so far this year i've let some guys sit out in the cold. im not too keen on letting them die, so cant give the LOWEST possible temps, but figured id note what im observing.
Botanical Name Lived/Died Temp. (C) Hours Age Zone EnvironmentAcacia maidenii lived -2 8+ 3-4yr? 8B potted under cover
Brugmansia sanguinea lived 0 8+ 4yr 8B potted under cover
Brugmansia sp. "double white" lived 0 8+ 6yr 8B potted under cover
Capsicum pubescens died 0 8+ 1 & 2yr 8B potted under cover
Iochroma australis lived 0 8+ 2yr 8B potted, under cover
Solandra sp. Lived -2 8+ 5yr 8B potted, under cover
Trichocereus bridgesii lived -2 8+ 3yr 8B potted, under cover
Trichocereus pachanoi lived -2 8+ 3yr 8B potted, under cover
Trichocereus sp. Bk?
lived -2 8+ 4-5yr 8B potted, under cover
so some more details: its been getting colder here, days are about 7C, nights have been dancing around 0C, with occasional dips down to bout -2C. been like this for a week or two. i think we had some precipitation last weekend, but i was out of town. the weather app said it was supposed to get down to -3C last week, but when i checked that morning, i think it was saying it was only round 0C still. this week it has deff gotten down a little lower, like -2C at least for a few hours most nights. last week, when the app said -3, i brought in the brugmansia capsicum and the iochroma. capsicum already have some fungus, not looking soo hot, but if they die, i think it will be the adjusting/spidermites indoors that will do them in, in their already weekend state. bruggies and iochroma have been stunted for at least a month, but dont show much signs of cold damage.
the cacti haven't been watered since probably September, so they're pretty dry. they seem okay. i did have a huge 6 footer and another 4 footer get a lil wet a few years ago, and temps in the -6-0C, and they froze, then melted when they thawed, drowned in their own goo. soo sad. really dont want that to happen again, so any tips on symptoms to look for to tell if they're not happy (before it too late!) would be appreciated.
the acacia seems to be loving it. its sprouting new leaves & phyllodes. i expect to have some warning of chlorosis/necrosis on young leaves when its getting too cold, am i correct? i don't mind some die back, but i feel so bad when i let plants die, especially the more mature they get.
Solandra has been fairly dormant as well. it does get some water drips on a few leaves, but the soils dry. i brought it indoors today cause i see the leaves starting to fade and wilt, especially the ones exposed to the water drips. says it was -2C last night.
so all of these plants have been outdoors under cover for a good week, some two weeks, with night temps down to -2-0C. cacti and acacia are still outside, everything else is indoors now. for cover, i have a few loose sliding glass doors that i lean on the side of the house and pile plants under. solandra was on front porch, getting drips from roof runoff.