Cold or Frozen House Plants - Now What?

Recently, we’ve received some questions on house plants which stayed outside in the cold and what to do? The questions go something like this!

Question: “My Ficus tree or Dracanea got really cold when I forgot to bring the plant indoors. The leaves turned brown and now it’s losing all its leaves, is it dead? Can the houseplant be saved?”

Answer: Plants drop leaves for a reason, it could be protection, seasonal, or it’s flat out dying. House plants such as a Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily) may get some burned leaves depending on the length of time the plant was exposed to the cold. It may grow back. It may just take some time.

When plants are exposed to cold temperatures many times you’ll notice that the leaves are very dark and discolored. It may also show blackened tips such as the case with Dracaena Massangeana or oily leaves like on Aglaonemas.

What is happening with these plant leaves? Cell collapse.

Think of what happens when you get sunburned - skin begins to peal because the cells have been destroyed… Plants shed their leaves.

There you are with a plant that has lost all of its leaves and the branches, canes or tips aren’t looking very good - what do you do?

• First, be realistic - Does the plant look too far gone?
• Second - if you think you want to give it a try or a re-grow, it may be time to pull out the clippers.

Take a look at the bark as on a Ficus tree, is it black, shriveled or separated from the trunk? (it’s most likely beyond help) Don’t look just at the top but down at the base.

Next start high and scrap the bark. If you find brown at all keep moving lower until you find green, believe me you’ll know when you find it.

When you find an area of green - cut off everything above it, on that stem or branch. When you get done going over this you may have a plant that stands a chance of coming back.

Remember, not only was the foliage, branches and stems exposed to the cold - so were the roots. No matter how hard you try the plant may not survive. The root damage may be so severe that you’ll be fighting an uphill battle.

Now after you’ve performed all this surgery, don’t start pouring water and fertilizer on the plant. Maintain regular plant care. You’ll most likely need to reduce the quantity and frequency of watering.

I know many people can become attached to their plants and they want to try and do everything they can to recover their
treasure. After most indoor house plants suffer exposure to extreme cold temperatures you’ll find it very difficult in regrowing the plant to it’s old stature - even under optimal growing conditions.

The quantity of effort you’ll put into saving plants that suffered extreme cold damage may be better suited to replacing and caring for a new ones - just my thoughts. But learn from this lesson. Keep houseplants indoors all year long.

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