keeping plants warm during the big freeze

14 years ago

OKÂjust call me Norma StewartÂ(the love child Martha Stewart had with Norm Abrams [This Old House/The New Yankee Workshop])! HereÂs your tip to get your plants through the deep freeze this week.

1)Go to the local craft or hardware store and buy the strands of Christmas lights that are ON SALE right now for 50% off or even more!! (Sears Hdwr had 150 light sets for $3.75...and you can string 5 strands together)

2)Do NOT buy the LED lightsÂthese are "cool" in more ways than one!

3 Wrap the lights around your plantsÂbe generous as the more light, the more warmth

4)For extra warmthÂcover them with a sheet or blanket in addition to the lights

5)To protect from the sleet and freezing rain, top with a clear plastic drop cloth (cheap, No guarantee that this will save everything, but it will give them a fighting chance!

:-)

NormaÂ.I mean Kristi

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Comments (10)

beachplant
14 years ago
I didn't think of Home Depot, I'll buzzz by there after work.
I hate winter!!!
Tally HO!
rebecca47
14 years ago
Being a Nartherner I am not affected by Winter like all y'all in the warm and warmer zones but I get cold too! Right now I would kill to have your temps! It's a whoppin 16Â° F here right now and down to single digits again tonight. No brag/grip, just fact. I have had to content with "inclement weather" in spring and here is a tip y'all CAN USE!!

Instead of covering the lighted plants with sheets or clothe, use PLASTIC drop clothes and they will hold the warmth in and will increase the morning rays of the sun's heating potential. Now where you will get the plastic may be a problem, but there should be some type of clear plastic painters drop clothes available at builder's supply stores or paint departments. They don't have to be think but you do need to have some way of weighting them down so they don't blow off. Bricks work very nicely, butt 2x4's will also.

Hope this helps!
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Seacat, let's hope we don't experience many -27Âº C....for those still using fahrenheit....minues 27 is about 18Âº below zero. That's awfully cold no matter where you think it is. Seacat, I haven't seen those kinds of temperatures for quite a while. Perhaps up on the balcony and with winds being what they are at that height, that might explain why you are experiencing such low temps. On balconies the big enemy is wind. Wind --especially in winter--is very drying. It can dry out a plant that has not been given sufficient moisture to its roots in no time. The cardboard box may be a good idea. That and placing your plants so that wind is not a factor. Sunligth, as suggested, it can indeed play havoc with how the plant might dry out quicker. Wind, and sun...wonderful ways to feed our plants but must be given in spurts so that we don't overfeed them. I believe in the bubble wrap...or styrofoam placed on the insides of the containers before the soil goes in. Then another way to deflect the hot sun....and wind...is to wrap the outside of the container with aluminum foil...especially on the sides where the sun is likely to bear down in the afternoon. Water is important. The plant must be given sufficient water to fend off drying. But, the container should be lifted...an inch or so is fine, so that water, when given, drains well and doesn't freeze under and on the container. Air can pass under and around the container. Chairs, so stored on a balcony can be used to ward off wind with the added benefit of burlap. Tables, turned over --if they can stand up to being hit with wind, can come in handy. I wouldn't suggest you take the Alberta Spruce indoors without at least giving it some warning. Such abrupt change of temperature can only cause it to speed up drying. Alberta Spruce it does appear do not need any further help in that regard....they are not the best for retaining their moisture. You might try to acclimatize it though...in for a short stay, back out...back in longer. I think though that particular evergreen is best suited outside in the garden or at least where it can get ultimate protection.
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Rick, I didn't mean you specifically..It was an open question, meaming anyone using Christmas lights on/in the soil. The idea of using lights where water is going to be applied frightens me; I don't like messing w/electric, period. Karyn, there are indoor and outdoor lights. When I decorate outside, I use a plastic bag on the timer in case it rains/snows. I still don't know how safe it is considering the bulbs are sitting out where moisture can set in the bulbs. Since we've had major rain storms in Aug/Sept and now Oct, it finally happened..Our basement flooded..over 3' of water..pots were floating like mini boats..it was terrible. And again today we had more rain..will it ever end?? Some parts of the coutnry are as dry as a desert, while other states are getting loads of rain. I still have plants to haul inside, but don't want to work in the mud. One advantage is, it's been in the 80s the last couple days..but it's so humid nothing's drying. There's nothing but mud out there.. I don't feel a need to set lights indoors, but wouldn't mind setting something up in the gh where it gets cold in winter. And I've two heating units..gas and electric. Plus I keep a fan going to circulate air. I'd have to purchase all new (clear) bulbs first, since my sets are multi-colored. I think clear is best, does anyone know? Toni
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mariava7
14 years ago
Cheap Plastic Drop Cloth....$1 plus tax in the Dollar Store. Been using that for several seasons now. Using more than 1 drop cloth has better effect. The air in between the drop cloths act as a "buffer".

You can pile up your potted plants like a pyramid (on their side and not upright) with the pots on the outside and the leaves/plants on the inside. The more plants , the better. Broken branches/leaves are better than frozen plants. Place newspapers in between layers. Cover the whole pile with blanket if you have and then cover or wrap with drop cloth.

Hope that helps! Good luck!!!
jodik_gw
14 years ago
I feel for all you southerners going through this deep freeze! To me, this is a normal winter.

I hope everyone can muddle through... and I hope the plant losses are not many.
rebecca47
14 years ago
Jodi, This is NOT normal! Not this soon anyway. . . but since winter (hard winter) has come early, maybe it will finish early and we will have an early spring as a REWARD for dealing with this prolonged Siberian Express!!!!

Think POSITIVE and remember the old adage about every cloud having a "Silver Lining"!! Everyone can do this!
mariava7
14 years ago
Yes, winter came in too early too quickly this season I noticed. I had to bring in around 500 clay potted plants in October in one weekend when my usual schedule is November.

It is also a lot colder then the previous winters. This is the first season that I had to run a heater in the garage for the Hippies.
ryan820
14 years ago
Primeribs can back me up on this, but it snowed here in Colorado in September and for people in the mountains (like Primeribs) it snowed in early August. THis is NOT abnormal for us. Sure, the persistent cold is a little off but the ebb and flow of the jet stream is to be expected... it just happened to ebb into the South's backyard this year!

It totally sucks you guys are getting this harsher-than-normal cold. I wish you all the best!

As for me, my plants have been in since September, minus my crab apple bonsai, which seem to thrive following these cold winters.

Right now in Denver it has hit 52 degrees F-- thanks to the Down Slope. Tomorrow, highs in the single digits. But alas, I have no plants to worry about freezing!

Maybe Anna of Quebec can help you guys... she has her kitties sleep around her bulbs as bulb cozies.

Rocky Mtn Ryan
e36yellowm3
14 years ago
For folks in Fla, here's a web site that has temperature info from Florida Agriculture...

Here is a link that might be useful: Agriculture temp info
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
14 years ago
Thanks, e 36 yellow m 3.
jodik_gw
14 years ago
Here in Central Illinois, we had blooming roses and clematis on December 6th... THAT'S not normal! Then, we began to chill down and the winter got more normal as I see it. I'm used to these deep freezes, being from farther north... so it seems rather like a normal winter of snow and ice and cold to me!

keeping plants warm during the big freeze

Comments (10)

beachplant

rebecca47

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