JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs Forums Photo Galleries Ask The Experts Tools & Directories        
Return to the Fuchsia Forum | Post a Follow-Up

 o
Are they all dead?

Posted by anneow Z8 Sunset14 (My Page) on
Tue, Jan 23, 07 at 18:19

Just moved from zone 8 to coastal California. I thought this would be a milder climate for fushias. I have 12 different potted hybrids, and I left them outside next to the house. Unfortunately there was a big cold spell, and they all got frosted. The next day I brought them into the house. All the leaves dried up and fell off. Is there any hope? What should I do now? Anne


Follow-Up Postings:

 o
RE: Are they all dead?

It's unlikely they're all dead. I know that many places in California were hit with unusually cold weather. Their survival depends on whether it was cold enough to have frozen their roots in the pots.

The good news is that Fuchias have amazing regenerative capacity. I have had them come back from a few surviving buds on badly split wood--that is usually fatal to most plants. They don't need much--just a few surviving buds and some roots.

I suggest keeping them cool but protected from frost for the rest of the winter (with the understanding that your "winter" is probably over pretty promptly early in the year). Their pots should remain moist enough so the roots don't dry out. You could try trenching them in to protect the roots.

With warmer temperatures, it will eventually become obvious which ones survived and which ones didn't. If you only let them out a day, it's possible most of them will survive.

Have a look at their wood. Dead wood dries out. I suggest not clipping it back until its obvious what is dead and what isn't. They should start regrowing again quickly in mild weather.

In the future, you might want to try trenching their pots. You dig a trench, put the pots in the trench, and bury them. Then mulch the tops. This is just to protect the roots and some buds. Most but not all Fuchsias can stand some frost, and whatever is exposed might get nipped back a bit but in a Sunset zone 14 I would normally expect minimal dieback.

Good luck.


 o
RE: Are they all dead?

  • Posted by anneow Z8 Sunset14 (My Page) on
    Wed, Jan 24, 07 at 11:32

Thank you, atash! I have had these plants for several years and really don't want to lose them. I put them back outside for now as it looks like the frosty weather is over.


 
 

 

 


Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.



iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network