Over the next few weeks, we will be addressing the freeze damage to plants which everyone has suffered. We are working on a video giving easy to follow instructions about what to prune and how.
It is not critical, and in fact, may be too early, to start most pruning immediately. If you have palm leaves hanging down, you may prune them as soon as this last freeze (hopefully) passes. Gingers, which look blowtorched, may be cut to 18″ tall this weekend if desired. Blackened, wilted herbaceous plants like Mexican petunia (Ruellia) and shrimp plant can be cut close to the ground. But woody shrubs like ixora and plumbago, small trees like citrus, and sad looking philodendrons should be left alone another week until we can more closely determine the level of damage, and therefore where to prune.
Watch for us to address these recovery issues here in the Garden News and on social media. Email us at info@gillnursery or message us on Facebook and Instagram with your related questions, so our upcoming instruction video is as complete as possible in helping you through this temporary setback.
– James Gill
Pat eldridge says
What about Bird of Paradise
James Gill says
Probably all leaves are dead. Prune close to the ground and it will likely recover. It will be slow, once growth resumes water and fertilize regularly but not excessively, and you will grow a beautiful new plant.
Pat says
Thank you, My large Philodendron and Schefflera tree need all the help you can give.
James Gill says
Scratch the bark on the schefflera to see where it is still alive, and cut at that point. It will regrow! The trunk on the philodendron may get mushy if it has frozen , you can either just cut that trunk way back close to the ground and let it regrow, or wait a few weeks and the squeeze the trunk til you find where it is still firm, and cut there.