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HELP! My small potted plants are frozen solid

WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
in Plants
Like everyone we've suffered with very cold days and nights for a few days now. Pretty sure we went down to -8 the other night. I only checked today but my small potted plants (bought and waiting to plant out in the spring) are frozen solid. I have two sarcococcas and some (self sown) foxglove seedlings which are in a sheltered place. And two vincas, a cyclamen and two young ferns in a coldframe. I poured some luke warm water in them to try and thaw, but am worried that the frozen soil will kill them off. Any tips? Will they survive? My foxgloves particularly look very unhappy.



"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you'd left them, they'd have been fine. Pouring water on them is a huge mistake.
    Wet then freezing does more damage than just leaving them to freeze with relatively dry soil. 
    All of those would have come through no problem. I frequently have very small plants which just sit under a bench, or among other plants. That's all the protection they get and we often have very low temps for long spells.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
    I didn't put much in, probably less than a cm per large pot and most of it drained out straight away down the sides. So hopefully I haven't completely ruined it!
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just let them recover.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
    Just in case anyone is interested to know - my plants survived! Foxgloves are continuing to grow (very slowly, mind, but hopefully they'll take off now we're nearing spring). 

    Won't be trying to thaw them if it happens again, mind!
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Good to hear they survived. Hopefully spring is well on the way.
  • shane.farrellshane.farrell Posts: 207
    Constant fretting and fiddling is how I have killed more plants than any other method 😂 glad it worked out. 👍
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