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Cacti & Succulents

Thanksgiving/Christmas Cactus Questions

14 years ago

We're suppose to get low's between 29Â° to 34Â° degrees for the next 5 nights in a row. Very unusual for us in FL...I have my TC/CC in an open entryway...has three walls surrounding it and roofed...is it safe to leave it there or should I bring them inside the house or garage? I am trying to get a couple of them to get more buds. But if its a risk,I would rather keep the plant and sacrifice the buds.

Thanks so much for any help and advise.

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Comments (7)

User
14 years ago
Hiya Pug,

Happy New Year! Sorry, don't know the answer, but will advocate better safe than sorry. We know these are tropical, I've heard repeatedly that they originate in Brazil, around Rio in particular. I grew up in Rio, I suggest a freeze is quite rare there (I'd never seen snow 'til I came to America), so I'm guessing they haven't either.

You're fond of these plants & have worked hard w/ them, I'm suggesting at least the garage if not the house.
emerald1951
14 years ago
HI.....
anytime the temp goes to 32' or below that, a tropical plant is going to freeze, I'd either move the plants indoors or cover them to protect them...that is what I do here in minnesota in the fall to keep my annuals and veggie plants going until the really hard freeze and then thats it...good luck...linda
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tjicken
14 years ago
>anytime the temp goes to 32' or below that, a tropical plant is going to freeze

But the question is: will that damage them?
jodik_gw
14 years ago
Scientifically speaking, I would suspect the amount of damage, or not, would be dependent upon several factors... such as moisture content, etc...

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... I'd bring them inside... for my own peace of mind.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
14 years ago
Hey, Pug!
Bring 'em in for the chilly hours.

Josh
beachplant
14 years ago
I left mine out with the last cold front, it got down to 34 with a windchill of 24. I didn't bring anything in. They all did fine, lots of buds and blooms. BUT, if it's going to be below freezing you might want to drag them in. I bring stuff into the house but it's not heated downstairs unless we're down there so the temps can get to freezing but I've never had any plants damaged. The really tender ones, like the seabeans that I sprouted, won't take any cold so I bring those up where there is heat.

Stay warm and good luck! I'm sick of winter! Isn't the reason we live in the south to avoid freezing?
Tally HO!
puglvr1
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks to all that responded...yes, I think I will go ahead and bring them in! Better safe than sorry is def. good advise.
Appreciate it!

Happy New Year PG...and to all of you! Thanks again!

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