What to do if succulents are frostbitten

Succulents can be divided into three types according to the degree of frostbite: mild frostbite, severe frostbite, and frozen to death.

Mild frostbite

Succulent plants show signs of frostbite on their leaves. The obvious feature is that the leaves become hydrated and shrunken, becoming transparent or even gray. Only some leaves are frostbitten.

In this case, as long as the subsequent maintenance environment does not approach 0 ℃ (preferably 10 ℃ + ), the succulents will have no problem surviving. However, the leaves that are frostbitten cannot recover and will shrink, melt and fall off sooner or later. When you repot the plant in spring, cut off the frozen leaves, but this assumes that your succulent can survive the winter safely.

Severe frostbite

Most of the leaves and even the stems of succulent plants show signs of frostbite, and they are obviously hydrated and shrunk, becoming transparent or even gray and black. This situation is more complicated.

If only the leaves show signs of frostbite and the stems have not turned transparent or blackened, then place the succulents in a bright and slightly ventilated environment at 10 ℃ + for about a week. Do not water them during this period. Remove the leaves that are obviously frostbitten and observe them briefly. If there is no trend of hydration, they can generally continue to survive.

If the stem shows signs of becoming transparent and softening, cut off the frostbitten part of the stem cleanly (make sure to cut it off cleanly, otherwise the frostbitten part will continue to spread upwards), apply carbendazim to the wound, and then leave it for observation, and wait for a period of time before cutting branches. If part of the stem is already frozen from the beginning, simply cut away the frozen part and repeat the above steps.

Frozen to death

If all the leaves of a succulent plant are severely frostbitten and even the stems are hydrated, then it can only rest in peace.

The editor would like to repeat that the best way to avoid frostbite on succulents is to pay attention to the lowest historical temperature of the local weather. Do not expose succulents to outdoor environments below zero degrees Celsius. Check the weather forecast more often to prevent sudden drops in temperature. Many succulents die due to sudden drops in temperature.