How To Overwinter Nemesia

Nemesia plants are known for their attractive yellow, purple, red, brown, and orange blooms that grow in mild temperatures. They are great as hedges, borders, container or basket plants, as well as ground covers since they tend to be low-growing. They provide year-round appeal, but how do you take care of them when winter rolls around? How do you make sure they survive the harsh weather? We have researched answers for you.

During the winter season, it is best to transfer the Nemesia plants from the yard to a separate greenhouse or somewhere indoors where they can continue to thrive. The room should have at least 40%-50% humidity, and the temperature should be around 64-84F. 

Nemesia plants are lovely perennials that can give your garden a burst of color all year round. They are relatively easy to take care of, although they require specific conditions in order for them to fully thrive. Keep reading below to learn more about how to care for your Nemesia plant.

Purple nemesia put in a pot, How to Overwinter Nemesia

How To Overwinter Nemesia

Nemesia plants thrive best in a mild climate, so they may not fare well when exposed to the harsh frosts of winter. Fortunately, there are ways you can protect these attractive perennials so you can enjoy them next spring.

View of full bloom colorful multiple kind of flowers in springtime sunny day, How To Overwinter Nemesia

If they're planted on the ground, there are ways you can transfer them inside a pot so you can put them in an ideal place where they can continue growing during the winter season.

Of course, it is still easier to have them planted in pots or boxes so that you can control their growth better and it would be easier for you to overwinter them.

Here are ways to overwinter Nemesia plants:

Nemesia, Germany, Eifel

Place roots and cuttings in a pot.

If it's too difficult to transfer the Nemesia plants, gathering cuttings and roots from them can be useful. Use these cuttings to grow Nemesia plants so you can plant them again in your garden when spring comes.

Although you may not save the entire plant, making the cuttings grow over the winter will help in restoring your garden to make it look vibrant and lush again.

Place them in a greenhouse or a sunroom.

A sunroom or a humid greenhouse is the perfect place to grow Nemesia plants over the winter. Ideally, the greenhouse should have access to sunlight, so make sure the room has a lot of windows for natural light to come in.

However, during the harsh winter season, sometimes the sun won't come out. It may come out occasionally, but it may not be enough for the plants. In this case, you can install artificial light in the greenhouse.

The artificial light can supplement the sunlight, or it can temporarily be a plant's source of light.

However, note that the plants will still require natural sunlight in order to fully develop. Artificial light can only supplement the sunlight or help the plant develop until the sun is out again.

Can Nemesia plants grow in winter?

If you live in a warm area, you can grow Nemesia annually during the winter as long as they do not get exposed to frost. Although Nemesia plants can reportedly withstand frost better than other flowering plants, it is still best to protect them from it.

Frost can permanently damage the cells of the plant, so you may still need to overwinter them if you want to transfer them to the garden during spring.

Where should you grow a Nemesia plant?

Nemesia flower with a color of pink

As always, the location of the plant is one of the most essential things that will determine its growth. Some plants may tolerate extreme weather conditions, but it will be difficult for you to grow and fully enjoy them.

As for Nemesia plants, they are hardy in USDA zones 2 through 10, although they thrive best in areas that have a mild or cool climate. Nemesia plants are not ideal for places high in heat and humidity.

What are Nemesia's sun requirements?

Nemesia plants require full sunlight in order to fully develop, and they also need full sunlight in order to bloom during the spring.

During the afternoon, they require to be partly shaded especially in areas that have warm climates so the intense sunlight won't hurt them.

Flowering plants including Nemesia plants typically need 4-6 hours of sunlight exposure in order to develop.

To understand whether the area you intend to place Nemesia plants in will receive adequate sunlight, observe the space every 30 minutes to see the position of the sun.

How often should you water Nemesia plants?

Nemesia plants require moist and well-drained soil in order to grow, so you will need to water them regularly while they're still developing. Make sure to mulch the soil so the moisture is retained even when the weather becomes unpredictable.

Once the Nemesia plants have been established, they will only need watering to keep the moisture content adequate.

Note that Nemesia plants can be prone to rotting, so be sure not to overwater the plants. The roots don't like to be waterlogged; they will rot and be covered in mold.

What will happen if you place Nemesia in a humid place?

If the Nemesia plant is placed in an overly-humid climate, the stems will be covered in moisture and be prone to mold growth. It can also be covered in powdery mildew which can damage the plant.

How tall do Nemesia plants grow?

Nemesia plants don't grow too tall, so they are ideal for garden spaces that aren't too big. Most Nemesia plants grow to a height of around 12 inches, although depending on the growing conditions they can grow up to 24 inches tall.

Their width, on the other hand, ranges between 6 to 12  inches. Make sure to have enough space between your Nemesia plants to give them adequate air circulation.

Should you prune Nemesia plants?

Just like other flowering plants, Nemesia needs occasional pruning and trimming to keep the form bushy and to avoid legginess. Pruning and cutting them will also make the transfer of energy and nutrients more productive.

Make sure to cut the dead flowers off the stem to stimulate the plant to create new and fresh buds that you can enjoy during the spring.

Don't be afraid of cutting off dead plants aggressively. They are perennials; they will grow back. Wilting is especially common in the summer, so make sure to prune and cut back during this season.

What are the common problems Nemesia plants face?

Pests are not usually a serious problem for Nemesia plants, but they can be plagued by other issues such as mold and mildew. Here are other problems that Nemesia plants can face.

Aphids

Aphids are some of the most common pests that all plants experience occasionally. Although Nemesia plants don't usually attract them, it is still possible for these plants to be attacked by aphids.

You can remove them by hosing the plant down with water and then applying an environment-friendly insect repellent around the plant.

Insufficient Nutrients

All plants need sufficient nitrogen, water, and nutrients in order to thrive. Make sure to compost and mulch the soil to stimulate the nutrients in the soil.

Overwatering

Overwatering is a common issue among most plants, but more so with Nemesia plants. It can cause the roots to "drown", preventing further development.

To avoid this, make sure the soil is well-draining, Amend the soil if it is too compact and heavy.

Types of Nemesia Plants

There are many varieties of Nemesia plants, which is why you may remember Nemesia plants being in a different color than someone else.

These varieties are all equally attractive, but they have different forms that may be more appealing to your preferences.

Here are other varieties of Nemesia plants.

Nemesia Floribunda

White with orange Nemesia flower at summer

Nemesia Floribundas have whimsical white flowers that can grow for up to 24 inches depending on the environment.

Nemesia Versicolor

purple nemesia plant in a pot

Nemesia Versicolor has purple or blue blooms that can make your garden look more vibrant.

Nemesia Strumosa

Orange Nemesia Flowers

Nemesia Strumosas have more unpredictable color options. The colors can range from sunset orange to crimson, or white to pink to yellow.

Final Thoughts

View of full bloom colorful multiple kind of flowers in springtime sunny day

Taking care of Nemesia plants includes planning ahead on how you can take care of them during the winter. Overwintering plants will make them last longer so they can beautify your garden when the spring comes around.

If you're interested to learn more about overwintering plants, check out these great articles:

How To Overwinter Lemon Trees

How To Overwinter Kalanchoe

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *