Question
First off, thank you for taking the time to read this. Ive never actually asked a question on a forum like this. But my question is as follows. We have a clitoria in our garden. Its in a proper area where it can climb. But im in ohio and absolutely love this plant. Is there anything i could do to help it last through the winter? Is it possible to dig it up and bring it in for the winter so it continues to grow and would look beautiful for the next spring when it would be replanted? Or will that just not work and its gonna be inevitable that i lose one of my favorite plants? If you have any advice, i would greatly appreciate it. And i did collect the seeds though just in case i cant keep them alive and have to start over next year. I just hope theres something i can do. Thanks again.
nick

Answer
Nick,
Although this plant is a perennial in its native habitat in the tropics, it is not hardy in Ohio. Many tender and tropical plants can be saved from year to year, however, and what do you have the lose? The worst that can happen is that it will die, which it would if you left it outside anyway.

Dig the plant up and put it in a large pot - get as large a chunk of the root system as you can and add some potting soil in the bottom of the pot and on the sides as needed once the root ball is in place. If the plant is very tall where it is growing you could cut it back to about 4 feet so you can move it more easily.

Once in the pot leave it outside in similar conditions to how it's been growing as long as the temps in your area stay above 50 at night. If it's already dropping lower than that bring it in right away. Put the pot in the sunniest window you have and water when it's dry.

It's easier to over-winter plants if you keep them a tad on the dry and cooler side - so if you have a room that isn't heated above 65 (but doesn't go below 55) that would be best. Water the plant about once a week but water thoroughly when you do water - in other words, soak the entire pot of soil and then wait a week or a bit more to do that again. Feel the soil to see if it's still damp before you water but don't let the plant wilt from dryness.

The plant will wilt a bit from being transplanted - don't worry about that. It might shed leaves. Don't fertilize yet!!!!   You want to slow everything down until the days get longer in January. In late January you can prune off any dead or funky looking growth and start to fertilize but do so mildly until the plant goes outside again.

If you leave the plant in a large plastic nursery pot (like shrubs come in) you can just bury the pot in the spring and lift it out in the fall, and the plant doesn't have the stress of transplanting on top of coming indoors.
I hope this helps,
C.L. Fornari