Frozen Plant

WHAT TO DO IF MY TROPICAL PLANT GETS FROZEN

If you leave a tropical plant outdoors during winter or order a plant online and it arrives frozen, depending on the plant variety and the severity of the damage, chances are that the plant will not survive. However, if the plant still has green healthy leaves, stems, and a healthy root system, there is always hope.

Once you notice that the plant has been exposed to extreme cold, bring it into a warmer spot as soon as possible. Look for a spot that is not only warm, but that provides a good amount of natural indirect light. Although you might be tempted to cut off all the frozen or damaged leaves and stems, it works better if you leave them intact during the recovery process.  This process starts as soon as the plant is in a warmer spot.

When plants freeze, the moisture gets sucked from the leaf tissue. That means that your plant is dehydrated. So, it is a good idea to water the soil as soon as possible. Then keep watering the plant after that as you would before it got frozen. Don’t fertilize the plant for the next two months.

Once the plant is recuperated and starts showing new leaf growth, then you can consider getting rid of the dry leaves that were damaged during winter.