~~~I live in the desert,,it has been extreamly cold. Tonight it should get down to 29degrees. I have a beautiful Mexican Heather in a pot. It needs to be watered. Is it better to water after the cold night or before? I dont want to bring it in the house afraid the warmer temp indoors will shock it? Or should I put it in my garage. There is no wind where the potted plant is at.
2007-01-14 10:04:15 · 11 answers · asked by ~~Penny~~ 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is from Mexico and Central America. Although a perennial there, Sunset Western Garden Book says "...reliable only in frost-free areas although they may survive light frosts..." They recommend growing it along the coast and in the so-called thermal belts.
In the desert--Las Vegas just had snow!--I would water well first, then move it to a sheltered area, if not inside.
2007-01-14 10:30:11 · answer #1 · answered by Cornpatch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
38 degrees is the damage point for most tropical stuff. Mex. Heather is very root hardy(when in the ground-it will often survive zone 8) but the tops will always be killed at 32 degrees. Just bring the pot in at night..it will not shock it. Water is not an important issue in regards to what you ask. Mex. Heather needs to be kept fairly moist when growing in a pot. You have probably noticed this.
2007-01-15 17:18:19 · answer #2 · answered by prowling_1 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The freezing temperature for plants is 32 degrees because of the water in the plants. It would be best to put it in the garage over night when it will be below 32 outside, and water it in the morning when you put it back out after the sun comes back up.
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2007-01-14 14:22:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Water it before it freezes. Even temperatures that are not quite freezing will kill plants if they are dry. How long will it freeze? In my area it is rare for freezing temperatures to last long, if it is just for a few minutes, the plants will do o.k. I would bring it inside, at least in the garage if I were you. Or take some cuttings of it and put them in a vase w/ water until you can root them.
2007-01-14 11:27:00 · answer #4 · answered by Michelle G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm unfamiliar as to whether or not a Mexican Heather is hardy enough to withstand temps below 32F. I would look that info up on Google...and if it cannot, putting it in the garage might help, but it depends on how cold it gets in there.
2007-01-14 10:09:29 · answer #5 · answered by What, what, what?? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
after cold you should water as long as outside temp is obove 40 be sure to cover with a plastic bag or bed sheets
and ask local garden supply store about best fertilizer to use for your plant in cold weather conditions
2007-01-14 10:39:50 · answer #6 · answered by Holister 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These temperatures are iffy. Watering helps. There are products that help too -- anti-transpirant sprays with various names like frost free or frost guard. I upturn an empty 32 gallon garbage can over tender plants. That helps too and it's easy.
2007-01-14 11:16:20 · answer #7 · answered by murphy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
32F is freezing. However there are some plants that do not like it much below 40F.
If you want to save that plant you need to bring it in or cover it.
If you only go to 29F for a short period and you have the plant covered well it may make it.
2007-01-14 10:14:11 · answer #8 · answered by John B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
32 degrees F
2007-01-14 10:08:11 · answer #9 · answered by aussie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water will help it to withstand the cold better, so go ahead. You should also consider covering it, or putting it in your garage, as you said.
2007-01-14 10:12:14 · answer #10 · answered by hatchland 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋