I've had great luck with individuals of Cordyline fruticosa, Syngonium podophyllum, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Tradescantia pallida, Hypoestes, Caladium, cane Begonias, Billbergias, and Brugmansia surviving over winter, some for over a decade, and though not evergreen, growing back from the roots.

But this past winter, almost all C. fruticosa (1 alive, there were probably 7-8), all Caladiums (7 or 8), and all 5 Brugs seem to have given up. I haven't totally written-off the Caladiums yet but just a glimmer of hope remains at this late date.

For comparison, Billbergias look less affected than they usually do and put on a great show like usual. Monstera adansonii roots are still alive and growing new leaves. The Brugs are especially perplexing. They are a very common sight in this area.

I think the lowest low was about 22°, not as low as some previous winters through which now-deceased plants had previously survived. I don't remember noticing anything unusual about this past winter at all. The rest of my little list are all up and looking great, situationally speaking.

Was your winter wetter than usual? Also, I've have had plants that survived all winter, but succumbed to a very late frost. Did you have any? I'm surprised that I have potted brug cuttings that (I forgot about) overwintered in a metal shed came back from the roots. You're warmer than I am.

Thank you for your reply! I don't think it was wetter. In 2015, there was major flooding in mid-December which didn't kill anything. This past winter was nothing like that. There were a few nights around 38-39 at the beginning of April but nothing was up yet to get zapped. YAY for your cuttings!! : + )

Maybe more cold days than in previous years?

In clay soils it is possible have too low an oxygen level due to fine particulates collecting. I've seen this primarily at the end of a down-hill run where the plants at the end of the run got the most run-off and thus more of the finer matter in the clay. I had about 20 rows and the last two plants on each row was far more likely to have failed.

Top

Thank you for your reply! It's possible I guess, total accumulation of a certain level of cold, but it just felt very normal & mild, on the human level. No ice storms, or unusually cold nights. It seems like there was a day or 2 when it never got to 40° but that's pretty normal too, once or twice per winter. Although there was the few nights of almost-frost at the beginning of April, I had taken my potted plants back out in Feb, a little earlier than usual. First frost was mid-Nov I think, a little earlier than some years, a little later than others.

You're not that far away, in terms of plants. Did you feel like this past winter was unusual?

It was definitely colder this past winter for us. In terms of temperatures and amount of days. Then we had a late freeze in April (our last frost date is the 1st and I think we had a freeze around the middle of April ). Our plants seem to have reacted differently this year with respect to waking up.

Thank you for your reply, Top! It is clay with a lot of sand. Most of the lost Cordylines were in low spots but I thought at least 1 of the Brugs was in "good dirt" where I've put a lot of organic matter over the years (since starting to garden @ this house in 2014).

Just thought of another clue - about half of the branches of a very large Hibiscus mutabilis (confederate rose) are still alive. A lot of winters will cause these do to die back to ground level.

In 2 more weeks if nothing shows up, I'll get out the shovel & excavate the roots/stumps to look for any clues. Not sure there will be much evidence for most of these but the one Brug had an enormous crown that will require digging to get it out of the way.

A happy update! Two are still alive.

Please don't see the weeds here...


This is the oldest one.


Yay!