When it is cold outside, many people have problems with keeping their homes warm because of different reasons, such as too much air flow or broken heaters. This can affect not only their own health, but also their indoor plants, which are very sensitive to changes in temperature. To avoid losing your flowers to cold stress, follow these tips in this article.
First, you need to know that different indoor plants have different reactions to cold. Some can handle short periods of low temperature down to +10ºC (for example, ficuses, dracaena, begonias), while others, like pelargoniums and fuchsias, can survive even colder, down to +5ºC. But if they stay in the cold for too long, they might freeze.
Second, you need to know how to tell if your plants are freezing. The signs depend on the type of plant. Ficus, hibiscus, kalanchoe, monstera, violets, and begonias show different kinds and shapes of spots. Codieum and similar plants wilt and shrivel when they are too cold. Cacti may become soft, like overripe oranges. If you see these signs, you need to act fast to save your plants.
Third, you need to know how to protect your plants from freezing. If you have warmer places in your house, move your plants there. But don’t put them too close to heat sources, because that can make them worse. Keep a good distance and change it as the plant gets better. Don’t water your plants during this time to avoid root rot. If the room is still cold, spray them with warm water mixed with a stress-relief solution or a growth stimulator, and cover them with plastic film to make a greenhouse. Keep doing this until the temperature is normal again.
Fourth, you need to know what to do if you are late and your plant does not respond to your efforts. In this case, you can try cutting off the damaged parts until you reach healthy tissues and putting the remaining plant in a new pot. This can help it recover and grow again. But not all plants can survive this, so it is better to prevent them from freezing.
To sum up, indoor plants need extra care when it is cold. If you follow these tips, you can keep your flowers healthy and beautiful.
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