Ok...all you experts come together and give me some info here! Our weather is glorious and I'm ready to take everything outside and I would like to know how low the temps have to drop before I need to worry about making certain they are safe. All your help is greatly appreciated....as always!!! Thanks!
Brin :)
Lowest LOW???
Great question! Just what is the lowest temp these babies will take before turning to mush?
If they are hardened off they should be okay unless there's a frost. A frost will turn leaves to mush.
And watch the versicolors,they will probably croak if they have wet soil and cool temperatures
I think if the cold is just for a night and it warms up in the daytime, they should be okay. I'm counting on it anyway.
Length of the cold period plays a part too.Mine have stood light frost with no ill effects but our temps don't stay down long.Probably 3-4 hours at most.If you think your temps are going too low you can turn the sprinklers on.
Mine survived down to about 28 this winter though I lost leaves and and had some freezer burn on the tops of the stems. Some under cover of trees had no damage at all.
The coldest nights, I tossed sheets and towels over them. I had one huge Rosamond that lost her leaves early to frost but never got freezer burn on her stalks though she was never covered at all.
Our winters temps normally stay above freezing or in the upper 20's. Rarely get much snow and even rarer ice or freezing rain.
I'm going to plant a few of these in the ground and hope for the best.
Thanks for the info.
Brinda, kick them out the door!!! It's plenty warm enough, & will get even warmer soon. I'm just outside of Tulsa, & put most of mine out March 25th (a little bit TOO early, had to bring the versicolors back in twice for a couple of nights each time). We had a low of 31.3 the first part of this week, then the temps shot up! The weatherman said that he wouldn't give a money back guarantee, but that was probably our last night in the 30's.
For those in the rest of the country, my lows are forecast to be 50's & 60's for the rest of the week, & Brinda is about 100 miles SOUTH of me.
You can bet that mine would be outside in those temps. I'm sure hoping that our weather will hold, but nothing surprises me in Iowa. You guys are really lucky to be that much further south.
Well..that's good enough for me! I just read our weather for the next week and we are in the high 50's/low 60's for the following week, at night. They are being KICKED OUT THE DOOR Ronna & Brugie! LOL I'm sooooo ready to see the first brug bloom of my life!!!! Yeeeeehaaaa!!!! I will take many pics and you all will get tired of seeing them! LOL
Brinda :)
Thanks everyone for the help!
Brinda, we'll never get tired of seeing Brug pictures. Bring them on. LOL
I agree with Ada, BRING THEM ON! LOL
Rikerbear I'm just north of you, we have the same weather. Although our temps normally don't often go to freezing we have the winter rains to contend with. Brugs don't like their feet wet for extended periods of time. Wet and cold don't go together. The people who talk about low temps above mostly get their rain in the summer when the temps are high. Our rains come when it is cold. We're dry in the summer. I have kept my sanguineas outside for the last few winters with no problem but I am on the water at sea level. These are the most cold tolerant. This winter everything left outside perished to the cold and wet. If you're going to put yours in the ground I'd suggest you have a backup plant and make sure your drainage is perfect and mulch heavily.
Good luck and oh by the way, most of mine have been outside for the last 3 weeks.
Come on Brin.... be brave. I can't wait to see photos from the OK Corrall!
Thanks Liz......gonna get them planted this weekend.
I plan to put them in a raised bed with very good drainage. And I plan to take cutting this fall just in case :-)
Ha Bambi....brave? If I took pics now it would only be of tiny little things. It's just now warm enough to get everything outside! But when everything gets to blooming....you all will be sick of my pics there will be so many! LOL You should see my 'stolen Beverly Hills brugs'!! They are getting huge! And so green and lush! Wonder what they are? Ha....I'll have to come up with a good name.
I am getting ready to go out with mine tomorrow.
Brinda, keep them in the shade for a few days until they get used to the outside & try to protect them from the wind. I stake lots of things that are sturdy enough that they wouldn't need stakes because we get so much wind. If you are in town & have a protected backyard, it wouldn't be as much of an issue for you. I'm out in the boonies.
I hope your good weather holds for you Root. Mine went out, in, out, in,,,,, for 2 weeks. Now I can't find anything.