From Summer Blooms to Winter Wonders: A Guide to Overwintering Lantana

The Rewarding Art of Overwintering Lantana

Lantana, with its vibrant clusters of colorful blooms, is a favorite among gardeners. Often enjoyed as an annual, its beauty typically graces gardens from spring until the first frost. However, there’s a way to extend the joy and keep your lantana thriving for years: overwintering.

Understanding Lantana

Before diving into the overwintering process, let’s appreciate the plant itself. Lantana (Lantana camara) is a tropical perennial known for its profuse flowering and ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Its blooms come in a variety of hues, often displaying a delightful mix of colors within a single cluster. These plants are relatively low-maintenance, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil.

Why Overwinter?

Choosing to overwinter your lantana offers several benefits:

• Cost Savings: Buying new plants each year can become expensive. Overwintering allows you to enjoy the same plant for multiple seasons, saving you money.
• Established Plants: Overwintered plants are often more mature and robust than newly purchased ones, leading to earlier and more prolific blooms.
• Unique Varieties: If you’ve found a specific lantana variety you love, overwintering ensures you can continue to enjoy it, especially if it’s a less common cultivar.
• Environmental Benefits: Reducing the need to purchase new plants annually can lessen your environmental footprint.

Preparing Lantana for Winter

The key to successful overwintering lies in proper preparation:

1. Timing is Crucial: Begin the process before the first frost. This typically means bringing your lantana indoors in late summer or early fall, depending on your climate zone.
2. Pruning: Give your lantana a good pruning before bringing it inside. This helps reduce its size, making it easier to manage indoors. Remove any dead or diseased branches. You can also shape the plant to your liking, cutting back up to one-third of its growth.
3. Inspect for Pests: Carefully examine the plant for any signs of pests, such as aphids, spider mites, or mealybugs. Treat any infestations before bringing the plant indoors to prevent them from spreading to other houseplants.
4. Acclimation: Gradually acclimate your lantana to indoor conditions. Place it in a sheltered location for a few days before bringing it fully inside. This helps the plant adjust to changes in light, temperature, and humidity.

Indoor Care During Winter

Once your lantana is safely indoors, it requires specific care to thrive throughout the winter months:

1. Light: Lantana needs plenty of light, so place it in a south-facing window if possible. If natural light is limited, supplement with grow lights, especially during the darker months. Aim for at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
2. Watering: Adjust your watering schedule to match the plant’s reduced growth rate during winter. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Check the soil moisture by inserting your finger an inch or two into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Reduce watering significantly during the dormant period.
3. Temperature: Lantana prefers temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C) during the day and slightly cooler temperatures at night. Avoid placing the plant near drafts, heating vents, or other sources of extreme temperature fluctuations.
4. Humidity: Indoor air can be dry during winter. Increase humidity around your lantana by using a humidifier, placing the plant on a pebble tray filled with water, or grouping it with other plants. Misting the plant can also provide temporary humidity.
5. Fertilizing: Reduce or suspend fertilizing during the winter months. The plant’s growth slows down, and it doesn’t require as many nutrients. Resume fertilizing in early spring as the plant begins to show signs of new growth.
6. Monitoring: Regularly inspect your lantana for pests and diseases. Act quickly if you notice any problems.

Common Challenges and Solutions

• Yellowing Leaves: This can be caused by overwatering, underwatering, or insufficient light. Assess your watering schedule, light conditions, and make adjustments as needed.
• Leaf Drop: This can be a sign of stress, often due to changes in environment or improper watering. Ensure the plant is receiving adequate light, proper watering, and consistent temperatures.
• Pests: If you spot pests, isolate the plant and treat it with an appropriate insecticide or insecticidal soap.

Transitioning Back Outdoors in Spring

As spring approaches and the threat of frost passes, it’s time to reintroduce your lantana to the outdoors:

1. Hardening Off: Gradually acclimate your lantana to outdoor conditions. Begin by placing it in a sheltered location for a few hours each day, gradually increasing the amount of time it spends outside over a week or two. This process, known as hardening off, helps the plant adjust to the sun, wind, and temperature changes.
2. Repotting (If Necessary): If your lantana has outgrown its pot, repot it in fresh potting mix before moving it outdoors. Choose a pot with good drainage.
3. Sunlight: Once hardened off, place your lantana in a location that receives full sun, just like it enjoyed before overwintering.
4. Fertilizing: Resume regular fertilizing to encourage growth and flowering.

The Rewarding Journey

Overwintering lantana might seem daunting at first, but the rewards are well worth the effort. With proper care and attention, you can enjoy the beauty of your lantana for years to come. From saving money to having an early bloom, and the satisfaction of nurturing a plant through the seasons, it’s a rewarding experience for any gardener. So, this year, consider bringing your lantana indoors. You might just be pleasantly surprised by its resilience and the vibrant blooms that await you.