please help me! BEST ANSWER GETS TEN POINTS?

Question

Please help me!

Can you describe the process of plant frostbite? Like at what temperature plants freeze at, why the cold damages the plant, and what the "symptoms" are of a frostbitten plant? Also, please describe any solutions that deal with sprays (e.g. wilt-pruf)

best answer gets ten points! PLEASE help!

Answer 1

To prevent freezing within their living tissues, temperate woody plants use one of two mechanisms for cold hardiness during their dormancy.
First they super-cool. Water in the cells is chemically maintained in a liquid state below 0° C (32F) but above the homogeneous nucleation point at -38.1° C. (-37F) So these plants avoid cold damage by not freezing. If the temperature goes below -38.1° C they will freeze. These plants live in zone 3 or higher.
Second they ship water out of their cells into the space between the cells. Water freezes in the extracellular spaces. The cells actually become quite dehydrated as water moves out and freezes in the extracellular spaces. These plants will often be injured by dehydration but not freezing. Plants which use intracellular dehydration can survive temperatures well below -40° C (-40° F). BUT they are very sensitive to drying out from winter winds. They dry out faster than water can be replaced through absorption by their roots. These plants can survive zones 1 & 2.

Once fully dormant, plants count out time. This is called chilling hours. Plants in this phase can not wake up til enough cold time has passed so if a few warms hours happen they do not respond. Once their 'chill time' is met. A warm spell with longer daylight period is required to start them again. They go back to regular water in their cells. If a cold snap occurs now they are not prepared. It takes to much time to set up to either super cool or dehydrate the cells. The freeze catches them with plain water in their cells. The water freezes at 0C or 32F forming ice crystals within the cell and rupturing it.
Wilt-pruf an anti-transpirant works with plants that dessicate to prevent freeze damage. It keeps them from drying out during winter.
The damage on woody stemmed plants can be obvious with black or brown dead regions or it can be slighter but still enough to prevent healthy growth. First look for green sapwood just underneath the bark, that stem is still alive. Then simply remove everything back to where the new growth is sprouting out. If the normal growth pattern is disrupted. Internodal spacing is short and the foliage discolored compared to healthy foliage then these are called blind shoots and will not produce flowers or fruit. They must be cut off .
Do no pruning until all danger of frost is past. This can be as late as mid or late may in some regions. The plant will die back even further if freezing temperatures return and it has been pruned. This is why roses and other woody plants are best pruned in spring.

On the other hand, flowers and other herbaceous plants such as geraniums, impatiens, begonias, aloes and other soft-stemmed plants should have any frozen and wilted stems removed. If left on, these damaged plant portions will rot, and this decay is likely to spread to undamaged portions of the plant.
Last, any plants injured by the cold should be watered well. Cold injury causes tissue damage and resulting dehydration of the plant.

Answer 2

Your first answer is 100 % correct. If you want to stop freeze damage next time place a plastic tarp or drop cloth over the plant you think will have frost damage. next take a drop utility light with a 100 watt light bulb and place it on the ground inside of the plastic tent. The air will be warmed by the drop light and will not let the frost or freeze form around that plant or tree.

Answer 3

Every best answer gets ten points, so, not much of an incentive. Plants have water in them, water freezes at 32 degrees, freezing water expands into the plant material causing it to burst and die. the area will start to wilt, turn brown, die. clip off the damaged area back to where it is green, fertilize to help fight off stress. Good Luck

Answer 4

You also have to consider what zone the plants are zoned for. If you are up notrh and have a plant that is zone 8 it might be fine in the summer, but one cold rainy spring, summer or fall day cold kill it right off

Answer 5

Newt crimson definite! definite, by fact they shine relatively bright, like no longer something i've got seen previously (and definite, the solar is a megastar) ******(properly, i'm no longer 5th, yet i'm being severe-high quality and helping somebody out to get 10 factors!)*******