Will frozen brugs survive?

We had a freezing night here in Central FL a couple of weeks ago, and my 2-year-old brugs are now leafless. I was able to cover a smaller one, and it's looking fine. I've never grown these before, so I don't know if they're actually dead. Will they survive? If so, should they be pruned in the spring? Pruned how much?

Thanks for any help!

give them time, the die to the ground here - some of them - and they come back... others are less hardy and will be gone. Do you know their names?

We had an unusual freeze last winter and the small brugs burn't off right down to the ground.I thought they were dead as this was something I had never seen before ...but come Spring they came up from the roots in multiple stems. I hope yours will too:)
chrissy

I bet they will survive. I had a cutting last year I rooted and it had about 8 beautiful leaves on it when I moved it outside... well, we had an ice and snow storm and I missed bringing that little one back in. It was frozen solid! I actually cried when I found it outside. I babied it inside and it rewarded me last fall with some beautiful pink flowers! Mom has one in the ground here and we had snow over a month ago... it has already started trying to come back.. been frozen twice and tries to come back as soon as it warms up. We have wraped the main trunk with bubble wrap to help insulate it from the freezing temps.. supposed to be 21 tonight.. had a lot of temps in the 20's this year... and it keeps trying to come back at the tips.

Tammie

Oh, thanks! Your experiences are very encouraging. I have no idea what kind this is. The flowers look almost white when they first bloom, and then they turn a pale peach color.

I'm still wondering if I should prune the branches a bit in the spring or cut them off until there's only the main stalk. They're about 6' tall.

Here is a link to my thread last year when my little Texas Pink froze... just a little entertaining reading.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/710222/

Great story and wonderful pink Angel :) I reckon you brugs are amazing.

Yeah I think that they will come back in the spring.... I have some planted in the ground here and they got a couple of freezes I pruned them down to the ground....

Yep, I've not lost hope after reading all this.

Lhasa, perhaps it was the coating of ice that actually saved yours. Sometimes when there's a freeze here, orange groves are deliberately sprayed with water so that ice provides a protective coating. I think the idea is that they're protected from wind, and it can actually be warmer under the ice than the air outside.

I would think that with a short lived frost that just fried the leaves, you won't loose the plant at all.. I wouldn't prune anything yet...
If you didn't get the dried wrinkled skin separating from the trunk.. It would be my guess they will be fine.
I have several outside and there have been many mornings it was 30degrees outside when I went out.. they are naked, but fine.

:( What do you do if you get the dried wrinkled skin? Should I pull them up and say goodbye?

David

Thanks for all the encouragement, and I do believe they're sprouting some new leaves! Now, if we just don't get another freeze....

Tammie, what a wonderful story about your resurrected pink brug---way to goooo!

bivbiv, I'm glad that your brug is showing signs of life, also!

Long live the brug obsession!!! Jan

bivbiv, I ordered a plant from a store in Florida. It was sent during our coldest days in mid January. I was heartsick when it came, I could tell that it was healthy with big beautiful leaves but all was frozen. I potted it up anyway. The plant rewarded me well and is putting out new leaves all over. I am very excited to see what it gives me this year.
Marie

Good for you! What and where is the store?

This message was edited Feb 22, 2008 1:52 PM

Seed Sprout Nursery. Look it up on plantfiles. I was very pleased with the seeds, packing and hardiness of the plant. Just not thrilled, (an it is my fault for ordering it in winter) about the plant freezing. I will order from them again.

I am thrilled with my seeds from there too ...quick and efficient service and lovely seedlings from the seed.
Congrats on saving your pink :)

I had a brug that had grown beautifully last year. I can see it from my bedroom window and it would surprise me from one day to another because all of a sudden I'd catch a glimpse of color out of the corner of my eye and it would be the brug blooming. Then, one day I was horrified because the glimpse I caught was of a bare tree. I let it be, haven't even pruned the branches... and we've had lots of rain but some nice sunny days in the 60s or 70s here lately. Last weekend we were outside inspecting what we need to do in the next few weeks and I noticed that both brugs (I had a very small one that didn't do as well as the bigger one and never bloomed once) are growing new green leaves sprouting from the ground. Should I go ahead and prune back the bare branches that to me look like they are dead? With some nice days here and there, I am getting really impatient and want to get out in my garden and start getting ready for this year!

Don't cut until danger of frost is past. Then have at it!