Is silver rain hardy? | Dichondra overwinter

hardiness

Silver rain is not hardy, which is why the plants are often only planted once a year. If you want to enjoy her for two years or more, you should know the following:

• Defenses and metabolic functions decrease rapidly at temperatures below twelve degrees Celsius
• At plus one to zero degrees Celsius, there are usually signs of frostbite (plants can freeze and die)
• Particularly sensitive when silver rain is cultivated in tubs (cold hits the roots more intensely)
• Conclusion: silver rain has to hibernate in warmer and, above all, frost-free temperatures

In time for the winter quarters

Experience has shown that night-time temperatures can fall well below ten degrees Celsius as early as October. In the short term, a dichondra can tolerate temperatures of up to around six or seven degrees Celsius, but an exact temperature forecast is usually not possible. Therefore, the winch plant should move to a winter quarters early on. The end of September/beginning of October is the recommended time – but at the latest when the daytime temperatures drop to ten degrees Celsius it becomes clear that silver rain is not hardy.

Ideal winter quarters

In order for a dichondra to survive the winter well and thrive again the following year, the new location in the winter quarters has to meet various requirements:

• Ambient temperatures: at least ten degrees Celsius – better 15 degrees Celsius – growth stops below twelve degrees Celsius
• Temperature must not fall below ten degrees
• Light: bright, but no direct sunlight
• No draft
• No dry room air
• Optimal locations: cool bedroom, stairwell, unheated conservatory

preparation

Silver rain requires some preparation before moving to winter quarters. These help the plant to get through the winter season well:

• Check for pests early and fight them if necessary
• Last fertilization about six weeks before the planned move (if no long-term fertilizer was used)
• Cut off dried and woody parts of the plant about four weeks before changing location
• Otherwise, do not cut back again from late summer (could damage young shoots)
• Pot and balcony plants: allow the soil to dry well, otherwise there is a risk of rotting

Silver rain in the garden bed

If silver rain is planted in the bed, it cannot spend the winter there and must be planted out. Thanks to the protection of thick layers of soil, they can theoretically move to their winter quarters later than tub/potted plants. However, there is still a risk of frostbite above ground parts of the plant, which is why ideally it should move to the winter quarters by the end of September/beginning of October or at constant temperatures of ten degrees Celsius. The following must be observed:

• Dig up carefully without damaging roots
• Plant in sufficiently large tubs/pots (roots must not snap off)
• Use high-quality substrate (reduces mold growth and risk of rot)
• Only choose a pot/bucket with a drainage hole (to avoid waterlogging)
• Water only minimally after pot/tub planting

Silver rain in the bucket

With dichondras in pots, the outside temperatures are to be observed meticulously. If they are surprised by sudden ground frost, a few hours are often enough to end their lives. When the nights get cooler, we recommend at least moving to a location that is protected from rain and wind, until it finally goes to winter quarters. It is important that the substrate dries and is loose before moving. If there is no looseness, compaction increases the risk of mold and rot.

watering in winter

Because neither sun nor heat allows irrigation water to evaporate and dichondras only have a low water requirement in winter, only minimal watering is required. The first two to three centimeters of soil should be well dried before watering again. Complete drying out during the winter season should be avoided in any case. The best time to water is to determine the “thumb test”. The thumb is pressed into the surface of the earth and the watering requirement is determined via the depth of the impression as follows:

• Deeper than two/three centimeters: do not water
• Less than two centimeters deep: pour

end hibernation

Hibernation is over for dichondras as soon as no more frost is to be expected. This is the case at the latest after the Ice Saints in mid-May. At this time, the new growing season of silver rain begins. In order to sprout again, the plant now needs warm sun or daylight. It should be noted here that the plant slowly gets used to the new outdoor and, above all, light conditions. A partially shaded location is recommended for the first two weeks. Then it can go to a sunny place.