Is there a way to wrap pots during a cold snap?

7 years ago

I bought a Daphne Odora as I had one in my old house that I just loved. I understand it was pure dumb luck that it thrived where I just randomly planted it. So upon doing a bit of research I found that Daphne do well in containers. The one caveat being that you don’t want the roots to freeze if there is a cold snap, the article said to roll the pot into a garage or something. However, the pot I was planning on using is really heavy, even empty, so with soil and the daphne it will be unlikely I can move it. I am in the north Georgia mountains so we get a few good cold snaps every winter.

Am I delusional thinking that I could wrap the container when below freezing temps are predicted? What would be a good thing to wrap it, if so?

Here is the article I found,

Daphne

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

7 years ago

Unfortunately, hardiness data for various plants only applies to that plant when it's planted in the ground. And it generally refers to top growth. Plants in a container can be exposed to much colder temps than they would in the ground bcause the container is exposed to ambient air temps, which are often far colder than even frozen soil. And plant roots tend to be far more vulnerable to cold damage than top growth and far less able to recover from it easily....if at all.

Because Daphne odora is of marginal hardiness with a zone 7 inground planting, I would not be inclined to let it overwinter outside in a container without some serious protection. For a large container, enclosing with straw bales can be effective. Also, wrapping the container with a couple layers of bubble wrap can be very helpful. Burlap will do virtually nothing. Also, the larger the soil volume surrounding the root system, the less chance of root damage due to cold.....soil is an excellent insulator :-) So there is some advantage to using a large container as well.

I would also look into getting a heavy duty plant caddy that can support the filled container....you can find them online that will support as much as 500 lbs. With a caddy, you can roll the container to locations that may not be as exposed to colder temps, like up against the side of the house, where it will receive some reflected heat.

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Comments (6)

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beesneeds
7 years ago
Perhaps use actual insulation? Some folks do that, including to their worm farms to help keep them from freezing up.

Some folks wrap their pot and plant up in burlap entirely to help get them ready for winter. Others may surround the pot deep with leaves or straw bales.

How much of a cold snap do you guys get? If it's only an overnight or even a couple day thing, you don't have to worry so much about the pot freezing up and can use something lighter. If a snap means something more like a couple weeks of freezing temps, then you will want to use something heavier.
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
7 years ago
I don't know anything about Daphne odora, so I looked it up here,

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=292288

and it's hardy to about 10 degrees F, zones 7 to 9.

You could get an insulated tarp, the kind that builders use.

What I use to help move pots around is my kids' old wagon. I also keep some of the heavier pots near the garage doors, so it's not too far to sort of drag/roll some of them.

I live in Alberta, so I don't trust cold snaps, ever : ) . It just snowed here yesterday for the first time any of the old timers can remember.
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Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
7 years ago
Around here a cold snap will be a day or 2, occasionally we get an ice storm and cold temps can hang on for a week. It has gotten down to 5 F and that just freaks everyone out around here lol.
getgoing100_7b_nj
7 years ago
Second the bubble wrap. Have you considered getting a lighter container instead. I picked up a large but very light weight resin container at Lowes for $10-12 in last fall clearance sale. (allen+Roth 15x22")
getgoing100_7b_nj
7 years ago
It has a couple of clematis and I roll it in for winter.