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Guide
139

Cold weather? Not a problem! I’ve decked out my plants with winter coats

Darina Schweizer
13/1/2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Darina Schweizer

The temperature on my balcony dropped to -12 degrees Celsius last week, suddenly forcing me to confront a tough question. How are my plants going to survive the cold snap?

When choosing my balcony plants last summer, I was keen to find varieties that were easy to care for, cat-friendly and resistant to heat and cold. I ended up going for a foxglove bush, an olive tree, lavender and Mediterranean herbs – all of which managed to brave the June heatwave and the first snowfall of the season.

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Even so, when the temperatures on my balcony plummeted to -12 degrees Celsius last week, I couldn’t help shivering. With nervousness, that is. After all, the danger zone for Mediterranean plants – especially small, potted ones – is apparently -5 degrees Celsius (linked website in German). At this point, I decided my plants needed winter jackets. The only thing left to work out was: which ones?

Natural or synthetic?

When weighing up the winter protection options for my plants, I had a choice between plant covers made of natural jute or synthetic fleece. Here are the pros and cons of each:

  • Jute is breathable and environmentally friendly. However, since it doesn’t insulate as well, you often need to use multiple layers. It might also absorb water.
  • Fleece is water-repellent and insulates really well. On the flip side, it’s less environmentally friendly and breathable.

I opted to give both materials a try.

Cover the top, pop a base underneath

When the covers arrived, I was faced with my next question: how far over the plants are they supposed to go? After doing a little reading, I learned that you only have to cover the plant from the crown to the bottom of the stem (article in German). You’re supposed to insulate the pot separately (article in German) by placing it on wood, polystyrene or a base. That way, the cold can’t get into the plant from below.

You can cover fragile pots, such as ones made of clay, with an extra layer of fleece, jute or bubble wrap. Fortunately, my plastic Boum pots are winterproof.

My rosemary, thyme and sage under their jute cover, which, unlike my fairy lights, withstood the storm. I didn’t need to insulate the winterproof plastic pot.
My rosemary, thyme and sage under their jute cover, which, unlike my fairy lights, withstood the storm. I didn’t need to insulate the winterproof plastic pot.

The roots need socks too

I also wanted to kit out the roots of my plants with warm socks. Options on the table included mulch, straw, hay, fir branches and scraps of fleece. I just had to make sure the material would stay airy and not get waterlogged.

Here’s how I managed that:

  • I placed the topping loosely over the roots, using coarse material (such as fir branches) at the bottom and fine material (such as mulch) at the top.
  • I didn’t wrap the fleece airtight. Instead, I left a gap at the edge of the pot so that moisture could escape.
  • I chose a sheltered spot for the pots, close to the wall of the house.
  • After heavy rain or snow, I briefly took off the covers to aerate the plants and loosen the mulch topping.
My olive tree with its new mulch socks.
My olive tree with its new mulch socks.

So, what about watering? Well, I only water my plants sparingly (website in German) and on frost-free days (again, to avoid waterlogging them). Side note: the fleece covers are translucent, so they let in light. The description of the jute covers doesn’t mention this, so I’d remove them after a cold snap passes to be on the safe side.

Fleece beats jute

My verdict after testing both materials in the cold? Both my olive tree (under the fleece) and my rosemary (under the jute) survived. That being said, I do find the fleece cover much easier to manage. Thanks to its handy zipper and toggle, it’s easier to place over the plant. Plus, it’s translucent, doesn’t fluff and doesn’t get damp in the way the jute cover does.

The zipper and toggle are practical.
The zipper and toggle are practical.
They help the cover withstand wind and other tricky weather.
They help the cover withstand wind and other tricky weather.

Another spell of chilly weather might just be coming our way. If it is, I’m ready for it. And I’ll be ready for the summer straight after that too.

How do you protect your plants in winter? Let me know in the comments.

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Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.ch

I love anything with four legs or roots - especially my shelter cats Jasper and Joy and my collection of succulents. My favourite things to do are stalking around with police dogs and cat coiffeurs on reportages or letting sensitive stories flourish in garden brockis and Japanese gardens. 

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