Over-Wintering our Spike Plant

Carole Sinclair Smith

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Nov 13, 2001, 2:10:17 PM11/13/01

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Hello,
This year we kept what I only know as a "Spike plant" atop our
Strawberry Pot which was planted with Parsley and Thyme.
The Spike Plant is still flourishing as we've not had a hard frost as
yet.
Question...
How shall we prepare it for Winter? Cut it back? Bring it in?
Can we transplant it to another Pot?
Thanks!
Carole Smith
Spring Lake, NJ

Toni

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Nov 13, 2001, 5:35:39 PM11/13/01

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"Carole Sinclair Smith" <css...@monmouth.com> wrote in message
news:3bf16ef2...@news.monmouth.com...

>
> Hello,
> This year we kept what I only know as a "Spike plant" atop our
> Strawberry Pot which was planted with Parsley and Thyme.
> The Spike Plant is still flourishing as we've not had a hard frost as
> yet.
> Question...
> How shall we prepare it for Winter? Cut it back? Bring it in?
> Can we transplant it to another Pot?

What is a "spike plant"?

--
Toni Carroll
Sunny South Florida
Zone 10
http://www.irish-wolfhounds.com

Marley1372

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Nov 13, 2001, 7:35:40 PM11/13/01

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I think she is referring to some variety of Dracena, marginanta possibly, it is
sold as an annual here in michigan an used in combo pots with pelargoniums and
vinca major. You can just put it in a pot and use it as a house plant if you
like, but it will start to get pretty big after a while. You could also take
some cuttings or air layer to make new plants for next year.

toad

Cereoid*

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Nov 13, 2001, 11:51:03 PM11/13/01

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Is a "Spike Plant" one you fertilize with Jobe's plant spikes or is it the
plant that Snoopy's cousin likes to sit under?

Then again there is the remote possibility you are referring to Cordyline
australis, seedlings of which are sold commercially under the incorrect name
of "Dracaena spike".

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Streamside/PLANTS/Cordaust.html

http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/shrubs/Cordyline_australis.h
tml

Carole Sinclair Smith <css...@monmouth.com> wrote in message
news:3bf16ef2...@news.monmouth.com...
>

Cereoid*

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Nov 13, 2001, 11:54:55 PM11/13/01

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You are thinking of Cordyline australis, somewhat a Dracaena marginata look
alike but actually a much more cold hardy species from New Zealand with
somewhat different requirements.

Marley1372 <marle...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20011113193540...@mb-dd.aol.com...

Yngver

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Nov 14, 2001, 2:33:25 PM11/14/01

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css...@monmouth.com (Carole Sinclair Smith) wrote:

>This year we kept what I only know as a "Spike plant" atop our
>Strawberry Pot which was planted with Parsley and Thyme.
>The Spike Plant is still flourishing as we've not had a hard frost as
>yet.
>Question...
>How shall we prepare it for Winter? Cut it back? Bring it in?
>Can we transplant it to another Pot?

You can bring it in. I've got one I've bringing in for the winter the last few
years. It's gotten pretty big. Actually they are pretty good indoors because I
often forget to water my plants and they hold up pretty well to dryness.
This year I am kind of thinking why bother, however, since spike plants are
pretty cheap to buy in the spring and I could use the window space for other
plants.