How to Protect Your Plants from the Cold

Plants are more like humans than we give them credit for. We both need food and water to survive; we both need plenty of sunshine to thrive (but not too much!); and most of us don’t like it when the weather gets too cold.

For the most part, plants are pretty self-sufficient, especially in the temperate Southern California region, but there are some things you can do to help your plants stay healthy during the colder months.

Here’s how to prepare your plants for the winter, including some tips for saving your plants in the cold.

Check the forecast

The best way to save your plants in the cold is to plan ahead. If you know it’s going to dip into freezing or almost freezing temperatures, you can prepare to save them from suffering winter’s full wrath. Check the forecast for the week ahead, and plan accordingly.

For example, if it’s going to be dry with little or no wind, that may heighten the potential for frost overnight. This is because dry air loses heat compared to humid air, which holds heat in.

Cover them up

One good way to fight against frost damaging your potted plants is to move them under cover if the temperature is going to drop below freezing. This can be the garage, a shed or even under a covered patio area.

It is especially important to find cover for your potted plants on cloudless, still nights. This is because plants radiate heat; without cover, that heat will dissipate into the clear sky, and the plants can become even colder than the air around them.

In lieu of moving plants, you can cover them with a cardboard box with vent holes. Seedlings can be covered by a milk jug with the bottom cut off, leaving the cap off to let them breathe. You may even want to consider buying a lightweight frost cloth to hold in their heat.

Air circulation

Keeping the air circulating is another way to make sure frost does not bite your plants too harshly. You can set up a box fan to blow the cold air around and prevent it from getting trapped by a fence. Cold air naturally settles down low, and a fan will help mix it with the warmer air above.

Water appropriately

The cold weather is already going to be stressful for plants, so it’s imperative that they have the right amount of water to avoid getting stressed any further. You may want to thoroughly water your plants just before a cold snap is going to hit, but remember: Plants generally need less water in the winter months, so be sure not to overwater them.

There are many ways to prepare your plants for the winter, and these are just a few basic tips for saving your plants from the cold. To get the best results, you may want to consider hiring a professional landscaping company to keep your plants thriving during the winter. For experienced plant care for winter or any season, contact RainforestLA, Inc. today.