. It is recommended to grow the plant in pots so that you can bring the pleasing smell everywhere you want and control the spread of the rhizomes. Despite its tiny, fragile appearance, this plant makes it to the list for being cold-hardy, and versatile.

Like with Boxwoods, the most important step is to choose a suitable pot for your Lily plant. A pot whose depth is greater than its width is the best for your Lily. Place your pots under indirect sunlight. Water in the morning.

With Lily of the Valley plants, you should also place your garden hose directly to the ground to avoid wetting the leaves.

Top tip: Remember to remove the flower stalks when the flowers become dry and the petals fall off.

12. Japanese Skimmia

Japanese Skimmia is a coldy-hardy evergreen that offers year-round glossy foliage, clusters of star-shaped, pink-tinted flowers in summer, and decorative red buds or berries in winter. Both blooms and leaves produce a pleasant fragrance.

Japanese Skimmia is a shade-loving plant. It easily thrives in partial shade and full shade, preferably morning and dappled afternoon sunlight. Well-drained, slightly acidic soil works best for skimmia.

Top tip: The soil should be moist all the time so it is a must to water your Japanese Skimmia regularly and frequently.

If you have plants that aren’t on this list, you may need to keep them warm and safe from frost, snow, and wind. Not all plants are as hardy as the ones on this list! Learn how to keep your beloved plants safe and how to cover your plants for winter.

We hope our list can help you decide what to get for the winter season. The next step is to choose high-quality, fashionable pots for your lovelies. Be sure to take a look at our fiberglass containers that are light and durable, and suitable to move your plants around in as you please. If you want to see out planters in action, be sure to check out this project:

If you’re not sure which pots are best for your plants, take a look at our best landscaping planters, for outdoor and indoor landscaping perfection!

Best winter plants for pots: 17 bright ideas

(Image credit: The Joy Of Plants)

Bright summer blooms inevitably fade as the seasons shift. But, the best winter plants for pots will keep the spirits lifted and the garden looking beautiful, despite colder temperatures and darker evenings.

There are plenty of stunning winter garden ideas that will bring a smile to your face on frosty days. But one of the best ways to brighten up an outdoor space is to plant some gorgeous containers. With flower beds and borders looking a little bare over the coldest season, using pots is a great way to ensure there is still plenty of interest in your yard during the months ahead. Of course, many winter-flowering plants will provide vital nectar for foraging wildlife, too – even more reason for introducing them to your plot.

To give you lots of inspiration, we've rounded up our favorite winter plants you can use in your containers for a stunning display.

Wonderful winter plants for pots to try in your yard

Want to ensure your container gardening ideas are packed with color, scent and interest throughout the colder weather? Our edit of winter plants for pots is the perfect place to start.  

1. Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens is fabulously festive

(Image credit: Natalia Greeske/Alamy Stock Photo)

Wintergreen (or Gaultheria procumbens) planted in pots makes a cheery addition to outdoor Christmas decor with its vibrant red berries. Alternatively, try Gaultheria 'Pearls' which has white berries with a pink flush. Both will thrive in full to part shade.

Replant these dwarf evergreens in a larger container or into your borders as a ground-cover plant when it's time to give your winter pots a refresh. Be sure to always wear gloves when handling these plants, however, as they are toxic.

2. Primulas

'Zebra Blue' has a striking appearance

(Image credit: Petra Cleuskens/Alamy Stock Photo)

Primulas are a classic winter bedding plant, bringing a big boost of bold color to a display. Some are hardier than others, one of our favorites being 'Zebra Blue' which has striped flowers and yellow centers. It blooms in late winter through to late spring and thrives in partial shade. Take a cue from this setup and push structural twigs into the soil for extra height and drama.

As perennials, keep these beauties going once the season ends by planting them into your borders. As they grow, they will form large clumps which can be divided to improve vigor (and to get 'new' free plants).

Summer or autumn is the best time to do so: 'Simply lift a plant and, using two hand forks inserted close together and back-to-back, divide the clump into chunky, well-rooted portions,' says John Negus, a gardening expert from Amateur Gardening. 'Replant them in a shady spot for summer and, in autumn, set them where they are to flower in spring.'

Polyanthus – a type of primula which produces flowers in umbels – is also one of our favorite winter plants for pots. Sue Sanderson, writing for Thompson & Morgan , recommends ‘Firecracker’ for a fragrant display. Deadhead the flowers often to encourage prolific blooming.

3. Winter irises

The 'Harmony' winter iris offers an eye-catching shot of blue

(Image credit: iBulb)

With their elegant structure and jewel-like tones, winter irises will brighten any patio or doorstep. The team at Amateur Gardening suggests 'Harmony' – a stunning bloom with rich purple-blue flowers and a golden band on the fall, which flowers in mid-winter.

For something a little different, opt for the ice-white 'Frozen Planet' when planting your winter container, which has pale-blue-tipped petals and will bloom all the way from early winter to spring. 'Pauline' is another beautiful choice, offering a sophisticated shade of plum. 

Plant the bulbs in fall in well-drained soil, and for best results, position the containers in full sun. Each plant will grow to around 6in (15cm), depending on the variety.

4. Winter aconites

Winter aconites may be small but they're a surefire way to brighten up a space

(Image credit: Natalia Greeske/Alamy Stock Photo)

A wonderful winter garden plant, the sun-yellow flowers of aconites bring reliable cheer. 'After flowering, plant them out in humus-rich moisture-retentive soil in semi-shade, where they will naturalize,' suggests the Amateur Gardening team.

They don't grow too tall – only around 4in (10cm). Try planting up a cluster of smaller pots for an instant uplift, or dot the bulbs around the perimeter of a larger container. 

Pollinators adore these buttercup-like blooms, so they're perfect if you're looking for winter wildlife garden ideas.

5.

Early crocuses

An array of pots filled with 'Whitewell Purple' crocuses

(Image credit: iBulb)

In shades of yellow, lilac, deep purple and frosty white, early crocuses are perfect for adding to winter planters.

Try 'Pickwick', a larger variety with white goblet flowers and purple veining, which will bloom in late winter in milder regions. RHS-award-winning 'Blue Pearl' is another favorite with its silvery-lilac petals and deep yellow throats, or try 'Snow Bunting' for white, star-shaped blooms with sunshine-yellow centers. If you love a deeper purple hue, then opt for 'Whitewell Purple', as shown above.

Plant crocus bulbs in well-drained containers positioned in the sun (they won't flower in shade). After flowering, plant them out in a sunny patch of a border or lawn, where they will form clumps over time.

6.

Heucheras

Viola ‘Rose Blotch’ and heuchera ‘Sugar Frosting' make a festive duo

(Image credit: Anne Gilbert/Alamy Stock Photo)

Coral bells, otherwise known as heucheras, have pretty flower spikes in summer. However, the frilly, semi-evergreen, vibrant foliage makes them a good plant for winter color, too, especially in regions where temperatures don't drop too low.

Amateur Gardening suggests 'Marmalade' as a variety to try, with its caramel and pink leaves to warm the winter scene. To set a moody, dramatic tone, opt for 'Black Pearl', whilst 'Sugar Frosting' as shown above looks gorgeously festive against ruby-red viola 'Rose Blotch'.

Plant them in moist, well-drained pots in sun or semi-shade.

7. Pansies and violas

Hardy pansies and violas are a classic choice for winter pots

(Image credit: The Joy Of Plants)

Create a container of pansies and you are guaranteed a cheering display all through autumn, winter and into early spring. These bedding plants are one of the best plants for beginners if you follow a few simple rules. Choose plants labeled as 'winter-flowering' to guarantee they will thrive in colder weather. 

Plant them out at the start of autumn so they form buds before the frosts arrive. Plant in multi-purpose compost with a handful of grit to aid drainage. In dry spells, or if there is an Indian summer, make sure the compost is moist to touch – plants can still dry out and die in the colder months. 

Pack the container with plants for a full display. Deadheading flowers regularly will encourage repeat blooming. For extra impact, opt for one color, rather than a mix of shades – try 'Swiss Giant Orange' for a blaze of gold, or 'Coolwave Raspberry' for a cushion of velvety plum. 

8. Heather

Heather is fantastic for bees and looks gorgeous too

(Image credit: Olga Korica/Alamy Stock Photo)

Whether it is a shade of white or dark pink, winter heather brings delicate beauty to your displays.

Heathers only thrive in acid soil, so buy a bag of ericaceous compost. Add a 1–2in (2.5–5cm) layer of grit at the base of the container first, as they do not like to have soggy roots. Grow them in a sunny spot, or partial shade. 

Good choices are E. carnea 'Springwood White', which has trailing stems, and E. carnea 'Springwood Pink' for a bright pop of color.

9. Foliage plants

This stunning container includes the textural calocephalus to the left, as well as trailing ivy, yellow primula, skimmia, and the jolly orange berries of Solanum pseudocapsicum

(Image credit: mike jarman/Alamy Stock Photo)

Winter containers don't have to feature flowers: there is a fantastic choice of foliage plants available from garden centers or via mail order. Opt for interestingly-shaped, frosted foliage plants such as calocephalus, which has been added to this planter above.

You could also go for the downy leaves of dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) or try the frivolous, frilly leaves of ornamental kale such as 'Northern Lights', which intensifies in color as temperatures plummet.

A mix of foliage plants in similar tones looks stunning in the same pot. Soften the edges with an easy-to-grow evergreen trailing ivy such as 'White Wonder'.

10. Hellebores

Hellebores work well in modern and cottage-style gardens alike

(Image credit: The Joy Of Plants)

The Christmas rose, or hellebore, adds a touch of romanticism in the bleaker months. They come in a subtle rainbow of colors, from pure white and dusty pink to apricot and rich purple and they can cope with cold conditions, including frost and snow. 

Hellebores are mainly evergreen, flowering in mid-winter and continuing to early spring. They can be combined with other plants in the same pot, but a simple container of one color will create maximum impact. 

Plant them in a multi-purpose compost in a container, deep enough to fit with the top of the existing compost level. Water well and place in a shady spot. 

11. Scented plants

Sweet box, or Sarcococca confusa, is a brilliant choice for winter pots, available from Crocus

(Image credit: Crocus)

Although we associate scented plants with warm summer days, there are some cold-weather heroes which are perfect for placing by the porch for a blast of winter fragrance. 

Sweet box, or Sarcococca confusa, is a brilliant option for the best winter plants for pots. It has a profusion of tiny, spidery, white flowers on glossy evergreen leaves in the winter, which turn into black berries over summer. It's an easy-care plant, with no pruning needed. Just remove any dead sprigs in late spring. For best results, plant in John Innes No.3 compost, and make sure that the soil is kept moist. 

For a beautiful citrus scent in a pot, try winter-flowering honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) which has creamy-colored flowers on semi-bare branches. Plant in a large container for the best results.

12. Japanese skimmia

Red-berried skimmia will add bold color to your container display

(Image credit: The Joy of Plants)

Japanese skimmia has domes of neat evergreen foliage, and the female plants – such as 'Kew Green' or 'Rubella' – are one of the best plants with winter berries. Just ensure you pair them with a male variety, otherwise, you might not get any berries at all.

The shrubs prefer partial shade, and they will cheer up a dark spot.  

13. Camellia 

Bring the beautiful blooms of camellia to your garden

(Image credit: The Joy Of Plants)

It's worth learning how to grow camellias for the spectacle of showy flowers. Camellias come in shades of pink, red and white, and their blooms contrast with their evergreen foliage. 

They're ideal for growing in pots to add some interest to your winter patio. But, they do need to be planted in well-drained ericaceous (acid) soil, and if possible, they should be watered with rainwater from a water butt. 

Put them in a sheltered spot near the house, and protect early buds from frost with horticultural fleece. Prune after they have flowered, and keep them well-watered through spring and summer, as this is when the buds are forming. It's definitely worth the effort, as they will reward you with a stunning display in late winter and early spring.  

14. Festuca glauca

Brilliant in a container, blue fescue is a mystical blue grass with very fine foliage

(Image credit: BIOSPHOTO/Alamy Stock Photo)

Ornamental grasses fit beautifully into a modern garden, but some of them are perennials which die back in the winter. Add a few pots of tasteful blue fescue (Festuca glauca), however, and you get a lot more bang for your buck with a year-round display of texture and a soft blue-green color. 

The spiky hummocks of foliage look particularly good in galvanized zinc containers. They need moist, well-drained soil, so add a handful of grit to the compost when planting. 

The grasses might benefit from being divided every three years to stop them from looking shabby. With a sparkling coat of frost, they will bring pleasure to the coldest days. 

15.

Cyclamen

We love this colorful combo of pink cyclamen and turquoise pots

(Image credit: The Joy of Plants)

The flag-like flowers of cyclamen offer tons of beauty and are perfect plants for winter hanging baskets as well as pots.

The ones on sale in supermarkets tend to be tender, indoor cyclamen. So, make sure you choose a hardy variety called Cyclamen coum or Cyclamen hederifolium if you're after the best plants for winter pots. Plant them at the same depth as the pots you buy them in and avoid letting the containers become waterlogged, as this will damage the roots. 

They can be bought as bulbs, but for a quick solution, ready-grown plants are inexpensive and create an instant uplift.  

16. Snowdrops

Snowdrops are a true winter favorite

(Image credit: iBulb)

They're among the first spring bulbs to nose through the ground in winter, and a pot or two of snowdrops delivers a welcome boost.

Snowdrop bulbs can be planted in the autumn, or they may be grown 'in the green' (with their leaves still attached) in spring for flowering the following winter. They are happiest when growing in the ground in a shady garden border or raised bed – those grown in containers will need repotting every year.

Don't forget about the greater snowdrop too (Galanthus elwesii) – it has large, honey-scented white flowers above glaucous leaves.

17. Forced bulbs for indoors

White muscari have an understated elegance

(Image credit: iBulb)

Winter containers aren't just for outdoors. Forcing bulbs is a lovely way to brighten up your interior and enjoy spring flowers early. There are all kinds you can try, from muscari (as seen above) to narcissus and sweetly-scented hyacinths.

Hang them up, decorate a window sill, or position them on the center of your dining table – they are bound to bring joy to any onlooker.

What plants are good for winter pots in shade?

Even a garden that doesn't get much sun can be brightened with a container, providing you choose shade-loving plants. Try these three winter varieties:

Skimmias thrive in shade

(Image credit: The Joy of Plants)

How often do you need to water winter pots?

True, summer is peak time for watering plants. But your containers will still need some attention with the watering can from time to time in winter, especially after sunny or windy weather.

The RHS explains how conifers and other evergreens should be checked at least weekly and watered if necessary, especially if they are under cover. However, avoid watering if frost is forecasted.

It's important to ensure that your containers have good drainage. Allowing plants to sit in cold, waterlogged soil will do them no good at all.

These pretty garden planters include viola 'Antique Shades', 'Sorbet Blueberry Cream' and 'Rose Blotch'

(Image credit: Anne Gilbert/Alamy Stock Photo)

An experienced freelance journalist, editor and columnist writing for national magazines and websites, Fiona now specialises in gardens. She enjoys finding and writing about all kinds, from the tiniest town plots to impressively designed ones in grand country houses. 

With contributions from

Plants for a winter garden: Flowers and indoor plants for a winter garden in an apartment and a private house, photo how to equip

Think about what you and your family want to get from a winter garden: a place where you can read a book and have a cup of tea surrounded by greenery ? Or the illusion of a tropical forest with rare plant species? - The design of the winter garden, and its place in the house, and the choice of plants depend on this. Consider three types of winter gardens suitable for central Russia.

inovasis design

1. Winter garden - additional room
Used in a constant temperature regime all year round. It differs from the rest of the living rooms by the emphasis on plants that form the image of the space and, possibly, zone it.

Conditions: The temperature is maintained at 20-25°C and the humidity is not lower than 70%.

What to grow: Suitable for a tropical garden that will thrive in heat-loving plants such as Saintpaulia (Saintpaulia) , Diffenbachia (Dieffenbachia) , alocasia (ALOCASIA) , Anturium (Anthurium) - as the photo below, Calatea , Marante (Marand), Marantea , Marantea , Marantea , Marantea , Marantea (Marand ) and echmea (Aechmea) .

inovasis design

You can also add crops that can grow in the shading zone, such as the fantastically beautiful Gloriosa liana (Gloriosa) , aquatic plants near artificial reservoirs - miniature nymphaeum (Nymphaea) , luxury eland (Canna) and callas (Calla) .
You can create a small tropical fruit garden from tub crops.

Lena Cuban | Lena Grant design

Plants of the bromeliad family from the American jungle will decorate the winter garden: gusmania (Guzmania) blooming for several months in a row, frisee (Vriesea) , neoregelia (Neoregelia) , cryptanthus 9001 tillandsia (Tillandsia cyanea) , especially if you build an epiphytic tree for them .

What is important: The life support systems of such a garden must work like clockwork, many plants from this group die even due to a slight temperature difference. The bright sun is no less destructive for them, many are accustomed to living under the crowns of large trees. Mandatory installation of blinds or curtains, forced ventilation systems. For Tropicans, additional lighting is very important, and in the darkest time of the year at least 12 hours a day.

Hampton Conservatories Ltd

2. Insulated veranda garden
Or in another room that is used as a living room during the warm season. Here, the air is drier, which means that this is a more suitable option for a rest room.

Conditions: During the autumn-winter period, the temperature is maintained at 15°–17° C, and the humidity in summer can rise to 75%.

What to grow: Such premises are suitable for a subtropical garden, the plants of which are more accessible and cheaper. Liviston palms

Pot Inc. Custom Planters & Fire Bowls

Pictured: Small coniferous plants will make beautiful accents, giving the air an invigorating fresh scent - they can create a variety of landscape compositions

Ivy & Bloom

Pictured: Most house flowers will be happy to move for the winter in a spacious bright room, which will add dynamism to the life of the winter garden.

Scherzer's Anthurium (Anthurium scherzerianum), Sprenger's Asparagus (Asparagus densiflorus Sprengeri) and Wallis' Spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum wallisii) will bloom more actively and abundantly after staying in the winter garden during the summer.

inovasis design

What is important: Such a garden needs to provide a stable autumn-winter temperature without sudden changes, as well as protection from drafts. The watering system, if it is automatic, must be adjusted according to the season - in winter, most plants need watering much less often than in summer. Illumination is necessary, otherwise the plants will lose their decorative effect. With so much choice, it is possible to plant hardier plants closer to the window so as not to block the view from the window, shading the garden on sunny days, while direct sunlight is an ordeal for almost any houseplant.

inovasis design

3. Winter garden - greenhouse
Not only will it give you new opportunities for growing plants, including for the backyard, but it will also make the temperature regime of the house more balanced, and the house itself less ventilated.

Conditions: In winter, the temperature is maintained at 10-12°C.

Lena Kubinskaya | Lena Grant design

What to grow : Despite the rather cool atmosphere, many plants survive their dormant period here. First of all, these are rhododendron (Rhododendron), rose (Rosa), laurel (Laurus) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus). They are perfectly complemented by ferns.

Aloe, Cactaceae, Sansevieria, Podranea, Clivia and Aspidistra thrive in the greenhouse. Some natives of the subtropics can also be placed here: fuchsia (Fuchsia), pelargonium (Pelargonium) and all citrus fruits (Citrinae). It can be not only the familiar lemon (Cítrus límon), but also the very beautiful calamondin (×Citrofortunella microcarpa), mandarin (Citrus reticulāta) and kumquat (Fortunella).

Hampton Conservatories Ltd

What's important: As in the previous version of the garden, the main tasks here are to maintain a stable autumn-winter temperature without sudden changes and protect from drafts. The irrigation system must be adjusted according to the season. Illumination is necessary, otherwise the plants will lose their decorative effect: the stems will stretch, the leaves will become small, and the plant itself will turn towards the window.

The composition of such a garden must be changed from month to month. For example, it is better to hide pelargonium in the twilight in winter - until the first sunny days. In November, the gedichium will be next to it. Rhododendron, on the contrary, will begin to bloom magnificently in December-February, just after the end of the long flowering of bougainvillea. Keep indoor roses from October to February in a cool room, and with the beginning of the growing season, rearrange where it is warmer. Fuchsia from a bright flower, blooming luxuriantly from spring to autumn, will turn into a prude in winter, or even require a radical update.

Ivy & Bloom

Fact: Large cities have a winter garden subscription system. It includes the correction of automatic systems for maintaining the microclimate, feeding and treating plants, maintaining their decorative appearance and transplanting if necessary. If you are planning a large garden with rare species, it makes sense to inquire about such a service.

Hampton Conservatories Ltd

Winter Garden Location
North. The garden, located in the northern part of the house, will require a well-thought-out heating system. For him, it is better to choose shade-tolerant plants as a basis. According to feng shui, northern conservatories are the best place to reflect and work on creative projects.

West. A garden oriented to the west will require well-functioning forced ventilation and shading of transparent structures on sunny days. It is good to receive guests in the western garden - the evening sun promotes communication.

WITHIN HOME

South. Forced ventilation and the ability to protect plants from bright light are also necessary for a garden on the south side. The advantage of this arrangement is that the heat here quickly accumulates and persists for a long time.

East. The east side is ideal for a winter garden. Shading is required here only in rare cases, and the morning sun is the most beneficial for plants. In addition, the east side promotes relaxation and proper eating, so the dining area next door will be very useful.

Depending on the direction of the world where your garden will be located, you will have to adjust the assortment of plants. The best choice of window is almost always listed in the descriptions of indoor plants on the Internet.

Olga Shangina | Photography

What equipment is needed
For the normal functioning of the winter garden, it is important to provide the plants with thermal, air, light and water conditions.

Weather station. If you decide to organize a small garden with plants that are easy to care for, get a weather station. It shows the temperature and humidity in the house.

Humidifier. You will need a humidifier that will work 24/7 and turn off automatically when the required humidity level is reached.

Heating, floor heating. Uniform heating of the space is very important, so it is necessary to make a reliable heating system and, preferably, a warm floor. Consider a heating system that is sensitive to changes in room temperature.

Tip: If you have a smart home system, assign it to control indoor humidity and temperature. This will make gardening much easier.

ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO…
Away: House-lair with a collection of insects and a children's floor

Catton Windows

staggered

Winter garden ventilation
The passive ventilation system prevents condensation on the inside of the surface and cools the air during the hot months. To reduce condensate on the windows, it is necessary to arrange air-thermal curtains along them, use double-glazed windows with electric heating.

Fans and exhaust devices are used for forced ventilation. Their power should be calculated by a specialist, based on the type of garden.

inovasis design

Illumination (phytolamps)
Even a well-lit winter garden requires the installation of phytolamps, sodium or metal halide, to supplement the plants on cloudy and winter days. Plants located far from natural light sources need additional illumination for 12 hours all year round, otherwise they will stretch towards the windows, deforming and losing their decorative effect. For some plants, the duration of supplementary illumination will depend on the season.

Patrick Meneguzzi Interiors

Lamps are selected depending on which plants you will be lighting. Shade-tolerant tropical and subtropical crops need 1000-5000 lux, light-loving - from 10,000 lux.

Watering
The water regime in the winter garden is supported by a system of watering nozzles and air humidifiers. At the design stage, a drainage system with water drainage into the general sewer system should be made.

Max Kasymov Interior/Design

Designing large-scale winter gardens requires the involvement of a number of specialists, from an architect to a phytodesigner. Whether it will be an extension on the ground floor, a winter garden on the roof, a green area in the pool or in a spacious atrium - you will have to solve not only interior design tasks, but also organizational, technical and financial issues.

Therefore, the main advice is to take your time. Do not start a large-scale project right away if this is your first time creating a winter garden. Plant a couple of large showy plants that are easy to care for. Or try the mini-garden format on a glazed loggia, where you can master the art of creating corners of nature from the most resistant plants that do not require special attention. Most likely, very soon you will be able to honestly answer yourself the question of what you dream of creating: a place of rest for a person or a paradise for plants.

YOUR TURN…
Tell us which plants you have chosen for the winter garden in a private house or apartment. What difficulties did you encounter in growing them?

photo ideas and recommendations for creating - INMYROOM

In recent years the winter garden in a private house has become very popular, photo of this beauties fascinate, attract with their originality, unusualness, mystery and luxury. The most amazing thing is that all this wealth can be made with your own hands, properly equipped and landscaped.

Types of winter gardens and their characteristics

Warm summer days last not so long, giving way to another long cold days. But sometimes you really want to take and extend this warm period for at least some time to have time to once again inhale the aroma of your favorite flowers, admire the green leaves and the amazing colors of summer nature.

Self made hands, the winter garden is an evergreen corner, thanks to which you can continue to admire all your favorite greenery at any time of the year.

Ornamental greenery can be placed both in a country house and in a small city apartment. For this, the most important thing is to choose a suitable place. Although if we are talking about a private house, then this suitable place can be created specially.

Winter gardens are divided into its location and functionality.

1. Buffer garden. it annex, which is part of a private house and is glazed veranda.

2. Residential conservatory in private house. It can be a specially designated corner or personalized building (attachment). The garden can be full or partially glazed. This room can accommodate a living room, dining room, a recreation area, and in each of these environments coziness and comfort will be provided. AT an artificial microclimate is created in the room, thanks to which the inside is always a certain temperature is maintained and it becomes possible to grow various flowers, fruit trees at any time of the year and regardless of weather.

3. Greenhouse winter garden in the house. This is a non-residential building, equipped with an artificial climate. In such the room is very convenient for cultivating plants brought from different parts of the earth. Greenhouses located in large areas, allow you to create entire multifunctional front gardens with alleys, ponds, recreation areas and flower beds. Thanks to this multifunctional placement you can not only create a unique winter garden, but also get a great place for rest and relaxation.

Ways to create a winter garden in a private house

The process of creating greenhouses are not the easiest and easiest thing to do. This process will require not only a lot of time and effort, but also financial security. But the resulting creation is able to give such pleasure that in the end it will not be a pity for any money, no strength. After all, this garden will become a summer corner throughout the year.

Importance in creating a winter garden plays a choice of location. It is best to build a structure with edges from the cottage, which will save on energy carriers and maximize use all the possibilities of the resulting garden.

When choosing the right places, it is important to pay attention to some nuances:

creating a garden plays and the right choice of materials. They must be reliable and durable. Therefore, you should not save on building materials. To make a winter garden in a private house, use:

1. Glass. Allows transmit up to 98% of light, withstand loads, it is not afraid of snow or hail, no strong wind. Disadvantages - high price and heat transfer.

2. Polycarbonate. Advantages - low cost, flexibility of the material, transparency 88%. Disadvantages - low thermal efficiency, which will lead to the need additional heating of the building and additional monetary costs.

3. PVC bags. Advantages - heat preservation and efficiency. The disadvantages include a large the weight.

4. Plexiglas. Will be useful for creating side walls indoors. Advantages - ease of use. The disadvantage is heavy weight.

With equipment greenhouses, it is necessary to carefully consider the system of heating, lighting, watering and ventilation. In order to have enough heat, it is necessary to install a heating system. There are a large number of heating installations. Choice rests on the budget, as well as the size of the heated room itself.

Ventilation system necessary for the normal growth and development of plants. In additional many flowers and shrubs need lighting, so such plants should be equipped with separate fluorescent lamps. Although there are shade-loving plants. Therefore, when considering lighting, it is necessary to take into account the "wishes" of the plants.

Moisture sufficiency also directly affects the normal development and growth of plants. by the most the best option for irrigation is a drip method that allows you to saturate moisture root system.

Design methods and ideas

Winter garden decoration carried out only at the personal discretion and wish. Design idea can fully reflect the flight of fantasy of the owner of the greenhouse. Although not desirable experiment with plant selection. To get the best result, you need to follow some rules:

If accepted the decision to make a winter garden on your own, it is important to remember the most important thing rule is the correct combination of plants among themselves, distributing them according to criteria:

It is important to understand that it is impossible to collect all the plants from different parts of the earth in one place. Each of these plants needs the necessary conditions, which are more realistic reflect their familiar environment and environment.

Create in one indoors, various microzones are very difficult, which is why it is worth giving preference for plants belonging to the same category.

Where to arrange

1. Winter garden on veranda. Creating a winter garden on the veranda of a private house is quite easy without special material costs. The room is filled with natural light, which penetrates through the walls and roof of the building. To change the destination is simple verandas, and turn it into a winter garden, you only need to install ventilation systems. They will help prevent condensation in the winter, and will not let the plants wither in the summer from the heat.

2. Winter garden on the roof. In this option, it will not be necessary to build a foundation, which will be very significant building advantage. However, you will need to do other more significant structures. For example, you need to assemble a frame that will be similar to the ground structure. You need to take care of the unhindered flow of snow and water from the roof of the garden. On the roof will need somehow climb, so you will need to consider options for stairs, railings and doors. AT air vents can act as a ventilation system for a roof garden, due to which there will be constant air circulation. This type of garden is very convenient. and a functional option, because lighting, ventilation and heating will occur exclusively in a natural way.

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