January 13, 2001
Question: I am a transplanted northern gardener. In the past week, my crotons and allamandas have been freeze damaged. What should I do to save these plants?
- Gail, e-mail
Answer: The best reaction to cold damaged plants is little or no reaction. Overreaction may promote new leaf and stem growth which may make plants susceptible to future cold fronts. Here are some dos and don’ts when reacting to cold damaged plants. Dos: a) First, determine if plants are cold damaged. This usually shows up as blackened tissue. b) Irrigate lightly to maintain plant vigor and health. However, excessive irrigation can promote new growth. c) Wait! Wait until new growth occurs to determined where to remove dead or diseased tissue. If you cut now, you may be cutting into dead wood. Dead wood does not heal making the plant disease prone. If you cut now, and cut into live wood, you may stimulate new growth. d) Apply copper fungicide to the bud of very young severely cold-damaged palms such as coconut and triangle palms but not to arecas and other clumping palms. Don’ts: a) Do not fertilize. Fertilizing now can promote new growth. b) Do not prune or remove damaged leaves. This too can promote new growth. c) Refrain from applying pesticides. With cold damaged plants, the old adage, ‘patience is a virtue’ should be your modus operandi.
- Stephen Brown is a horticulture agent with the Lee County Extension. To submit questions call the horticulture desk at 461- 7504 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. or via e-mail at shb@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu. Listen to the ‘Garden Show" at 8 a.m. on 1200-AM WINK/WNOG.