Massonia that's blooming

Kipp McMichael kimcmich@hotmail.com
Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:11:36 PST
Greetings,

  I can second Leo's comment that Massonia of various species - particularly M. pustulata - can withstand temps well below freezing unphased. We recently had record-setting cold here in Berkeley and, with radiation frost adding to the heat-loss, seedling pots I had in my backyard reached temps below 25F with no damage to the seedlings. Adults in a slightly colder situation also showed no damage. One thing I did notice, however, was that bulbs that had been moved and showed some sun-burn damage before the cold did show leaf damage from the freeze. These same plants were unphased by similar temps last winter, so I think the sun-damaged tissue was less frost-tolerant. That said, I might wait until next winter to test your own bulbs outside unless you can be certain the move won't cause any sun damage to the leaves that might make them more prone to frost damage.

-|<ipp

> None, adults nor seedlings, has been damaged by
> overnight temperatures into the mid teens F / -9 or -10C. 
 		 	   		  



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