Well, I wrote about the cold-assed back porch and the hopes that the
eastern, southern, and western sunlight would keep the cacti,
succulents and tropicals at a good temperature. I think I mentioned
that there was ice in the animal watering tray, but I attributed that
to it being on the floor and a thin amount of water
spilled........moved ALL the cacti and inhabitants downstairs to the
cold foyer, that doesn't freeze, and today I see horrible signs of
death and mushiness. After Thanksgiving I will know more as to the
magnatude of destruction I have caused due to not paying closer
attention. Sure I've not experienced a winter here before, but you'd
think I'd have used common sense.........even the sanseveria's are
limp. I'm hoping if the ends of the plants are toast, at least the
roots are alright as I hadn't watered anyone lately. Lets hope. If I
lost the amount I fear I have I will have to chalk it up to a MASSIVE
LESSION LEARNED. More updates at a later time. Have a happy
Thanksgiving and I look forwards to hearing from my gardening friends
over the hedges and fences. On a good note, we're getting some
massivly needed rain today!! So there is that.
Madgardener killing plants in the greene bowl in northeastern
Tennessee zone 7 with temperatures below normal

On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:02:31 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

Well, I wrote about the cold-assed back porch and the hopes that the
eastern, southern, and western sunlight would keep the cacti,
succulents and tropicals at a good temperature. I think I mentioned
that there was ice in the animal watering tray, but I attributed that
to it being on the floor and a thin amount of water
spilled........moved ALL the cacti and inhabitants downstairs to the
cold foyer, that doesn't freeze, and today I see horrible signs of
death and mushiness. After Thanksgiving I will know more as to the
magnatude of destruction I have caused due to not paying closer
attention. Sure I've not experienced a winter here before, but you'd
think I'd have used common sense.........even the sanseveria's are
limp. I'm hoping if the ends of the plants are toast, at least the
roots are alright as I hadn't watered anyone lately. Lets hope. If I
lost the amount I fear I have I will have to chalk it up to a MASSIVE
LESSION LEARNED. More updates at a later time. Have a happy
Thanksgiving and I look forwards to hearing from my gardening friends
over the hedges and fences. On a good note, we're getting some
massivly needed rain today!! So there is that.
Madgardener killing plants in the greene bowl in northeastern
Tennessee zone 7 with temperatures below normal


I left my American pad cactus (from S.California coastline) on the
deck and waiting to see if it got frostbite. It is a cutting from the
mother plant, so if I lose it no big loss. If it survives the winter,
I plan on planting it in the front yard. I recall killing a
Marginata Dracaena and the temperature did not freeze. Some plants
are super-sensitive to the cold, others are ok. Many cacti are
hardy.

If you just take off the mushy part the plants are usually fine.
Anything not mushy should be fine.
Relax, they're pretty hard to kill. Do you have bright light
indoors? Sometimes overhead protection is enough to save them.
Good luck,
L

On Nov 26, 3:52*am, Laura at theGardenPages
wrote:
If you just take off the mushy part the plants are usually fine.
Anything not mushy should be fine.
Relax, they're pretty hard to kill. *Do you have bright light
indoors? *Sometimes overhead protection is enough to save them.
Good luck,
L

thanks Laura. I kinda figured if I was patient, and waited for the
deffinate signs of death or at least leaf die off, I'd see
what had gotten freeze burnt. I hadn't watered the cacti and
succulents in a few, and hoped more than anything that the roots were
fine. the tradescanthia or "Cherokee pipe" that I'd replaced after
years of sharing pieces might have succumbed, but I believe I have
another piece of it that is fine. It's all part of what gardeners
experience, I just couldn't believe that I'd waited until a freeze on
the unknown conditions of the back porch forced my hand. Live and
learn, eh? the bulk of the unusual sanseveria's I'd brought into a
low light eastern facing room that has no heat, more of a perfect
place for the clivia to winter out, actually. no freezing but damn
cold nevertheless. The rest of the "rescued" plants I put in the cold
foyer get hard indirect southern light and that will have to do for
now until I rearrange the rack possibly in the dining room. I think
that cooler and dryer would be better on the cacti and succulents than
warmer and dryer.....I was actually thinking of investing in a grow
stick light to put up for supplimental light, they're not too
expensive and there is an outlet in the foyer downstairs leading to
our unheated six rooms of this rental house we're in at the moment.
Had I thought about it, I'd not left the three kerosene heaters at the
previous house where I used to live.....(I had a heat pump in the
house, so the kerosene heaters were stored in the outbuilding where
someone relieved me of them, ah hope they have served a good purpose
whomever got them) and the three, five gallon containers I used to get
kerosene in were actually still there when I had to move in April.
when you have to pack 30+ years and leave, you don't always have a
chance to leisurely do it. I have enough plants to keep me happy and
growing through the winter months and some that I have cared for and
loved now for well over 20 years into the first quarter century! I'll
keep interested gardeners posted on success and failures, as I learn
from them all. Thanks for getting back to me and giving me
encouragment.
maddie up in upper northeastern Tennessee zone 7a

;823855]On Nov 26, 3:52*am, Laura at theGardenPages
wrote:
If you just take off the mushy part the plants are usually fine.
Anything not mushy should be fine.
Relax, they're pretty hard to kill. *Do you have bright light
indoors? *Sometimes overhead protection is enough to save them.
Good luck,
L

thanks Laura. I kinda figured if I was patient, and waited for the
deffinate signs of death or at least leaf die off, I'd see
what had gotten freeze burnt. I hadn't watered the cacti and
succulents in a few, and hoped more than anything that the roots were
fine. the tradescanthia or "Cherokee pipe" that I'd replaced after
years of sharing pieces might have succumbed, but I believe I have
another piece of it that is fine. It's all part of what gardeners
experience, I just couldn't believe that I'd waited until a freeze on
the unknown conditions of the back porch forced my hand. Live and
learn, eh? the bulk of the unusual sanseveria's I'd brought into a
low light eastern facing room that has no heat, more of a perfect
place for the clivia to winter out, actually. no freezing but damn
cold nevertheless. The rest of the "rescued" plants I put in the cold
foyer get hard indirect southern light and that will have to do for
now until I rearrange the rack possibly in the dining room. I think
that cooler and dryer would be better on the cacti and succulents than
warmer and dryer.....I was actually thinking of investing in a grow
stick light to put up for supplimental light, they're not too
expensive and there is an outlet in the foyer downstairs leading to
our unheated six rooms of this rental house we're in at the moment.
Had I thought about it, I'd not left the three kerosene heaters at the
previous house where I used to live.....(I had a heat pump in the
house, so the kerosene heaters were stored in the outbuilding where
someone relieved me of them, ah hope they have served a good purpose
whomever got them) and the three, five gallon containers I used to get
kerosene in were actually still there when I had to move in April.
when you have to pack 30+ years and leave, you don't always have a
chance to leisurely do it. I have enough plants to keep me happy and
growing through the winter months and some that I have cared for and
loved now for well over 20 years into the first quarter century! I'll
keep interested gardeners posted on success and failures, as I learn
from them all. Thanks for getting back to me and giving me
encouragment.
maddie up in upper northeastern Tennessee zone 7a

sorry to hear about your plants maddie. but i do agree with laura they can
be some tough characters when it comes down to survival .
also as laura mentioned lighting. i am also wondering besides u putting
some form of lighting out there if u were to put pop bottles or something
like that filled with water so that they can be heated by the sun and
give off some needed heat. i know a few of the green houses in our area
do that to ward off the really extreme temps because of the cost of heating.
here we have had more snow then fog really bad last night--had to stay at sons place in the city it was so bad--now today we supposed to get another
storm that is supposed to last till tues.
so if u want our snow ill send it to u or to whoever wants it lolol.
take care and good luck with those plants maddie. cyaaaaaaa, sockiescat.