cold damaged houseplants?

Question

I did something dumb yesterday. I took my houseplants outside to water them, and left them outside for an hour (I got distracted and forgot them actually) anyway now most of the leaves look like they froze and are totally droopy should I cut back the damage all the way down to the soil and hope they will grow back or did I kill them? They look dead? Its a shame if I killed them cause they were many years old.

Answer 1

Being that they were only outside for an hour or so, it's possible that only the foliage got damaged. The roots should still be intact, (unless it was really cold and the soil managed to freeze to).
Anyways, if they were mine i would cut off the damaged parts of the plants, down to the soil if necessary. Put them in a light place indoors and wait to see if they show any signs of new growth from the pot. If you see nothing over the next 2-3 weeks, then you're probably out of luck with them.
Hope they aren't ex-plants yet! ;-)

Answer 2

I would not trim them back to much or at all just yet. That might do more harm than the cold did. Its hard to say without know what type of plant(s) they are.

The damage is done. Let them grow back. Wait a week and cut back the obvious dead stuff and see if you got new growth yet.

Might also try to root a nice healthy branch if they are the kind that easily roots in water or moist soil.

I saved one that was almost totally dead that way. Its making a great comeback. I was surprised how easily and fast it rooted in just moist soil on a sunny window sill.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Only an hour outside shouldn't have killed the roots. The roots are the most important part of the plant. Just because the leaves got nipped doesn't mean the roots were damaged. I would cut the frozen or droopy leaves off.

Answer 4

I think I would trim them, they should come back OK.

All fresh and new for spring.