Are my pot plants all going to die?

[midnightexpress]

We've just got back from Xmas down south (we're in Glasgow) and it's blardy freezing minus 7 earlier this morning). I'm worried about my pots - a variety of things, including a couple of big azaleas and an acer in large pots. Everything is looking a bit desperate. I've got bubble wrap and horticultural fleece, but I'm wondering if there's any point in putting it onto pots once they've already frozen? It won't help them to thaw out, will it?

Anyone?

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I think that if they are frost-sensitive then it will be too late to apply fleece etc when they have already been exposed to frost.

But there are plenty of frost-hardy azaleas (I think). Not sure about acers, but I would imagine that plenty are frost hardy.

Hope they turn out ok.

I've got azaleas, though they're in the ground rather than pots, and they've survived the past 4 winters without any protection at all, so I think they can be pretty resilient. Not sure about acers - are they sort of maples? We've got one of those in the garden too, and it's survived 2 winters so far... I don't think there's anything you can do for plants when they've already got that cold, it would probably just slow them thawing out when the weather changes...

Ooh thanks Threadworm. I'm not so concerned about their hardiness per se, it's more that I'm worried about the soil in the pots getting so frozen that they can't get any water up (not that they'll need much I suppose). I can't imagine it's too good for the roots to be frozen solid for weeks on end.

I have a beautiful Acer in a pot on my patio. It is in a fairly sheltered position though. I never cover it with anything and it looks stunning when in leaf. It's been through 4 winters now.

They don't really need water while the temperature is so low. A lot of damage is done to plants by thawing too fast, which bursts the cells. Don't try any artificial rapid rescue!

Try and put the pots up against the house wall which should give them a tiny bit of protection. When the temperature warms up naturally and everything is thawed, then you could wrap them to protect them agains the next cold snap.

I'm afraid you won't know till spring whether they have survived! By then you can scrape back a tiny bit of bark on a branch with your finger nail - if it is green underneath you are OK.

Thanks everyone. Will just have to cross my fingers and will be out bubble-wrapping like a woman possessed as soon as it thaws.