Winter Warriors

We have left summer way behind and are now layering up to tide through the coldest of months. Have you ever wondered if our plants are hatching a plot to survive the cold months?

Winter is such an important part of a plant's life cycle, just as it is for us humans. Some plants like the spring bulbs need the cold frost to help break up their dormancy, giving them the power to flower well in Spring.

 

Indoor plants do not like cold temperatures, but you can help them by keeping them away from cold spaces and moving them closer to windows with good sunlight. Bring down the watering during the cold months.

 

Plants are extremely sophisticated beings and can sense changes in the weather and their environment even faster than we humans can. They then prepare themselves either for hibernation or to start growing again.

 

Here are some of the winter warriors, those who are not just ready to brave the cold temperatures but bloom away to glory.

 

Aster, a perennial plant resembling a daisy flower, grows very well in the winter months. They come in many different colors and can flower right through April. Just be sure they are grown in soil that is well-drained.

 

Pansies, the adorable puppy-faced flowers, will bloom throughout winter if they get some good sunlight at some point of the day. Deadhead the spent flowers, and they will bloom for several months.

 

Camellias, also called “Roses of Winter,” not just because they love the cold winters but also because they bloom well during this period.

 

Cyclamen, with their beautiful foliage and stunning reflexed petals, grow well during the cold months.

 

Carnations have always been favorites, especially for their fragrant, colorful blooms and for making bouquets. They love the cold temperatures, so don’t hesitate to add them to your garden.

 

Cornflowers, also known as bachelor’s buttons, grow well in the winters, especially if you have them in containers. The bees and the butterflies just love these blooms.

 

Calendulas are just so pretty with their yellow-orange blooms. They do very well in the winters and warm up your garden with their beauty.

 

Daffodils, the earliest varieties, burst into flowers by December. My paper-white Daffodils are already blooming in their favorite spot in the garden. It is almost like they are welcoming the cold months with a smile.

 

Last but not least are the gorgeous Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima).

 

They remain one of the most popular winter houseplants, spreading Christmas cheer and New Year vibes.

 

Nature is just so interesting and always full of little surprises. While these blooms are ready to show up in the cold, others are ready to sleep. You might have noticed many trees have shed their leaves, stalks have shriveled up, and they look like they might just die. It really isn’t as bad as it looks. Like squirrels gathering food to tide over the long winter months, plants start to store their nutrients in their roots and stems; hence, the leaves fall off. There is a lot more going on underground than meets the eye and so much we can learn from nature. It follows an intuitive rhythm, its sense of time. Aware of what is happening in the present moment, ready to move, act, or be still. Through nature, we can learn how to accept the timing of things, without force or resistance.

 

In other words, do not fear the winter; rather, find ways to embrace it.