I've had my dormancy-requiring plants placed outside for over a month now, letting them get used to the drop in photoperiod and the supposed steady drop in temps. It hasn't worked that way this year.
We maintained a steady too-warm 60-70F up until two days ago. Then the massive cold front blew through, and dropped temps to below freezing literally overnight.
I managed to get my 'coldframe' up for the plants the next day. It doesn't affect the temps much, but it keeps things nudged above a hard freeze and stops the wind. The Sarrs seem unaffected, but the VFTs all collapsed. They all wilted all at once.
There's nothing more I can do for them now. I just hope that they make a comeback in spring. Anyone care to expound on their chances?
We maintained a steady too-warm 60-70F up until two days ago. Then the massive cold front blew through, and dropped temps to below freezing literally overnight.
I managed to get my 'coldframe' up for the plants the next day. It doesn't affect the temps much, but it keeps things nudged above a hard freeze and stops the wind. The Sarrs seem unaffected, but the VFTs all collapsed. They all wilted all at once.
There's nothing more I can do for them now. I just hope that they make a comeback in spring. Anyone care to expound on their chances?