What to do with Frost-Damaged Plants

The recent freeze in our area has caused many problems to plants that do not normally tolerate this much cold. Plants that appear to be suffering from frost damage include Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Plumeria, Bananas, Eugenia, Spathodia, some Ivy varieties, Birds of Paradise, Bacopa, Impatiens, Avocado, citrus, Begonias, Calocacia, Alocaica, Pentas, Ficus, Philodendron and Cannas. There are many more as usually the tender plants and tropical varieties suffer the most.

We’ve been inundated with requests for advice so here is what Walter Andersen Nursery recommends.

Really small plants like Impatiens, Bacopa and Begonias may not survive so they can be easily replaced. It isn’t worth the effort to try to bring them around.

As for larger plants, most will probably survive but have damage. We suggest leaving them alone for now. Care for them as usual, water the same as before, and if the weather threatens freezing temperatures, cover them with an old bed sheet or something similar. Do not cut off or remove any damaged part of the plant at this time. Wait until about March or perhaps April if it is still cold in February. You will eventually see some new growth farther down on the plant, and can cut back to the new growth.

If you cut back now it may encourage new growth which is tender and may be damaged in another cold spell. Just wait for a while as most plants will revive. The tips of them may be burned, but the heavier wood on them will most likely survive. Once you see new growth on the plants is the time to start feeding.

So there you have it, and while you are living with the ugly reminders of the frost don’t forget to add some immediate blasts of color with container plants or color bowls. They are easily protected from frost and will give you something beautiful to look at while you wait.