Will it make a comeback?

[ForrestW]

Well, I have had this since a young plant in 2001 but we will see if it can bounce back. I took it out to the greenhouse at my school last week to hose it down really well, and the horticulture teachers said I could go ahead and leave it in the greenhouse for a few more months to start my spring off a bit early. Sadly some time Saturday or Sunday the heater failed and Monday morning everything in the greenhouse was frozen. Any predictions on if it will make a comeback? I can not say how long it was off... Just know that there was a thin layer of ice in a bucket in the greenhouse Monday morning.

 

[rockm]

What kind of tree is it?

 

[ForrestW]

Its a portulacaria (mini jade or elephant bush)

 

[Ininaatigoons]

Fingers crossed. Not sure what it is, but hopefully it will be alright.

 

[Betula1]

Only time will tell!

 

[penumbra]

Sorry that happened to you. I is quite a nice portulacaria. I think it will come back and I am very much hoping so, but it really is not easy to predict because we can't really know how long it was below freezing. I would expect a little dieback. Best luck.

 

[KateM]

I think if the branches are still firm it will come back. If they start to turn mushy, it's a goner.
Hope it makes it.

 

[ForrestW]

I think if the branches are still firm it will come back. If they start to turn mushy, it's a goner.
Hope it makes it.

Thanks-- that was my thought as well. Some of the fine branches are wilted, but the trunk, primary, and most secondary branches are still firm. Fingers crossed...

 

[Gabler]

If mullets can make a comeback, then anything can.

 

[PA_Penjing]

I'd bet this thing comes back pretty well. Looks like a superficial frosting to me

 

[Srt8madness]

TBH i wouldn't get your hopes up. I lost my first P Afra to freeze. What I've found is that if it's cold enough to turn all the leaves brown, it's probably done.

That said, maybe the trunk is thick enough to resist the freeze and will re-sprout. I'd guess most if not all of the ramification is toast.

Sorry I hope I'm wrong!

 

[ForrestW]

Well I cut off all the thin branches and wilted leaves. The center was still green-- so it's not dead yet, but my fingers are crossed. I am not going to risk the greenhouse again but my classroom window and grow light are not the best recovery zone either.

 

[NaoTK]

I was just looking at minimum temp records for south africa and wondering how they are not more frost tolerant

but then wiki says


I imagine they grow fast enough to outpace frost damage and thus evolution doesn't give a damn

 

[KateM]

I was just looking at minimum temp records for south africa and wondering how they are not more frost tolerant View attachment 581022

but then wiki says
View attachment 581023

I imagine they grow fast enough to outpace frost damage and thus evolution doesn't give a damn

Probably the same factors - in ground/potted, duration and degree of cold...

 

[Srt8madness]

I was just looking at minimum temp records for south africa and wondering how they are not more frost tolerant View attachment 581022

but then wiki says
View attachment 581023

I imagine they grow fast enough to outpace frost damage and thus evolution doesn't give a damn

Spekboom/P. Afra grow HUGE in SA, so I can see how the perimeter would protect the core.

 

[Colorado]

I had a p. afra for a few years. I did leave it out in the snow (accidentally) one night, and it did have some dieback and leaf drop but it ultimately recovered. I think yours will probably be okay, but who knows. Hopefully!