Satsuki azalea - Cold tolerance.

been slow to get cold shelter ready. I was thinking allowing the Satsuki to get to 23 F has worked okay in the past. Accidentally let them get down to +19 F for one night. They had been 'hardened off' in that they had not spent any time indoors this summer.

What do you think? Survive or all dead?

I think they will be ok. I'm wondering, how do you over winter them, and what is the lowest temps they experience during the winter?

Dave Murphy wrote:I think they will be ok. I'm wondering, how do you over winter them, and what is the lowest temps they experience during the winter?

Normally, when I am on top of things, I move them off the bench the day before nights drop to 25 F. I move them to what used to be the well house, a room underneath my back yard patio. Its access is a low doorway in my foundation to this space which is outside the house, but underground. It usually hovers around 35 to 40 F. Even when temps drop to -25 F, this room stays above 25 F. Only problem, if the ground warms up prematurely in spring, this room may climb to 45 F, and then trees start leafing out, sometimes a month before it is safe to move them outside. The Satsuki seem pretty good about staying dormant at 45 F. My japanese maples and some other trees do sprout too early.

Tonight is warmer, and we will have warmer nights for the next week, hovering around 28 or 29 F. I will get them into the well house over the next 2 days.

Time will tell if I damaged them.