How to protect plants from chilling injury?
Plants are vulnerable during cold weather. Chilling injury can damage the cell membrane of plants and cause number of symptoms like discoloration of fruits and leaves, abnormal ripening, moisture loss, etc.
To save plants from chilling injury, you can follow these steps to help them recover and prevent further damage:
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Move the Plant to a Warmer Environment: Prevention is the key, consider moving sensitive plants indoors or covering them before cold weather hits.
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Water Sparingly: Water the plant sparingly, only when the soil is dry enough, to avoid further stress from waterlogging.
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Prune Damaged Parts: Prune any leaves or stems that are visibly damaged. This prevents rot and allows healthy plants growth.
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Provide Gentle Light: Place the plant in indirect light to encourage photosynthesis without stressing the plant.
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Use Mulch for Protection: If you anticipate further cold exposure, use mulch to insulate the soil and roots.
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Mist the Plant: If the plant is dry or its leaves are drooping, gently misting it can help increase humidity and reduce moisture loss from damaged leaves.
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Avoid Fertilizer Initially: Chilled plants are stressed, and adding fertilizer too early can overwhelm them.
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Monitor for Pests and Diseases: Keep an eye out for any infestation and address immediately.