Saving Purple Fountain Grass

Question

I have 6 Purple Fountain Grass plants that I would like to save over winter. I live in Michigan, which is I believe Zone 5. I would like to know if I cut them back in late fall/early winter and dig them up and put them in potted soil to be kept in a insulated garage, will they live through the winter so I can replant in the spring? Also, if I do this, should I water during the winter season? I’m not sure how cold the garage gets in the winter. Like I said, it has insulation in the walls and is drywalled and has 2 good size windows, one on the east side and one on the north side. Any help or information you can give me will be appreciated.

Answer 1

Dig and pot it up. Clip the foliage down to about 3 inches from the top of the pot and stick it in a sunny window in a cool room. Keep it moist, (but not wet) because it can die very easily from drying out. It will revert to green coloration and won’t look like much for the winter, but when it goes back outside in the spring, it should come back.