| I purchased a lantana plant, that is about 3 feet tall. It is still in a planter, and it looks very healthy. It has blooms that look like blackberries. What exactly is this plant and what should I do with it over the winter? |
| The "blackberries" are actually seed clusters which you may want to remove in order to encourage additional flowering. This is a tropical plant and you will need to bring it indoors for the winter. First off, check it all over for pests and then gradually begin acclimating it to the lower light levels it will have indoors. Move it gradually to a shadier location but do not leave it outside when temperatures drop below about fifty. Then move it indoors to the sunniest spot you have. Keep it out of drafts and keep the humidity around it high if possible. Expect some yellowing of leaves in protest of the move. Reduce watering and fertilizing as the plant's growth slows. In spring, reverse the process to reacclimate it to the outdoors. |
