Protecting plants from freezing (Tucson: house, live, yard)

[themudpuppy]

So I see on the news that we should protect our plants tomorrow night and Sunday night due to freezing. Does that include cacti and what do you do to protect your cacti?

[Marcy1210]

No, not cactus. They're talking about flowers and veggies. Most native plants are acclimated. It's the delicate, leafy, blooming plants that need protecting. If you have vegetables or flowers that might freeze, you can cover them with sheets, tarps or blankets; just be careful not to break the plants with the weight of a blanket. If they're in moveable containers, bring them up against the house. The reflective heat will keep them warm enough.

[themudpuppy]

Thanks, Marcy! All I have in my yard are desert plants. Nothing leafy or blooming. Glad to hear it won't affect the cacti.

I haven't moved in yet, but I was at the house today wrapping outside water spigots with towels. I went to Home Depot to look for outside spigot covers. This is usually a standard item at Home Depot and I bought them every year in TN, but I guess they're not used in Arizona, because none of the employees knew what I was talking about.

[tumamoc]

A hard freeze like what we had in Feb. 2010 killed tons of non-native landscaped and potted cacti around Tucson. It would be wise to cover them, or at least the tips, when it drops into the 20s.

[Jukesgrrl]

When it's really cold people often protect the tops of the cactus arms. I guess because it's the new growth? I don't have any big specimens in my yard, but a couple of my neighbors who do put kids' knit caps on them. When it's holiday time, one neighbor uses little Santa hats. I guess it works and is a lot less trouble than trying to wrap them.

This time of year when we have individual nights of cold weather that might not last, I cover my potted plants with an old sheet. Fitted sheets are especially good because they're easier to fit over multiple pots and you can just tuck them under the pots. If I have to use a flat sheet, I hold it down on the corners with bricks. When it gets cold for longer lengths of time, I pull the pots to the covered patio up against the house where they get some heat. If frost is predicted I cover them. A couple of winters since I've been here were mild enough that I kept potted plants alive all winter by doing this.