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A Homes & Gardens gardening report recommends lifting or moving six frost-sensitive plants before a hard freeze: tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus, tropical water lily and a sixth plant not included in the supplied excerpt. Storage depends on the plant: dormant bulbs and rhizomes generally need cool, dry, frost-free conditions, while evergreen plants require light and occasional water. Local climate, drainage and plant variety affect what to do.
Homes & Gardens has published an October 2026 gardening report advising gardeners to lift or move tender summer plants before a hard frost, then store them according to their needs. The supplied excerpt names tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus and tropical water lily, but does not include the sixth plant promised in the headline. The report says local frost timing, drainage and whether a plant is dormant or evergreen affect how it should be protected.
The report recommends preparing breathable bags, labels and shallow trays before digging. For dormant bulbs and rhizomes, its general guidance is to let them dry and store them in a cool, dry, frost-free place. Evergreen plants are different: they may need a bright, sheltered location and occasional, restrained watering. The article cautions that excess moisture during storage can cause rot, making soggy conditions a risk alongside freezing.
For tuberose (Agave amica), the report advises waiting until foliage begins to yellow, then lifting the bulbs gently, drying them in a warm, airy place and storing them in a paper bag or ventilated tray. It says pineapple lily bulbs can be lifted after foliage dies back, dried and kept frost-free; container-grown plants can instead be sheltered while resting, without leaving the compost waterlogged. Calla lily rhizomes should be lifted after flowering and as foliage yellows, then dried and stored. The report says callas may remain outside in milder areas if the soil drains freely and prolonged freezes are avoided.
Agapanthus needs variety-specific care: deciduous types can be cut back after foliage dies down and stored cool and frost-free, while evergreen types need a bright, sheltered place and sparing water. The report says some plants in mild areas may need only mulch, depending on conditions. Tropical water lilies cannot tolerate freezing temperatures, according to the article, and their tubers need to come indoors in colder climates; hardy water lilies are a separate group that can often remain in a pond. The supplied text ends during the water-lily instructions, so it does not provide the full storage method or name the sixth plant.
Protecting Next Season’s Flowers
Lifting tender plants before a hard freeze can help gardeners preserve bulbs, rhizomes and established plants for another growing season instead of replacing them in spring. The report presents the work as a practical seasonal task, but its guidance is not one-size-fits-all: plant type, local frost dates and winter drainage all affect whether a plant should be lifted, moved under cover or left in place with protection.
Storage conditions matter after plants are moved. A frost-free location protects tender material from cold, while ventilation and avoiding excess moisture can reduce the chance of rot. The report recommends checking stored roots and containers at least once a month so gardeners can spot deterioration early. That schedule is the article’s advice, not a guarantee that stored plants will survive or flower the following year.
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Different Plants Need Different Winter Care
The report distinguishes between dormant bulbs and rhizomes, which generally need cool and dry storage, and evergreen plants, which may still need light and some water. It also separates tropical water lilies from hardy water lilies, warning readers not to assume that all pond plants tolerate the same winter conditions. For agapanthus and calla lilies, it says local climate and the specific variety can change the recommended approach.
Its timing advice is tied to the first hard frost in each location, not a single calendar date that applies everywhere. The text does not give a national frost schedule or a detailed forecast; gardeners need to use their local conditions and plant labels. It also advises using clean, sharp tools when cutting back deciduous agapanthus and allowing lifted material to dry before storage.
“Soggy storage can be as damaging as freezing temperatures.”
— Homes & Gardens report
The Missing Plant and Local Frost Dates
The supplied source excerpt does not identify all six plants: it names five and cuts off partway through the tropical water lily section. The missing plant and any further instructions cannot be confirmed from the material provided. The report also does not specify the first-frost date for individual readers, which varies with location and weather.
Some recommendations are conditional rather than universal. The article gives broad hardiness-zone guidance for several plants, but says drainage, variety and local winter conditions matter. It does not provide a complete survival guarantee, a precise storage temperature or a full set of instructions for every cultivar. Readers should check plant labels and local guidance before cutting back or lifting plants.
Prepare Before Freezing Weather
Gardeners following the report’s advice should identify which plants they have, check local frost forecasts and assemble labels and ventilated storage containers before lifting. Dormant material should be dried and stored in a cool, dry, frost-free place; evergreen plants should be kept bright and sheltered with watering adjusted to prevent them from drying out completely or sitting wet. Stored plants should be inspected monthly, according to the report.
In spring, the report advises starting tuberose in a warm, bright place and moving it outdoors after frost has passed. Pineapple lilies should be replanted once hard freezes are over. The excerpt does not give a complete spring schedule for every plant or provide the missing sixth plant’s care instructions; those details remain unavailable in the supplied source.
Key Questions
Which six plants does the report say to lift before frost?
The supplied excerpt names tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus and tropical water lily. Although the headline says six, the excerpt stops during the water-lily section and does not identify the sixth plant.
When should tender summer plants be lifted?
The report advises lifting or moving tender plants before a hard frost. The date depends on local conditions, so the article does not give one calendar deadline for all gardeners.
How should dormant bulbs and rhizomes be stored?
The report’s general advice is to let them dry and store them in a cool, dry, frost-free place, using breathable bags or trays. It warns that excess moisture can cause damage.
Do evergreen plants need the same storage as dormant bulbs?
No. The report says evergreen plants may need a bright, sheltered location and occasional water, while dormant bulbs and rhizomes are generally stored cool and dry. The right method depends on the plant and its variety.
Source: rss
