Re: Freezing temps
- To: I*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [IGSROBIN] Freezing temps
- From: R* L*
- Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 12:48:05 -0500
>To: R Reidy,
Thank you for your very interesting comments.
Ronald Leger
Bedford, Quebec zone 5
----------------------------------- comment --------------------------
>The only Pelargoniums that are absolutely cold hardy in their habitats are
>the two unique species from West Asia. They are sub-zero Fahrenheit
>(-17C and below) hardy. A few southern African species that spread into
>the mountains of Lesotho, such a P. reniforme and P. sidoides, also handle
>very low temperatures--in culivation in my experience to at least 16F
>(-9C)--though I don't know if they can survive such temperatures
>for really long sustained periods. Zonals, however, are another matter.
>There are so many physiological and environmental factors involved. One of
>the problems is that zonals do not go dormant. I know from my
>experience that some of them can survive a brief hour or two, such as
>encountered early in the morning, of temps as low as 22F (-6C), but they
>have their limits and I've never known one that survived being frozen
>solid and kept frozen for any period of time. Some of the recent Cliff
>Blackman hybrids with P. articulatum from Australia show excellent
>tolerance to cold temperatures in general and will survive and
>continue to grow after repeated light frosts.
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