Hardy Tropicals UK

This short (by my standards ) video demonstrates the effect of sub zero temps on evergreen exotic plants such as echiums and Fatsias. The basic method is that the plant removes water from the cells in its leaves and transports the water to the main stem where it can expand and doesn't cause any damage. There is a limit of course which in the case of echiums is around minus 5 and Fatsia around minus 15ish. The effect on the plant during the time when the water is removed from the leaves is the same as when the plant is deydrated from the lack of water/wilting.

This video is unavailable

flounder wrote:This video is unavailable

Give it 5 minutes.

Try now

Yep works now. Did you forget to wind it up?

flounder wrote:Yep works now. Did you forget to wind it up?

It had a last minute technical glitch.

Another good video. Only comment I can make is last time I done echiums, I lost them at -3c.....though that was in that winter when it stayed like that for a week!

flounder wrote:Another good video. Only comment I can make is last time I done echiums, I lost them at -3c.....though that was in that winter when it stayed like that for a week!

This ones taken minus 3.5 already and looks fine.

You've got me thinking now. I'll have to do some more in the spring, then I'll have something to moan about next winter

Nice video Kris.

Have you got a largish Fatsia to do a similar thing with, the effects would be much more dramatic. I have had fun watching mine dip and straighten over the last few days.

Fatsia need about minus 3 minus 4 for them to properly collapse. I'll see what I can do if it gets cold enough.

My biggest Echium is similar to yours, Kris and although mine went exactly the same way at -3c I was still anxious until it plumped up again. Seeing it happen in seconds on your vid gave me a warm secure glow

I wouldn't be filming mine the same way if and when the temperatures are forecast to drop below my benchmark -4c for the following three reasons:
1. I don't have the appropriate camera.
2. I'd photograph a still shot instead.
3. It would be a picture of the upturned cardboard box that packaged my new boiler with the echium hiding underneath

GREVILLE wrote:My biggest Echium is similar to yours, Kris and although mine went exactly the same way at -3c I was still anxious until it plumped up again. Seeing it happen in seconds on your vid gave me a warm secure glow

I wouldn't be filming mine the same way if and when the temperatures are forecast to drop below my benchmark -4c for the following three reasons:
1. I don't have the appropriate camera.
2. I'd photograph a still shot instead.
3. It would be a picture of the upturned cardboard box that packaged my new boiler with the echium hiding underneath

I'm glad you liked it and sorry if it caused some distress seeing the echium being subjected to sub zero temps without protection.

I'm hopelessly squeamish, Kris, but I don't believe in censorship, so next time I watch it, I'll avert my eyes at the appropriate moment