By Expat Badger

Re: pots and frost
17 Apr 2008 16:52

last Saturday it was 72 degrees and gorgeous sunshine, so i planted my pots up on the balcony and patio. This Saturday it's going to snow....rats.

I have heather, bizzy lizzie type little flowers and an ornamental grass (all names are in latin, so no idea what they're usually called, plant novice, sorry).

Question - Should I bring them all indoors or will they survive if i just cover them up? What should i cover them with?

Help!
xx

Replies

By Sam, worthing west sussex, uk

Re: pots and frost
17 Apr 2008 16:57

in the uk, we have these frost blankets that you can can buy...

they are a sort of see through fleece, that light and water can still pentrate but the harsh frost can't.

if you have a sheltered corner in your patio, i would bunch all your pots up against that, and maybe put a temporary shield up around them, ie garden chairs or bbq...

over here 2 weekends ago we had unseasonal snow and when i say snow i mean SNOW at least 6 inches i had down here on the sunny south coast...I have grasses and they coped brilliantly, even my apple and plum tree that were out in blossom seem to have coped.

but i do know you have obvioulsy higher temps in the meantime than us.

so i would just suggest bunching in a shielded corner and then creating your own windbreak. BUT your bizzie lizzies if you have window sill space should be brought in...they are very tender little things.

By Expat Badger

Re: pots and frost
17 Apr 2008 17:20

OK, thanks Sam - makes sense. I could definitely create a little sheltered corner. I don't think we'll get much snow, but it'll be cold at night (1 degree they say) so i'm thinking too that the little flowers would appreciate a couple of days indoors...

Roll on the return of spring - this weather is nuts.

By Karenskitchen

Re: pots and frost
17 Apr 2008 21:25

It`s usually the frost that goes for the pots. Snow insulates the plants so they should be fine. Heathers will survive - think Scottish Highland Heathers! You may need to cover the plants as others have said.

By Krishnamurti

Re: pots and frost
17 Apr 2008 21:27

Next time you get a parcel, save the bubble wrap! It's really good for wrapping around pots and plants. As is the stuff you use under laminate floors...
AS Sam says, group them together in a sheltered spot (so they can happily huddle up to keep warm!) and wrap them in a cosy blanket of anything insulating (even cardboard will help).
Good luck.
Krish

By SusanM

Re: pots and frost
18 Apr 2008 08:55

Everyone has said what I was going to say !!!! . Hope all is well with them . Susan xxx

By *Bramble

Re: pots and frost
21 Apr 2008 09:43

Yes, stand the pots on the bubble-wrap then wrap it over, so the frost is kept off the bottom of the pots.
Bramble xxx