Bell vines are not hardy. Nevertheless, you can get through the cold season safely if you pay attention to a few things.
Bell vines are actually annuals because they are not frost hardy. However, the plant can be overwintered indoors. So you can already enjoy the lush blooming splendor the following year.
So that the plant survives the time indoors well, it needs good preparation and plenty of care. I have summarized everything that goes with it in this post.
6 tips: bring bell vine through the cold season
» Tip 1: bring bell vine in early
Bring your bell vine indoors once temperatures regularly drop below 10°C. The first damage can occur from as little as 5 °C. Expect to lose the bell vine if you wait until it freezes at night. Before setting, you still have to shorten the shoots.
A total height of the trimmed plant of 50 centimeters is ideal.
» Tip 2: Choose a bright, cool winter location
Make sure your bell vine gets enough light even in winter. This is especially true in the spring before you bring the plant back outside. If the location is too dark, the bell vine uselessly invests its energy in branching shoots that you have to remove again.
Give your gold vine regular fresh air when the weather is mild. The temperature at the winter location should not be less than 10 °C and not more than 15 °C. Bright staircases and corridors, attics or unheated storage rooms with large windows are very suitable.
» Tip 3: Water regularly
The water requirement of the bell vine is significantly lower in winter than in the warmer seasons. The cooler the location, the less you need to water. Always wait until the substrate is superficially dry.
» Tip 4: Check for spider mites
In rather warm locations and with low humidity, bell vines are often attacked by spider mites in winter. Unless you contact these pestsdiscover the underside of the plant's leaves, choose a cooler spot and spray the leaves regularly with water.
» Tip 5: Pinch bell vines in spring
You should pinch new shoots that form at the beginning of the growing season. This encourages densely branched growth. Do not tear off the shoot tips, but use a disinfected, sharp knife. This leaves clean cuts that heal quickly.
» Tip 6: Bring bell vine back outside late
Wait in the spring until you are certain that no more night frosts are to be expected. In most regions of Germany this is the case in mid-May after the Ice Saints. Only then do you bring the bell vine back outside.