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Old 01-11-2013, 09:57 PM
 
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I remember the last time we had one of these cold spells a few years ago, a big Ficus in our yard had to be cut all the way down to the trunk. Luckily, it grew back.

I'm prepared this time, hopefully it's enough. Had to stop by two different stores and buy the floor models, they were completely sold out!





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Old 01-11-2013, 10:20 PM
 
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Well, since HX bought out all these nifty lights, the rest of us need to get our Christmas tree lights out again, and run those Christmas tree light strings through our plants! Ooops, I forgot, now many of us have the pre-lit trees. Seriously, I have heard that running a string of lights does help keep the temp a bit warmer. And HX is right about that Ficus tree damage a few years ago -- there was a lot of damage. They are just too big to cover with a sheet, so you have to think of something else. Good luck, everyone! HX, thanks for posting the pictures -- great idea!
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Old 01-11-2013, 10:27 PM
 
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Guess I can kiss everything in my yard goodbye.
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Old 01-11-2013, 10:42 PM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HX_Guy View Post
I remember the last time we had one of these cold spells a few years ago, a big Ficus in our yard had to be cut all the way down to the trunk. Luckily, it grew back.

I'm prepared this time, hopefully it's enough. Had to stop by two different stores and buy the floor models, they were completely sold out!




If you are talking about the frost that killed so many trees out my way, that one got down to 16 degrees that night. The forecast for tonite in my area is 32. This one is not nearly as bad at least for now. The TV has been hyping it way more than the actual forecast is. Ficus is pretty sensitive though so no point taking chances. Anyway, the lights look good, eh?
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Old 01-12-2013, 12:08 AM
 
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What worries me is the fact that it is prolonged. And have you seen the daytime highs? Barely breaking 50. I just hope there is some wind at night so it doesn't go calm, or else it could get bad. But so much depends on microclimats as well...I have had frost several nights...while certain "official" reporting stations haven't. So, if the airport and warm spots are going to be near freezing, I don't want to think how ugly it might get in more exposed areas. I am usually a good 5 degrees colder than the forecast and I have all sorts of sensitive plants. But, for us zone pushers, this is the price we pay.

I loved the flood lights in the tree pics, that is a nice looking yard. I wish you and all gardeners luck and may the warm days come back soon...
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Old 01-12-2013, 12:33 AM
 
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The cold snap we had a couple of years ago really kicked my Ficus Nitida. It was $700. planted the year before from Whitfill. They said it was the only tree to buy then. Now they say they don't recommend them. I bought every sheet I could find at the Goodwill stores and have halogen floods underneath. I hope I can get this tree to survive long enough to get bigger and survive the cold. The ficus tree at Whitfill at 8th. St. and Glendale is an amazing tree. I don't know how old the tree is but it's got a gigantic green crown. I gave up on the Ficus Benjamina shrubs I had. Good luck everyone on this cold spell.
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Old 01-12-2013, 12:39 AM
 
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I thought my fellow tree lovers might like this link.

Ficus nitida in the Valley. - Arizona Gardening Forum - GardenWeb
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Old 01-12-2013, 09:12 AM
 
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I too have struggled with Ficus. The thing is, I give reasonable care to protect from sun scalding, freezing in the winter, etc and mine NEVER look as nice as everyone else's, with seeminly minimal extra care. But maybe I am just in an unfavorable microclimate, not too sure.

I came on here this AM to get reports from my fellow gardeners to see how they made it thru night 1? I was lucky...the sun is just now rising and it is 40 degrees! I have't had a sunrise this warm in a while. I can see there is a breeze moving things around though, and I see the forcast for the upper 20s for the next 3 nights. So, no damage here...and I see a lot of areas, even at the airport are at and below freezing...so share your stories about how cold you got and any damage you see..even though it will probaly take some time to tell. But, assuming we go through a hard freeze, or even a light freeze, how long does it take before a Ficus shows that damage?
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Old 01-12-2013, 09:43 AM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
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29.9 minimum for the night. Not enough to cause lasting damage to anything except maybe really sensitive plants of which I have none. The bougainvillas will get frozen back, but that is pretty much an annual event and they come back better in spring for it. It is supposed to be colder tonight though.
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Old 01-12-2013, 10:05 AM
 
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I made an emergency midnight run to the Wallymart and bought a double 500 watt (1000w) worklight on a tripod for extra heat for my already covered up tree. It really makes the heat. Last I checked, the temp for my area was 30 degrees at 3:30 am. Channel 5 has a ticker running with current temps all over the valley. HX guy... you may want to consider if you want that tree growing so close to your patio and the side block wall. According to the garden web site I posted last night, ficus can do tremendous damage to anything nearby. As beautiful as that tree is.

CBS 5 AZ KPHO | Phoenix news, Arizona, weather, video, photos - CBS 5 - KPHO
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