Unfortunately many plants
have gotten damaged by the cold nights and hail storms we've had the
past month. A few plants, like pansies & petunias love the
cool temps, but for many plants, like geraniums and tomatoes, they
need a minimum of 50'F or they can show signs of stress (loss of
leaves, yellowing, stunted growth). For some plants, like
tomatoes, if they dropped below 50'F they may be permanently
stunted.
For those plants with hail
damage: as long as there's some foliage, the plants should recover,
especially now that we're seeing warmer weather, but realize it may
take several weeks to see major improvements. For plants that
have been entirely stripped, unfortunately you'll have to wait and
see if they are able to re-grow.
NOTE: If a plant has
been stressed by cold, hail, etc. the worst thing is to stress it
even more by over-watering! Make sure to check the
moisture (either by the weight of a basket/pot or by testing the
soil with your finger) before giving any plant water. Don't
assume a plant needs water if it looks a little wilted, since this
could be a sign of a stressed plant that does NOT need water.
Also keep in mind that a stressed plant is more susceptible to root
diseases and pests!
