Temperatures can take a sudden plunge no matter what environment you operate in. If you are a cannabis seed grower working with plants that are at least partially outdoors, then you need to concern yourself with how to protect your plants in the event of a sudden freeze. In most areas, growers expect cold weather during the winter, but it is possible for a plunge in temperatures at any time of the year. The rapid change can cause plants to become stunted in their growth and even kill off the plants if you aren't careful about protecting them. Let's look at some of the protective measures you can take to keep your plants safe.
Bring Some Plants Indoors
Certain types of marijuana plants can be grown indoors. If you happen to produce one of the strains that thrive indoors, then you should bring them inside, at least temporarily. A few of the strains that grow well indoors include:
- Blue Dream
- Zkittlez
- Bruce Banner
- Wedding Crasher
- Banana Kush
- Vanilla Frosting
These are all strains that you can bring indoors, and expect that they will continue to grow as expected. However, this is not an option for every strain of marijuana plant out there. Make sure you know about the possibilities for growth indoors with the different strains that you work with. If a strain that you are working with doesn't do well indoors, then this may not be an option for you when the frost moves in.
Water Plants in the Afternoon
It sounds strange to think about watering your plants as a means of keeping them protected from outdoor frost conditions, but ruralsprout.com explains that there is some logic to it:
It may seem counterintuitive but keeping the soil moist can help protect plants from the cold. Moist soil has an insulating effect, which radiates heat upward come nightfall. When watering plants before a cold snap, be sure to do it in the midday when temperatures are still somewhat warm.
Using these protective measures to keep your plants safe can help you take care of what you need to take care of by using nature to protect your plants from frost. Change up the watering patterns and methods you use to protect your crop from the cold snap you happen to be going through at this time.
Insulate Your Plants with Mulch
It is time to consider the insulation you can apply to your plants to protect them from the elements. Adding mulch to the plants that you keep outdoors or in a greenhouse is a great way to give them a little extra protection from the elements. If you want to provide even more support to your plants, you can add some leaf piles around the plants. This will give them a little extra boost that keeps them protected and insulated from the elements.
Find Sheltered Places to Put Sensitive Plants
There are some plants that you might need to store in a sensitive area where they are protected from the elements. These sheltered areas on your property can help these specific plants to grow and thrive better than they otherwise would. When it comes to gardening, it is all about putting things in the right place and for the right amount of time. The people at Jacksons Nurseries say that the best thing to do with frost-sensitive plants is to keep them in an area of your garden where they can be at least somewhat guarded from the elements. In particular, they point out that the best areas are the south or west-facing walls of the garden. These walls absorb heat during the day and give it off at night. That can help keep the plants better protected than they otherwise would be.
You can also opt to plant some of these sensitive plants in other protected areas such as:
- Under evergreen trees
- Next to fences
- In a patio
- In a courtyard
These areas are better protected from frost than other areas of your garden. Use them strategically to protect the plants that need it the most in your garden.
Put a Blanket Over Them
Just like you might throw a blanket over yourself to stay out of the cold, your plants will also appreciate you throwing a blanket over them if they are about to be exposed to frost.
Before you lay a blanket over your plants, put some stakes in the ground to create a tent-like structure over your plants. This is preferable because you don't want to crush the plants. If you just put a blanket over them without protecting them in the sense of creating a tent-like structure, then you might suffocate them. Instead, create a tent structure to trap heat while leaving room for your plants to get the fresh air they require.
If you are anticipating extreme frost, then you might consider putting a piece of plastic over the tent structure you have created as well. This gives it a little extra shelter from the frost, and that is what you need when trying to set up your plants for success.
Select the Right Options for Your Climate
At the end of the day, selecting the right plants for your climate can save you a lot of heartache. Home and Garden recommends that you select species and varieties carefully before making a selection. You can research the plant's hardiness rating. This is a rating on a scale of 1-10 that details which plants can survive at various temperatures. Some plants can survive at temperatures of 0-10 °F (-18 -12 °C), but others can't survive even at temperatures of 40-50 °F (4-10 °C).
Knowing ahead of time what kind of capabilities certain plants have as far as their ability to survive different temperatures is the best way to select the right plants for your specific home.
There are a lot of things to know about to keep your plants protected from dramatic cold snaps. For more information on this, contact us for the latest tips and strategies for keeping your plants protected.
