Thanks to its gorgeous, delicate leaves, Mühlenbeckia (often called Creeping Wire Vine) is a total favorite for ground cover. But don’t underestimate it—it looks absolutely stunning trailing over the sides of large patio planters, too! If you’re wondering how this beauty handles the cold and what you need to do when the frost hits, I’ve got you covered.
Getting Your Mühlenbeckia Through the Winter
When it comes to winter care, you first need to know which variety you’re growing. While *Mühlenbeckia axillaris* is generally considered hardy, other varieties can be a bit more sensitive. Most can handle a light frost down to about 23°F (-5°C) without much trouble. However, once the mercury drops further, it’s time to move your plant to a safer spot.
The perfect winter home for your plant should be:
- Kept between 40°F and 50°F (5°C to 10°C)
- Bright with plenty of natural sunlight
A greenhouse or an unheated sunroom is usually the best bet. You actually want to avoid keeping it too warm indoors; if it’s toasty like your living room, it can mess with the plant’s natural growth cycle. Pro tip: Give the plant a good trim before moving it. It makes the whole process much easier and saves you some serious shelf space!
Post-Winter Care and Spring Prep
While your Mühlenbeckia is resting during the winter, skip the fertilizer entirely. Once spring rolls around and you see signs of life, you can start feeding it again. A standard liquid fertilizer once or twice a month added to your watering can works wonders. Just remember, these plants are thirsty! They love consistent moisture, so keep up with a regular watering schedule.
Spring is also the perfect time for a fresh trim. Pruning helps jumpstart new growth, and with that spring energy boost, your plant will fill out beautifully. For smaller potted plants, a sharp, clean pair of shears is all you need. If you’re using it as a large-scale ground cover, you can actually just run over it with a lawnmower on a high setting to freshen it up!
