We had a freeze these past two nights. I've got Elephant ears, cannas and banana trees that are very sad and not pretty. What do I do? If I chop them down, will that encourage new growth and further damage the plants if there's another freeze? Should I just bear with looking at them until the last freeze? If I should chop them, how far down do I chop them?
jorge,
Hi, even though they are ugly and brown, just leave them that way till spring. The dead foliage provides insulation for the stalks.
For banana trees wait until spring. You can push on the dead stalks, where they stop "giving and oozing" you can cut them back at that point.
Your tropicals look more damaged than they really are! They bounce back fine.
hope this helps.
I would say they are all fine. But I would also suggest if anything is extremely sensitive to remove the rotting leaves and mulch or protect. Bananas cannas and others can take a hard frost but some alocasia species get frost like this and the rot runs right into the tuber. Colocasia are not as sensitive. But from the photo all of them look fairly hard to kill stuff.
Thanks. It's what I was thinking. Very much appreciated.
Jorge, that's too bad. I've been watching the weather and I know that it's coming my way to the FL Panhandle. Tonight and tomorrow night are our 2 nights in question. I really hate it since I have a brug that has 25-30 blooms ready to open! But...that's Mother Nature and she must do as she will do. If we're going to get the freeze, I'll be taking my cuttings. Do you usually gets freezes in San Antonio?
Barbara
that spot must look really lovely when it is warm. Your papyrus is so pretty. your plants will be fine and recommendations given here are sound.
I only started gardening this year, so freezes were just something that happened. I really have no idea if we get freezes normally. Seems a bit early for 2 days in a row under 32.
It was a nice area. Lots of color. I have turned into a great big canna fan. Those guys bloom for ever.
Here's a picture of what it looked like a few days ago.
I was right!!! It is a lovely spot.
Well, don't worry about it, in another week it will be 80 degrees. Our crazy weather, can't live with it, can't live w/o it.
I didn't think San Antonio had freezes, anyway one that would kill. I guess any freeze will kill, but doesn't it have to stay at 32* for a while before it really kills. I know about 7 years ago my son lived in San Antonio and we went there for Christmas, I couldn't believe any where in the USA you could see green grass, leaves on trees, and flowers blooming at that time of the year. Because all I was use to seeing in Kansas was dead grass, no leaves at all on trees, and there wasn't anything blooming unless you had it in the house.
Jorge your yard was a master piece before the freeze. But I am like everyone one else I do believe that they will all come around and look beautiful once again.
I don't know about masterpiece, but thanks.
jorge
jorge that's a seriously nice looking garden.
First year eh? By next Fall it will be stunning!
Ric
Jorge,
Here in Orlando(9b), we get several frosts a year...cannas do well and come back up, banana leaves turn brown and mushy, but with a trim in the spring, they pop back up. Same with the crinums. Most of the things you have should be ok unless you end up with a freeze. Mulch mulch mulch the tender plants, but don't let the mulch stay soggy on a few of your plants, such as your alocasias or caladiums (if you have them) As Brian stated, they can rot pretty fast on you.
MerryMary
