Overwintering sweet potato vine is easy, and a great way to save your favorites year after year.
In this post, I will show you three different methods for keeping sweet potato vines over winter.
Ornamental sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) are gorgeous, and extremely popular decorative filler plants for annual gardens and summer containers.
But they don’t tolerate the cold, are not hardy in freezing climates. So if I left them in the ground here in MN, they would not survive the winter.
But it’s expensive to buy new ones every spring (I don’t understand why they’re so expensive!). So, since it’s very easy, I make sure to overwinter my sweet potato vine every year to save myself some cash come spring.
It does take some work, but it’s worth the effort to save these gorgeous plants. Below I’ll show you three different methods for how to do it.
Sweet Potato Vine Cold Tolerance
Though they are commonly sold as an annual bedding plants in the spring, ornamental sweet potato vines, or Ipomoea batatas, are actually tender perennials.
They’re fairly cold tolerant, and can survive the winter in milder climates of zones 9 and higher, where it only gets below freezing for a short time.
However, if you live in a cold climate like I do, sweet potato vines will not survive the winter if left outdoors. So we must overwinter them indoors.
Related Post: How To Overwinter Plants: The Complete Guide
3 Methods For Overwintering Sweet Potato Vines
There are three methods you could try for overwintering sweet potato vines. These methods will work for all varieties.
So whether you have the common chartreuse variety, variegated, purple, or some other hybrid, you can follow these same steps.
- Potted sweet potato vines can be brought indoors and kept as houseplants.
- They can be allowed to go dormant, and you can store the tubers.
- You can take cuttings, and bring those indoors for the winter.
How To Overwinter Sweet Potato Vine Indoors
Below I will discuss the three methods in more detail. If you’ve never tried overwintering sweet potato vines before, I encourage you to try each of these to see which one works best for you.
Some people find one technique easier than the others, so it’s a good idea to experiment to find your favorite.
1. Keeping Sweet Potato Vine As A Houseplant
One popular method for overwintering sweet potato vines is to bring the whole thing indoors and keep it as a houseplant.
If yours is too big for your home, you can prune it down to a manageable size before bringing it indoors.
Just keep in mind that, since it is used to being outside, it may go into shock after you bring it inside.
You may notice that it looks droopy, and it might even drop a few leaves when you first move it indoors.
But don’t worry, it should recover within a few days once it gets used to its new environment.
2. Storing Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine Tubers
Just like the edible varieties, ornamental sweet potato vines also form large tubers (aka: bulbs or potatoes) under the soil.
Those tubers can be packed in a box filled with with peat moss or coco coir and stored for the winter, just like you would do with other tropical bulbs.
This is the best method to use if you don’t want to worry about caring for plants or cuttings indoors, you don’t have the space for them, or if the foliage was damaged or killed by frost before you could get it inside.
To trigger dormancy, allow the plant to be exposed to cold temperatures in the fall, or even touched by a light frost. Don’t let it freeze though, or the tuber may not store well.
Then you can just cut off the dead foliage, and leave the tubers in the pot. Or you can dig them up and store them in a box for the winter.
Either way, keep them in a dry, dark, above freezing location until spring. Get step-by-step instructions for how to overwinter bulbs and tubers here.
3. Overwintering Sweet Potato Vine Cuttings Indoors
My preferred method of overwintering sweet potato vines is to take cuttings in the fall. They root easily in water, and can be kept inside all winter.
This way, I can just discard the main plant, and I don’t have to bother bringing the whole thing indoors.
Check the water periodically to make sure it’s not slimy or evaporating too quickly. Keep it above the roots at all times so they never dry out.
If the water becomes slimy, dump it out and wash the vase with soap and water. Rinse the roots in lukewarm water before placing them back into the vase.
Otherwise pot them up into a container once the roots have formed. You can just use a general purpose soil for potting them. Learn how to take cuttings and propagate them here.
Bringing Sweet Potato Vines Indoors For Winter
Whichever overwintering technique you choose to try, it’s extremely important to bring your sweet potato vine inside at the right time. Follow these tips for the best results.
When To Bring Sweet Potato Vine Inside
If you want to try to save either live plants or cuttings over winter, then you should definitely bring them inside before it gets below 60°F outside.
This is usually several weeks before your first frost date in the fall.
Otherwise, cold weather will trigger the plant to start going dormant, and it may not survive after bringing it in.
But if you plan to store the tubers, you can leave it outside until the foliage dies back on its own. However, in order for the bulbs to survive in storage, you must protect them from freezing.
How To Bring Sweet Potato Vine In For Winter
If want to try overwintering sweet potato vines as houseplants or cuttings, then you should definitely debug them before bringing them indoors.
You can use the same method for the cuttings, or you can just wash them in a sink instead. Soaking them for 10-15 minutes will drown any insects that are on the leaves.
I like to add a squirt of mild liquid soap to the water to kill the bugs faster. Then simply rinse the cuttings off before putting them into the vase.
Once you have them inside, choose a sunny spot where you can keep them until spring. There’s no need to debug them if you’re storing only the tubers, and those should be kept in a cool dark location.
Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine Winter Care Tips
Caring for sweet potato vine plants indoors is a bit more difficult than it is outdoors – especially during the winter.
The three most important things you’ll need to worry about are light, watering, and pest control. Below are my tips for keeping them alive and healthy through the winter.
You can learn all about how to care for sweet potato vines here, but below are my tips for getting them through the winter indoors.
Light Requirements
Sweet potato vines do best in a sunny window, but they also tolerate lower light conditions. The cuttings should be placed in a spot that gets bright, indirect light rather than in full sun.
If you notice it’s becoming leggy and reaching for window, then add a grow light. You can plug it into an outlet timer to ensure it’s getting enough light throughout the day.
Watering In Winter
Established sweet potato vines don’t require a lot of water during the winter months. It’s best to keep the soil on the dry side so that you don’t accidentally overwater.
However, if you let them dry out too much, then it will trigger dormancy, and the foliage will start to die back. So, keep the soil slightly moist, allowing the top inch or so to dry out between waterings.
If this is a struggle for you, I recommend getting an inexpensive soil moisture gauge to help you get it perfect every time.
Controlling Bugs
In my experience, one of the biggest challenges of overwintering sweet potato vine plants or cuttings indoors is dealing with bugs.
Whiteflies and spider mites love the leaves, and the soil can become infested with fungus gnats. If you discover any of these pests, it’s best to act quickly to get rid of them.
Wash the leaves with organic insecticidal soap, or mix your own using 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap per 1 liter of water.
Neem oil is an organic product that also works great to kill bugs, and prevents future infestations.
Moving Sweet Potato Vine Back Outside In Spring
After overwintering sweet potato vine indoors, you’re likely to be anxious to move it back outside once it starts getting warmer in the spring. But you must do it at the right time in order for them to survive. So follow these tips.
When To Move The Live Plants Back Outside
Since they cannot tolerate the cold, wait to move live plants and cuttings back outside until after your last frost date in the spring. To be safe, I recommend waiting until nighttime temps are above 60°F.
If there’s a late frost in the forecast, move them into a garage or back inside the house to protect them. Don’t try covering them, or they may not survive.
When To Plant The Dormant Tubers
You can pot up stored tubers 6-8 weeks before your last frost date if you want to start them early indoors.
Otherwise, wait until the soil in your garden has warmed to 60°F. You can use a soil thermometer to check it.
If you want to try breaking their dormancy faster, soak them in warm water or a compost tea solution overnight before planting them.
Move potted tubers to a bright room 6-8 weeks before you can put them outside. Give it a good drink of water, and allow the extra to drain completely from the pot.
You can also try putting them on a heat mat to help wake them up faster.
How To Move It Back Outside
Since your sweet potato vine is used to living a protected life indoors, you’ll need to properly acclimate them back to living outside again.
The light indoors is much less intense than the sun outside. So if you put them into the full sun straight away, they will likely get sunburn.
So place it in a shady spot for a couple of weeks, and slowly move it to the sun so it can adapt.
If the leaves begin to scorch, move it back to the shade for a few more days. Soon you’ll be able to put it in its full sun location.
Overwintering Sweet Potato Vine FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about overwintering sweet potato vine. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, ask about it in the comments below.
Do ornamental sweet potato vines come back every year?
Ornamental sweet potato vines will come back every year if you live in a warm enough climate (zones 9+). However, they will not survive outside through the winter in colder climates.
How do you store sweet potato vine tubers for the winter?
To store sweet potato vine tubers for winter, carefully dig them up so you don’t accidentally damage them. Then remove all of the leaves and stems and let them cure (dry out) for a day or so. Pack them in a box so they aren’t touching, fill it with peat moss or coco coir, and store it in a cool, dry location until spring.
How long can you store sweet potato vine tubers?
You can store sweet potato vine tubers for 6-8 months, if done properly. However, don’t try to store them much longer than that. It’s best to plant them every year, otherwise they will eventually dry out and die.
Will sweet potato vines survive winter outside?
Sweet potato vines will survive the winter outside if you live in zones 9 or higher. For harsher climates, they must be brought indoors in order to survive.
How much cold can sweet potato vines tolerate?
Sweet potato vines can’t tolerate very much cold, they will start to die back once them temperatures get consistently below 60°F. However, the tubers in the ground are hardier, and can tolerate brief periods of below freezing temps.
What is the lowest temperature sweet potato vine can tolerate?
The lowest temperature sweet potato vine can tolerate is 15°F, but only for a very brief period of time. The plant will die back once it gets below freezing, however the tubers can still survive underground.
Overwintering sweet potato vines takes a bit of work. But now that you know how to save them, you can experiment with the three methods to find the one that’s easiest for you. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to keep them year after year, and save yourself some cash!
If you want to learn all there is to know about maintaining healthy indoor plants, then you need my Houseplant Care eBook. It will show you everything you need to know about how to keep every plant in your home thriving. Download your copy now!
More Posts About Overwintering Plants
- How To Overwinter Coleus Plants Indoors
- Winter Care Of Caladium Bulbs
- How To Overwinter Pepper Plants Indoors
- How To Overwinter Tropical Hibiscus Plants Indoors
- Overwintering & Storing Canna Lily Bulbs – The Complete Guide
- How To Overwinter Brugmansia Plants Indoors
Share your tips or your favorite method for overwintering sweet potato vines in the comments below.
Kelly says
So happy to have found this article! I’m also in Minnesota and have a large number of plants I try to save indoors for the next season (its not gone well but I’m learning more each year!) I bought a larger purple sweet potato vine and small green one this summer as I’m getting into plants more so than flowers. Will probably attempt 2 of the 3 methods in hopes of saving a little money and having these beauties in my outdoor collection every summer! Thanks so much for the insight in this article!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Good luck, hope you’ll find a method for overwintering them that works for you. 🙂
Kim says
I gathered the tubers to replant in the spring. I’d like to store them in the garage but I’m worried they will attract bugs (the garage doesn’t get all that cold, even during winter months so I can see that happening). Also, what sort of container is best to store them in?
Amy Andrychowicz says
As long as you cure your sweet potato vine tubers and store them properly, they shouldn’t attract any bugs. Here’s a post I wrote that’s specifically about how to store bulbs and tubers for winter that should help answer your questions.
Brenda Shelman says
Can you cut the tubers up and plant just like sweet potatoes for eating? By the way a friend tells me that we can eat the tubers from the ornamental vines, it this true?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can cut up sweet potato vine tubers and plant them just like planting other types of potatoes, as long as each piece has a few eyes. And yes, the tubers are indeed edible. I’ve never tried eating them myself, but I’ve read that they are very bitter and don’t taste very good. That’s why they are called “ornamental”, because the plants are beautiful, but not very good to eat.
Marcia says
You’re awesome 😁
I had some last year and with my 2 green thumbs they grew beautifully 😏
I didn’t realize I could save $30 every Spring.
This is wonderful 🙂
Thank-you so much.
I bring everything in and it looks like a nursery all winter.
As a matter of fact last year a put my Christmas tree out on the front porch and designed an awesome Christmas porch.
Tree. Fireplace and TONS of wrapped empty boxes 🤓
It was awesome 😂
Now I’d like to put these sweet potato Vines in my hanging baskets over the winter and NOW I can
THANK-YOU SO MUCH
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh awesome, I’m so happy to hear that you’ve had such great success overwintering your sweet potato vines! Yes, the money saving aspect is totally worth the effort if you ask me. I never could understand why they’re so expensive to buy since they’re very prolific and so easy to overwinter. Anyway, congrats on your success, and thank you so much for your nice comment. 🙂
Julie says
Hi! I am trying to overwinter a tricolor sweet potato vine, among a few others. They all seemed to be doing well until recently (December). They just look dull and seem to be dropping a lot of leaves, and the new leaves seem very small. Is there anything I can do to perk them up. They’re well watered and in a large northwest facing window.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would check them closely for bugs. When they suddenly look dull and start dropping leaves, that’s a sign that they could have spider mites, which is very common when overwintering sweet potato vines. Here’s how to identify and get rid of them.
Susan Johnsn says
Is it possible to buy tubers to start? If so where would you buy them?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never seen sweet potato vine tubers for sale before. But you could certainly check online and also ask your local garden center if they ever sell them.
Judi says
I cut some stems from my chartreuse sweet potato vine and put them in water by the kitchen window. I have lost some leaves that wilted or turned yellow, bu I also have new growth. My question is: I have black seeds under the plants, like poppy seeds. Is this normal?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Take a closer look at those little “black seeds” to make sure they aren’t bugs. Sweet potato vines indoors for winter are prone to pests like spider mites. Otherwise, if you’re sure they are seeds, then they must have come from a nearby plant (perhaps coleus or petunias?). Sweet potato vines can get seeds, but they are larger than what you describe.
Sharon O says
I had previously started sweet potato vine clippings in water in preparation for winter (plan is to leave in water all winter) and they did beautifully for several weeks but now the leaves are turning yellow. Any thoughts on what’s happening (by the way…water has been changed in jars). Thanks for any insights-
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s pretty common for sweet potato vines to drop some of their leaves once you bring them inside for the winter. Since they’re used to being outside, they can go into shock after being moved indoors. I would make sure to keep the water fresh by changing it at least weekly, if not more. You don’t want it to get slimy at all. Also, check to see if the stems have started rotting, that would also cause the leaves to drop. You may find it easier to pot them up into soil, and overwinter them as a houseplant instead of keeping them in water.
Shelagh Tillott says
If I potted up the slips now, would I be able to transplant the plants/tubers in Spring?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, now is a great time to pot up your sweet potato vines for winter. They tend to pout (i.e.: droop) for a few days after being moved indoors, but should recover and grow just fine through the winter, then you can replant them outside in the spring. Here’s my full sweet potato vine care guide for more info about them.
Teri says
Hi,
I live in Zone 10. Can I use this beautiful sweet potato vine (Caroline Sweetheart Lime) as a ground cover? Will it remain green here in the heat of SoCal? I re-did the front yard and want to use this but don’t want the area to be empty during the winter months. It’s a very large area 20×10. Thanks for your help.
Teri
Amy Andrychowicz says
They are hardy to zone 11. However, in the intense heat of CA, I would plant them in a partial shade location. I’m not sure if they will stay green all winter, they may naturally go dormant for a few months. Since I live in MN, sweet potato vines naturally go dormant for us every the fall. The ground freezes here, so we must overwinter them indoors. 🙂
Darlene says
Amy thanks for info on sweet potato vine. I had no idea these could be over wintered, but ofcourse it makes tons of sense. I have 6 , one in each window box here in NovaScotia. I don’t often buy them, like you said they are expensive. I’ll definitely keep them over winter. I’m thrilled to get such wise gardening advice Amy. Thanks again.
Darlene
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, I’m so glad I could show you how to overwinter your sweet potato vines. Woohoo! You’re welcome, and enjoy!
Toesinbusy says
Nice article. I’m going to share it with my garden groups. I’m just surprised you didn’t me mention the ornamental sweet potatoes are edible… leaves and tubers.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks. This article is just about how to overwinter sweet potato vines. I have a future post planned that will be all about how to grow them, so I’ll give much more details about them in that post. 🙂
Darlene says
Well I had no idea these are edible too. Geeh. Good news. They will be so pretty in a salad. Thanks Toesinbusy.
Shauna says
I live in Southern Ontario and planted a sweet potato vine many years ago to grow up the post of a pergola at the south side of my house. The following spring I was shocked to see this plant coming up again. It survives winter and gets bigger every year. It is now partially covering the top of the pergola and the leaves are gigantic. I never cut it back. The vines go dormant in winter but new shoots appear on the vines every spring. I do not know how it survives. It is planted near some paving stones and a septic system so perhaps that adds some warmth. I love this plant.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wow, that is amazing! There must be enough heat in that spot so it keeps the soil from freezing. Sweet potato vines have tubers that will overwinter in the garden in mild climates where the ground doesn’t freeze. How cool!
Dianna says
Thank you for this article! We want to use the sweet potato vine as ground cover in our small flower patch in front of our house. Since we’re under quarantine here, I needed to buy them online, but it’s expensive at $9 per plant! I need about 8 or 10. I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend that much money on them, thinking they were annuals, but your post convinced me to go for it. I can get many more plants from that initial investment, even some to share with friends. Worth it!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Yes, since you can overwinter sweet potato vines, it’s worth the initial cost. 🙂
A. Smith says
Nice to see other people who love the ornamental sweet potato vines. I have always loved them and I am lucky In the fact that I live in the wetlands of South East Texas. Very mild winters — ground below grade never freezes. Freezing takes place only on the surface. I plant 1 vine in a garden patch and by October, when the perennials are finishing and going dormant the vine has taken over and will fill the entire garden patch. The vines will creep out from the garden and stretch across the lawn. I use my lawn mower to cut them back. No matter how much I run over the vines with the mower, they grow back with tenacity. It’s great! Some of the leaves get 4 – 5″ wide; and they usually make a lot of the flowers. Yellow flowers on the lime green; purple flowers on the deep purple vines and the copper colored variegated vines. I also have the pink variegated variety. I leave them in the ground, over winter, do nothing and by early summer they start to sprout again and by early fall, once again, they take over the garden patches as the perennials go dormant. I have never thought to take cuttings and make new plants, so thanks to this article I will try it this year and maybe have even more vines next year. If I could fill my whole front yard with the vines I would, I love them that much! Maybe if I can succeed in rooting cuttings I just may try to do it, with a few sidewalks cutting through them. Less grass to cut If I could succeed. Yes, I will give it try. Thank you again for your article and hello to all my fellow vine lovers!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, glad you found this article helpful! 🙂 Yes, as long as the ground doesn’t freeze, then you don’t need to worry about overwintering sweet potato vines indoors (lucky you!). The tubers will survive in the ground through the winter. Yours sound beautiful, I love the way you describe how they fill in your garden after the perennials are done. I bet it’s gorgeous!
Chloe says
Hi Amy! I fell in love with the sweet potato vine, and I’ve been searching the internet for care instructions, but my question is, can I keep it as an indoor plant year-round? I know there are a lot of risks for bugs, so is it even a good idea to keep it as an indoor plant?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can grow sweet potato vines as an indoor plant. Bugs will definitely be your biggest challenge, so keep a close eye on them.
penny says
I’ve been taking slips off mine this Summer. They are so easy to propagate. And they expand fast. I have 7 off the one original plant. I plan to over Winter cuttings inside for the 1st time this yr.. I’ll start in water but eventually put in dirt then outside in the Spring. They make a great filler and make the planters / flowers pop.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, aren’t they fun! Good luck overwintering our sweet potato vine cuttings indoors this winter! 🙂