What's new
TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Curious Discovery

SubRosa

BS Bulldozer
While trimming a small shrub I came upon a pair of pots that I had forgotten about since last year. Not a question that they both have been outside since the end of last summer. Both were severely overgrown with weeds, and when I cleared them out I found one contains a specimen of native Prickly Pear, Opuntia humifusa. No big deal, they're extremely hardy. However in the pot along with the Opuntia, and in the other as well are small but healthy Jade Plants, Crassula sp. Now understand that I live in zone 6B, and we just went through The Winter From Hell. The pots were somewhat protected being under an evergreen shrub at the base of a south facing brick wall, but even that trick is only good for a zone or so increase. I was under the impression that Jades aren't remotely cold hardy, and that a freeze would end them. I GUARANTEE that those pots were frozen solid 24/7 for a week at a time at least twice last winter, and saw temps in the low single digits. Anyone else have a similar experience?
 
I just must say that the Winter from Hell, while oxymoronic, is very accurate.

But anyhow, where were these pots located? Location can be a big deciding factor in plant survival.
 
I know every zone stretching trick in the book, and the fact that the pots were between an evergreen shrub and a south facing brick wall is worth at least a zone, but that pot was still frozen solid for a week at a stretch at least twice, since we had 2 periods when the temps stayed below freezing for a week straight night and day. Not to mention the multiple freeze /thaw cycles it had to have seen later in the season.
 
Back
Top