Question
Hi! I just moved and I have several houseplants which where left outside for 2 days. It got very cold and now that I have brought the plants back in they are no longer green and they look dead. They are very limp and I don't want to overwater due to the soil feels damp. I think they may have suffered from frostbite and maybe shock. Is there anything I can do to save them. I do not know what kind of plants they are.

One of the plants is very big and bushy and is in a large pot. The other plant is tall and has varigated leaves on it.

Thhanks for any help

Roxanne

Answer
Hi Roxanne,

Most all houseplants are tropical in origin and do not tolerate cold temperatures. The degree of damage depends on just how cold they got and how long they were exposed.

Any of the leaves and stems that were damaged by cold will not recover. However, if the roots, which are insulated by the surrounding soil and pot, remain intact, then there is a good chance that the plant will survive and produce healthy new growth in the future. This is difficult to predict.

All you can do is remove any obviously damaged leaves and stems, keep the plants warm, and water only when the soil is quite dry. Do not repot or fertilize. Any growth will be very slow, so there is little use of water and nutrients. Patience and minimal care is the best medicine.

Good luck and let me know if any of this is unclear.

Regards,
Will Creed
[email protected]