By Margaret Littman

When I assess all the damage that Winter Storm Fern wrought, I feel pretty lucky. My damage was relatively mild: a leaky roof, an 8-night hotel bill, a freezer of herbs and summer vegetables…and my houseplants. It seems minor compared to what my friends and neighbors have been through, but I admit I am sad that my Chinese Money Plant, my fiddle leaf figs, the cuttings I have been cultivating from my brown turkey fig tree, and my monstera look worse for wear.

And I know I am not alone. Many Master Gardeners have been wondering if it is possible to revive indoor plants that froze when indoor temperatures dipped. I asked Amy Dunlap, our Extension Agent and fearless leader, for her advice.

Check It Out: She says that after a freeze event, damage to houseplants is not always immediately visible. Leaves may turn black, brown, or translucent and appear water-soaked, and some plants may drop leaves within a few days of cold exposure. But, in other cases, plants may initially look fine and begin to decline over the next few weeks as damaged tissue breaks down, so it is important that we keep an eye on our plants as we continue to thaw out.

You can lightly scratch the surface of the stems to determine viability. Green tissue indicates the plant is still alive. If it’s black or brown, the plant is likely dead. If the plant can easily be removed from the pot without damage, you may want to do that as the roots can indicate the overall health. If roots are soft, mushy, or have a foul odor, recovery is unlikely.

Wait It Out: In general, she says, we need to be patient. We should avoid pruning plants immediately after a freeze, as that damaged growth can help protect living tissue beneath it. Hold off on fertilizer, too, until the plant shows signs of new growth. Otherwise, you are adding stress to an already stressed-out plant. You probably already did this, but moving your plants to a stable indoor location away from drafts and exterior walls can help their recovery.

Dunlap cautions that some plants may not recover from freeze damage. Tropical houseplants, in particular, are sensitive to temperatures below approximately 40°F. In some cases, however, healthy stem pieces can be salvaged and propagated as cuttings, even if the main plant does not survive.

Help Out: Which leads me to my next plan of action. MGofDCs are always willing to help one another. So, I am helping to organize an MGofDC indoor plant cutting swap. If you have plants that made it through Fern—perhaps you never lost power, you moved them under a blanket fort for protection—think about what cuttings you could give away.