Purple Fountain Grass is cold hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11, which means it likely won’t survive winters in zones 7 and below. However, there’s a process called ‘overwintering’ that you can use to keep your plant around for the next growing season. This article will answer the question, ‘can you overwinter purple fountain grass?’
Can You Overwinter Purple Fountain Grass?
Pennisetum setaceum is an absolute darling when it comes to garden landscapes. It lends an ornamental air and a pop of color and texture in tight corners and spaces, and can act as a border or hedge in the yard.
In warmer regions purple fountain grass is considered a perennial, which means you won’t have to worry about it getting back on its feet when winter comes. However, in zones 7 and below you’ll want to observe a process called ‘overwintering’.
Can you overwinter purple fountain grass? You can, and doing so will keep it safe as temperatures plummet and frost arrives. The best way to do this is to put it in a container, bring it indoors and keep it warm.
Dig up your Fountain Grass with care and until you see the root ball. Then, gently pull the whole plant out and be careful not to damage the roots. Get help if the plant is too big or too heavy and have a suitably-sized pot ready.
The pot should be wider than the plant’s root base and have drainage holes. Settle it in and fill in the rest with a quality potting mix. Press down lightly on the soil, then water thoroughly or until it comes out of the drain.
How to Care for Overwintered Purple Fountain Grass
Your purple fountain plant might not look its best when you bring it indoors for overwintering, but that’s all right. It will have a chance to shine when temperatures warm up again in spring.
In the meantime, you will want to position the container in a window that gets sunlight. The foliage tends to turn a dull green, but it should survive just enough so you can plant it outside again. In addition, you can prune the leaves back to around 3 inches starting at the top to give it a uniform look.
As long as your purple fountain grass is getting enough light and the room temperature isn’t too cold, it should do well.
Avoid Overwatering Your Grass Indoors
One common mistake is giving too much water while the purple fountain grass is indoors, which can result in root rot and eventual death. The trick is to wait a while after the first watering (when you potted it), then check the top inch or two of the soil if it’s wet or dry.
Water only when it’s dry to the touch and you’ll prevent the medium from getting too soggy.
The best time to overwinter purple fountain grass is from late summer to early fall, or two to three weeks before the first expected frost date.
Then, when the ground starts warming up you can put the pot outside gradually, or divide the roots and put the new plants in their garden spot or container.
Related Article: Chinese Fountain Grass Care