Overwintering Annual Shallow Water Plants – 3 Easy Steps!

Overwintering annual shallow water plants can be an intimidating thought for most pond and water garden owners. As the temperature begins to drop, these aquatic plants face many unique challenges, as they are partially submerged in water. Thankfully ensuring their survival through the cold season is relatively simple and can be broken down into 3 easy steps!

1. Identify your hardiness zone.

Plant hardiness zones are a way to help gardeners and farmers understand which plants will thrive in their specific location. These zones are based on the average minimum winter temperature in a particular region. The United States, for example, is divided into multiple hardiness zones, each with a unique number or letter designation.

In simple terms, plant hardiness zones tell you how cold it gets in your area during the winter. This information is important because different plants have different temperature preferences. By knowing your zone, you will be able to identify which plants are considered annuals in your area.

There are several ways to identify your hardiness zone. The map below is an excellent resource for a rough approximation of which zone you are in. Another option is the USDA Plant Hardiness Map provided on the USDA’s website. Click Here and enter your zip code for more accurate result.

2. Find the hardiness of your plants.

Use Chalily’s online shop to browse our assortment of shallow water plants. Information about your plants can be found on the product page. Click Here to explore! If your zone location matches, or is higher than the hardiness of the plant, it is safe to leave your plants outside. Here’s a handy example: Graceful Cattail’s hardiness zone is 4. This means that zones 4 and higher are safe to leave them outside!

3. Overwintering annual pond plants.

The end of growing season is the perfect time to start planning for next year! Determine if you would like to overwinter your annuals, or switch to something different in the spring!

Once you have determined the hardiness of your plants, be sure to select varieties that will be manageable indoors. Trimming back excess stems at the crown of the plant is a great way to save space. Bring your plant inside before the first frost and be sure to place it in an area that receives as much sunlight as possible.

While inside, be sure to water the plant as you would a houseplant, avoiding standing water or overly wet soil. Keep in mind that these are not ideal growing conditions for shallow water plants and they will not look as healthy as in the warmer months.

Once the threat of frost has subsided and the weather warms, it will be safe to return your plant outside and replant for another growing season!

If you’re not sure what you have, or if you need help deciding what to do with it, contact us at info@chalily.com and we can help you determine what actions to take.