How to over winter Platycodon Grandiflorus?

Hi, it all depends where you live and how many plants you have. If you are in the south or your garden is very well protected, it might even make it as a hardy one.A good way to be able to lift small plants like the balloon flower is to plant them with their pots and then you lift the whole thing and bring it inside if you have the space. Otherwise, check the following:
http://www.gpnmag.com/Platycodon-grandiflorus-Miss-Tilly-article8961
Best of luck with them, they are really pretty.

They survive the winter here and we are as cold as it gets in lowland England. They do need a well drained soil though. Ours are in a gravel garden andhtye not only thrive they self seed all over the place. Remember to mark their place wll, they are early to bed and late to rise. IE They do not show until late May, flower and die down.

I agree about the hardiness. Here in N Yorks I have had some , which I grew from seed, for several years without any problems.They are just starting to flower this month.

It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.

I have grown these for years and now have four varieties. They all survived last winter and are covered in buds. They are supposed to resent disturbance. I moved two last autumn and they are fine. The white variety is the least hardy but with care will grow happily. Not too wet with good drainage.

For future reference!

I saw these growing in the Hermannshof middle of germany in a drought tolerant planting which is never watered!

Very hardy! I guess as it's from Japan it requires a free draining/dry winter.

I use this plant in my designs - www.emotivelandscapes.co.uk

Regards,