Freeze-Pruf :: 2 to 7 additional degrees F of protection

You all seen this? Spray Improves Plants’ Cold Tolerance By 2 To Over 9 Degrees Fahrenheit (about 200 miles equiv).

http://uanews.ua.edu/anews2008/jul08/spray070808.htm

There's some buzz about it out there, thought it was interesting.

Well, they can send some to me and I will be happy to field test it for them. :-)

Very interesting info. It would make a huge difference in the amount of work I have every Fall.

I was thinking I could probably keep some of my ginger outside (and or a few additional bananas). It seemingly only works with soft tissue plants though. Rules out the White Bird of Paradise, etc - or that's what I've been told.

I've asked for a gallon of it when available in the coming weeks (pending the price is reasonable). Unfortunately we're hitting 29 or so tonight, so it might have to wait for next year.

yea well what do you do with your bird of paradise you keep them in the ground or pots. do you keep them outside or store in doors. Im getting tired of digging things up. maybe need to keep more of my tender plants in pots. I find they do not grow as well. Not sure why. Maybe soil get to hot during dog days of summer???

I keep them potted but I sink most of them into the ground - which is getting old since the pots are 24" in size - they weigh a ton. I take them out at the threat of first frost and put them out after the last threat in the spring. They have grown so rapidly (especially my Travelers Palms) that I have no idea what I'm going to do with them in another year or so. The T-Palm is already 9' tall. My garage is only 11 or 13' in height (I forget which).

I tried several tropicals in the ground this year - and honestly, they didn't grow any better than those in pots. I especially tried it with gingers, and they did well, the plants I had in pots were just as happy. In fact, some of the potted plants seemed to do better since they didn't have to compete with other plants in the ground.