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A Homes & Gardens gardening report advises lifting or moving six tender summer plants before the first hard frost, then storing each according to its needs. The plants include tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus, tropical water lily and a sixth plant not included in the supplied source excerpt; local climate, drainage and plant type affect the advice.
Homes & Gardens has published October gardening guidance advising readers to lift or move tender summer plants before the first hard frost, which can arrive unexpectedly and damage plants that cannot tolerate freezing. The supplied report excerpt gives storage instructions for tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus and tropical water lily, but does not include the promised sixth plant’s name or care details.
The advice is to match storage to the plant rather than treat all summer bulbs and roots alike. Dormant bulbs and rhizomes generally need to be dry, cool and frost-free; evergreen plants may need light and occasional water. The report cautions that wet storage can cause damage, just as freezing temperatures can.
For tuberose (Agave amica, formerly Polianthes tuberosa), the report recommends waiting until the foliage yellows, then lifting and drying the bulbs in a warm, airy place. Store them in a paper bag or ventilated tray in a cool, frost-free spot. Pineapple lily (Eucomis) bulbs can be lifted after foliage dies back and stored dry; potted plants can instead be moved under cover, with waterlogged compost avoided.
Calla lily rhizomes (Zantedeschia) can stay outdoors in some mild, well-drained areas, but in colder climates the report advises lifting them or moving their pots to shelter after flowering and as leaves yellow. Deciduous agapanthus may be cut back after its foliage dies and stored cool and frost-free; evergreen varieties need a bright, sheltered location and sparse watering. Tropical water lilies require indoor protection from freezing, unlike many hardy water lilies, which may remain in a pond.
Storage Depends on Plant and Climate
The practical consequence is that gardeners may need to act before a local cold snap, not rely on a single calendar date. Frost tolerance varies by species and variety, while soil drainage and winter moisture also affect whether plants can remain outside. In particular, a mild winter does not remove the risk of bulbs rotting in persistently wet soil.
Correct storage can preserve plants for another growing season and may allow bulbs or clumps to increase in size, according to the report. That outcome is not guaranteed: the guidance describes a potential benefit, while the result depends on plant health, storage conditions and the climate. Monthly checks for softness, rot or shriveling can help identify problems before spring.
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Five Plants Detailed in the Excerpt
The article’s headline promises guidance for six plants, but the material supplied for this report ends partway through the tropical water lily instructions. It does not identify the sixth plant or provide the rest of the water-lily storage directions. This article therefore reports only the five plants actually named in the excerpt and does not infer the missing information.
The report says pineapple lilies generally suit USDA Zones 7–10, while calla lilies can often remain outdoors in milder areas, generally Zone 8 and warmer, if drainage is good and prolonged freezes are avoided. It says gardeners in colder areas, often Zone 7 and below, may need to protect or lift agapanthus. These are broad guidelines, not guarantees: the report stresses that variety, local conditions and the plant label matter.
For storage, it recommends gathering breathable bags, labels and shallow trays before digging, and keeping bulbs and roots separated and identified. Its broader method is to let dormant material dry before storing it, then check it regularly rather than leaving it untouched through winter.
““Soggy storage can be as damaging as freezing temperatures.””
— Homes & Gardens report
The Sixth Plant Is Not Identified
The supplied source text does not contain the name or care instructions for the sixth plant promised in the headline, and it cuts off during the tropical water lily section. The missing plant and the full instructions for water-lily tubers cannot be confirmed from the provided material. The exact date of the first frost is also location-specific, and the report does not provide a forecast for individual readers. Its USDA zone references are general guidance; the best winter method can vary by cultivar, drainage and local exposure.
Check Frost Dates and Plant Labels
Gardeners should check their local forecast and identify each plant before deciding whether to lift it, leave it in a pot under cover or protect it outdoors. The report advises following plant labels where available, particularly for agapanthus, whose evergreen and deciduous types need different treatment. After storage begins, monthly inspections can reveal rot or drying before the next growing season. The missing sixth plant and the remainder of the source’s tropical water lily instructions would need to be verified against the complete report or other reliable gardening guidance.
Key Questions
Which six plants does the headline refer to?
The supplied excerpt names five: tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus and tropical water lily. It does not identify the sixth, so that plant cannot be confirmed from the provided material.
When should tender plants be lifted?
The report advises lifting or moving vulnerable plants before the first hard frost. The date depends on local weather, so check the forecast for your area rather than assuming October is the same everywhere.
Can all lifted bulbs be stored in the same way?
No. Dormant bulbs and rhizomes generally need cool, dry, frost-free storage, while evergreen plants may need light and occasional water. The report also warns that excess moisture can cause rot.
Can tropical and hardy water lilies both stay in a pond?
The report says tropical water lilies cannot tolerate freezing temperatures and need their tubers brought indoors in colder climates. Hardy water lilies are a different group and can often remain in the pond; identify the type before acting.
Source: rss
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