8 tips to help you prevent freezing damage

Although cold weather is the optimum time to keep succulents in their finest condition, if winter management is poor, the succulents will suffer from frostbite, plaque, serious freezing, rot, and even death. Thus, it is crucial to take extra good care of succulents during these months. Today we will take a look at the best wintertime tips for succulents.

The 8 key points of cold resistance of succulent

1. Understand which succulents are not afraid of cold, and which succulents are.

• Succulents that receive enough sunshine can resist low temperatures more easily by synthesizing organic matter through photosynthesis.
• Leggy succulents are more prone to freezing because they store too much water in their body.
• When a succulent is injured, the moisture at the wounded part will be more prone to frostbite.
• If you keep your succulents outdoors, it is best to put the injured succulents in a warm place, and wait for the wound to dry before taking them outdoors.
• Due to the differences in the climate of the native place, the cold resistance level is also different. For example, cactus family, aloe vera, and other plants, the overwinter temperature can be above 5 degrees; Euphorbiaceae, Paniculaceae, etc., overwintering requirements above 12 degrees; And Sedum and other overwintering room temperature in 10 degrees is appropriate.

2. Be careful of drafts in the gaps of the doors and windows

• It is the best to put all the succulents in an indoor sunny place. However, before putting on the windowsill, check whether the window gap is tight and ensure there are no drafts.
• The wind that comes in through the windows in winter can be extremely lethal. While succulent respiration will release a small amount of heat energy, if there is a sudden cold wind blowing at this time, it will make the local tissue of meat quickly cool down and prone to frostbite.

3. Pay attention to the protection of succulent roots

• The root of the succulent is protected by soil, but it is still easy to get frostbite in the cold winter, especially if the succulent is in a small pot.

1) Double-pot method to keep warm

To prevent frostbite at the root of the succulents, we can use the Double-pot method to protect them. Place the potted succulents in a larger pot. We can also put foam, vermiculite, sawdust, etc., in the gap between the two pots to keep them warm and to reduce the impact of sudden temperature changes on the plants.

2) Small greenhouse heating method

Use thermal insulation film to make small insulation shed, used to resist the invasion of winter. Set up a small outdoor greenhouse if you can. You can also use relatively strong light plastic products to make a small greenhouse, such as coke bottles, disposable plastic bowls (pots, cups, etc.), plastic bags, etc., according to the size of the corresponding plants. You can remove them the next spring after the temperature rise.

Note: If the plastic film is used for heat preservation, ventilation should be carried out at noon when the temperature is high, to avoid mildew and decay of plants in a high-temperature environment for a long time.

4. Be careful with your heating

• Succulent should be placed away from any radiators. Excessive heat can cause succulents to dehydrate and die. If the indoor air is dry in the winter, it is best to place a tray of water next to the succulents. You can also use a household humidifier to maintain the air humidity.

5. Improve the cold resistance of the meat

• In the autumn when the plants are still in the growth period, strengthen the management of watering to maintain the vigorous and robust growth of plants and improve their ability to resist cold. For example, when you change the pot in the growing period, about 30% of the soil is mixed in with lava rocks to increase potassium, improve the medium, and improve the cold resistance of the plant. When winter comes, you can place a layer of Maifanitum rock on the soil. This can also improve the moisture retention of the medium and reduce the occurrence of freezing damage.

6. Control the amount of water

• Water should be controlled or even cut off when the temperature is below 5 degrees. The less you water winter succulents, the higher the concentration of cells in the body, and the stronger the cold tolerance. Winter watering should be near noon or after when the temperature is higher and water temperature should be comparable to the air temperature at that time.

7. Stop applying fertilizer 

• The absorptive capacity deteriorates in winter. This means that fertilizing your plants can cause damage.

8. Pay attention to snow melting

• If there is snow on the leaves of the exposed succulents, they should be cleaned in time to prevent frostbite when the snow melts and absorbs heat.

Tips: What should I do if my succulents experience frostbite?

If the succulents are unfortunately frostbitten, do not water them. Move them to a warmer environment as soon as possible, and let the succulents gradually adapt to the temperature change. 

Use tweezers to remove the damaged leaves. If the stem is frostbitten, cut off the damaged part. To prevent the succulents from being infected by bacteria, put carbendazim on the wound and observe it for a week. If it is OK, then repot it in a warm environment for normal maintenance.

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