My Cactus Is Lying Down After a Freeze

Cold Tolerance

• Some cacti are tolerant of cold weather, freezes and even snow, while others don't tolerate cold at all. Agave, ocotillo, yucca and other desert and tropical cacti succumb to injury in cold temperatures. According to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, the showier cactus varieties come from frost-free zones and don't tolerate temperatures under 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Freeze Damage

• Cacti experience freeze damage when temperatures fall below 30 degrees F and remain there for several hours. The cold air blackens exposed areas of the cactus and can damage the entire plant in extreme situations. Long freezes cause yellowing, blackening and death of columnar cacti.

Treatments

• A cacti with surface damage may lose its damaged flesh but regrow in the spring. Long-term freezes, though, kill sensitive cacti. Move potted cacti into the house for protection, and cover outdoor cacti with blankets or sheets when temperatures fall. Put lights under the sheets and turn them on at night for additional warmth and protection.

Care

• Keep all cacti healthy and resilient with the right care. Keep them in full sunshine and in sites and soils with quick, efficient drainage. Shade and puddled water damage a cactus as quickly as freezing temperatures do. Water a cactus sparingly every week. Fertilize it with balanced fertilizer in spring and early summer only; the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension notes that fall feedings lead to late growth and further chance of freeze damage in winter.