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bringing in impatients/begonias for the winter


Question
Hi-I live in Pa & was wondering if you can tell me how to bring my annual plants in to continue living through the winter  

Answer
You can dig up plants that you like and repot them into pots. Cut impatiens back to a few leaves (4-6" stems) but do NOT cut begonias back. Place in a sunny window and avoid drafts. In winter, plants do not get very much sun even in a southern facing window, so another option is to place the plants under flourescent lights (fixtures must be hung so bulbs are just 1"-3" above canopy of plants). You can buy so-called "shop lights" at home depot or lowes for this purpose. I like to use regular 40 Watt cool white (standard) flourescent light bulbs (you do not need special grow light bulbs).

Since begonias and impatiens are both shade tolorant, you could try a southern facing window, if it is warm (no cool drafts).  

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