LariAnn,

Last year I traded for two small Lime Zinger pups. I tried to keep them going in a southern window here in western PA but both of them died out around February. I kept the pots and put them outside this late spring. In mid July, I noticed that one of the pots has sprouted a single, small plant with the color of Lime Zinger but the leaf shape of the young leaves is rounded and not typical. Now it looks like there are a number of very small similar plants starting in this small pot.

I'd really like to find a way to keep this plant going for the winter, and will soon have to bring it inside within about a month. Can you offer any suggestions for keeping this alive for the winter? I'm thinking of putting it in a big transparent bag in the southern window, to maintain humidity and guard against me forgetting to water during a busy period. I have successfully overwintered other ee's (Borneo Giant, Black Stem, Illustrus, Saggitarium) but space is very tight and I can't give them a lot of attention. The overwintering plants are much bigger than this one.

Thanks

If the plants are small when you have to bring them inside, you then have the task of trying to keep them growing through the winter. Being small, the likelihood is that they won't have enough stored food to go dormant and then come back next Spring. Your idea to keep them in a bag is good but you have to watch that the plants don't overheat in the bag if they are going to receive full sun. Another possibility is the use of bottom heat. A warmed root zone can help a normally cold sensitive plant make it when otherwise it wouldn't. If using bottom heat, you will need to keep an eye out for drying out. That can be helped by using a tray with water in it underneath the pot. If the bottom heat is used, the water will be warmed and increase the humidity around the plants.

Hope these suggestions help,
LariAnn

Overheating from the sun is not going to be a problem. During the winter, we don't see a lot of the sun here and even when the sun is out, it is too weak to generate much heat after is gets through the window to the plants. Drying out is my biggest problem (from really low indoor humidity), followed by not getting enough light when competing with other plants for window space. My bigger ee's keep sending up taller and taller leaves, eventually getting higher than the window, a self-defeating strategy. I guess I'm on the right path, just wish I could start this winter with bigger zingers. Also forgot to mention that I had a start of elepaio about the same size that did much better for me than the lime zinger under similar conditions. Not looking forward to this winter as all of my ee's have done really well with this overly hot, overly humid long summer here. There is no more room for them in the window....

Thanks greatly for the advice. Always like to hear what you have to say!