Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants.
Don't use plastic sheets or bags draped over the plant in a way that contacts the leaves! Plastic traps condensation which can freeze, which will damage any parts of the plant it is touching. Fabric is a better choice because it will let moisture out while holding onto some heat from the earth.
Frost Cloths or Blankets: Use frost cloths, old sheets, or blankets to cover your plants. Make sure to secure the covers to the ground to keep warmth in and protect against wind. Row Covers: These lightweight covers allow light and moisture in while providing insulation.
Plastic formed into fabric sheets (polypropylene fabric) is an excellent material for frost protection.
Trash bags help a lot in case of short (lasting hours, not days) frosts. A single trash bag gives up to +8... +10°F protection compared to the Low. Double bags are ca 50% more effective. In case of longer frosts (couple of days) the effect is +4... +5°F for a single bag and +6... 7°F for double bags.
A light frost may cause minimal damage while a severe frost may kill plants. Young, vulnerable plants are much more susceptible to a light freeze, which occurs when temperatures are 29 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, while mature plants may only suffer from short-term effects.
Covering Plants with Plastic Bags
Plants under plastic bags retain moisture and even capture what the plants produce by transpiration. Don't use plastic bags as a greenhouse for succulents, though, as they can definitely tolerate neglect, but won't tolerate this kind of moisture.
Fabric coverings will prevent the freezing air from coming into direct contact with the moisture on the plant while also capturing the heat that is radiating from the ground. Bed sheets or comforters work best for covering large plants and shrubs.
As an alternative to plastic for frost coverage, Green Impressions recommends fabrics made of natural materials like a cotton or linen towel or blanket, an open burlap bag, or even newspaper.
Covering plant material at temperatures between 39-30 with freeze cloth or covering can be effective. Prolonged exposure at temperatures of 28 degrees and below will notice protection results diminish with each degree dropped.
If it is not going to rain before the freezing temperatures arrive, you should water plants thoroughly. This is because moist ground stays warmer than dry ground. Watering the night before the freeze arrives will insulate the root structure of the grass and plants, decreasing the potential for cold injury.
So, there can be some freeze damage to the parts of the plant that touch the plastic. This can be prevented by placing stakes under the plastic to hold the plastic off of the foliage. Heat can build up under clear plastic on a sunny day, so when clear plastic is used, you must remove or vent it if it is sunny and mild.
Place cardboard boxes, large trash cans, or plastic tubs over outdoor plants. Be sure to cover the plants all the way to the ground. The warmth from the soil is what keeps the plant warm, since the soil takes longer to freeze.
Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants. Cover plants before dark to trap warmer air.
Plastic tarps will transmit cold air to the plants, causing more harm than good. Use cotton blankets or frost cloths for better protection.
Properly applied frost cloth can protect your frost sensitive plants from the cold even when the temps dip into the 20s! If necessary, the frost cloth can be left on the plants for an extended period of time without the risk of harming your plants.
In fact, you can leave plants covered with blankets or sheets for several days without harming them if freezes are likely for several nights in a row. But eventually the covers must be removed so the plants can get light.
While landscape fabric is a helpful tool for frost protection, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different plants have varying frost tolerances, and some may require additional measures for optimal protection. Always check your local frost dates and be prepared to cover or uncover your plants as necessary.
If you're looking for tips for protecting your plants from frost, avoid using garbage bags as plant covers. Trash bags are not the best protection against frost damage, primarily due to their material. Most garbage bags are made out of low-density polyethylene plastic.
DIY Frost Protection for Plants
Instead, just grab some old towels, sheets, and even bedspreads. Fabric is great to trap warmth radiating from the ground and from the soil. Fabric covers also prevent any moisture in or on your plants from coming into direct contact with freezing air.
Most houseplants are native to tropical areas and will not tolerate freezing temperatures. Many indoor plants will see damage when temperatures drop to the mid to lower 40s°F and nearly all will die if exposed to below freezing temperatures.
Frost Protection
Cover your plants with a poly tarp on frosty nights to keep them from freezing. Be sure to remove the tarp once the temperature rises to prevent overheating.
The accumulation of MPs induces oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity in plants, which also impacts plant development, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, toxic accumulation, and metabolite production in plant tissues.
Answer and Explanation:
When these plants are wrapped in plastic this removed wear becomes trapped under the plastic and a perfect moist breeding ground for fungus is created. This fungus will infect and ill the plants if left untreated.