Like most exotic plants, Physalis is a perennial plant. With the right care, it will get through the winter well and will continue to bear plenty of fruit next year. We'll explain what you should pay attention to in today's article.
Harvest Physalis first and then overwinter
When the Physalis will overwinter depends on several factors. Basically, the plants go into winter quarters shortly after harvest and before the first frost. Since the harvest season in this country can extend until mid-October when the weather is warm, the exotic plant is usually not potted until the beginning of November. In colder regions, the ripening process can be accelerated by covering the plants with fleece overnight. If this trick doesn't help, the plant and its fruits can be brought indoors. Under no circumstances should green fruits be harvested - they do not ripen and are poisonous. The good news: If the plant is kept bright and frost-free in its winter quarters, it will bear fruit earlier next yearbecome ready for harvest more quickly.
Is the exotic winter hardy? The plant can tolerate these temperatures!
The Physalis is not hardy and has a verylow cold tolerance.It can only withstand temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius for a short time, but then it has to be brought in as quickly as possible. Potted plants are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations than garden plants.
The garden plant can be potted in autumn
Bedding plants are dug up and potted in autumn. The Physalis has a compact growth and rarely reaches its maximum height of 2 meters. But the plant has large root balls. A pot with 25 to 35 liters of soil volume and a height of 45 cm proves to be optimal. Container plants are not repotted in autumn, but the soil can be replaced if necessary. Permeable, peat-free substrates for vegetables such as tomato soil prove to be optimal. But you can also use potting soil and add some stone dust.
Cutting back: necessary or not?
For now: During the growth phase in spring and fruit formation in summer, the Physalis should be pruned regularly to promote the formation of healthy and large fruits. Gentle pruning is recommended in autumn. This allows the plant to continue to develop its root system during the rest phase. In addition, the cut plants are better protected against fungal diseases and bacteria in their winter quarters.
Overwintering Physalis in a pot: How to do it right!
1. If the harvest season is already over, wintering can begin. First, all plants are checked for pests and diseases. Only vital, strong specimens without frost damage are overwintered.
2. Choose a frost-free, sunny day and carefully dig up the root balls. Then gently pull the plant at the base.
3. Fill a pot halfway with soil and then carefully dig in the roots. Cover the roots completely with soil.
4. If there are still some green fruits, you can just leave them. However, if the plant has not been harvested at all, then at least half of the fruits should be removed.
5. After potting, you can cut the plant back straight away. Simply shorten the physalis by a third and remove all yellow and brown leaves. If there are shoots that do not receive sunlight, cut them off directly. Now is also the right timeto cut cuttings.
4. The plant can now be brought into its winter quarters.
Which winter quarters are best? Can you keep physalis in the apartment?
The exotic will overwinter bright and warm. The room temperature should be between 5° Celsius and 15° Celsius. An unheated room with a window is the perfect winter quarters. A winter garden or a cellar, for example, are well suited. You can also keep the plant indoors as long as you have an unheated room (e.g. guest room).
In winter, i.e. from the end of November, you can reduce watering. The fertilization should be stopped at the end of September. Otherwise, the plant does not need any special care and gets through the winter well.
This is how you propagate Physalis via cuttings
Cuttings can be cut from healthy side shoots and the plant can be propagated. To do this, simply remove fruit and dead flowers first. Then cut off the top and shorten the side shoots by a third. Leave about 4 to 5 leaves per cutting and place the cuttings in a deep glass of water. The cuttings root relatively quickly and can then be placed in pots with potting soil where they spend the winter. After the Ice Saints they can be planted outdoors.
