What to do with new (very cold) plants?

[mrsjoannh13]

Hello, everyone!  

I am starting my 2nd planted tank - fairly new to the hobby.  I received some plants from Buce Plants this morning and unfortunately they were delayed in Memphis with freezing temps and no heat pack in the box.  When I opened them this morning, they were very, very cold to the touch.   I've got them out of the box acclimating to room temperature and was planning to put them in a room temp bucket of water until I can plant them sometime late tomorrow.  

Does anyone have any tips for me in this situation?  Do you think the plants have a chance at surviving given the cold temps they were exposed to during shipping?  Super disappointed that Buce didn't send with heat packs.  It was $200+ worth of plants so hoping they all pull through.

Any other general guidance is also appreciated.  From my last tank (about a year ago) I remember to not start on light and fertilizers for a while until the plants come out of shock a bit.  

Thank you!

[KBOzzie59]

On 1/7/2022 at 10:24 AM, mrsjoannh13 said:

 I've got them out of the box acclimating to room temperature and was planning to put them in a room temp bucket of water

That's how I'd handle it.  If they did not actually freeze they should pull through.

 

On 1/7/2022 at 10:24 AM, mrsjoannh13 said:

not start on light and fertilizers for a while until the plants come out of shock a bit.  

That's not how nature handles it.

[eatyourpeas]

On 1/7/2022 at 10:24 AM, mrsjoannh13 said:

Super disappointed that Buce didn't send with heat packs.

I think you have to explicitly buy the heat pack from BP when you order in cold temperatures. Depending on how many days it was delayed, the heat pack may not have helped much. I would reach out to them and explain what happened, just in case they do not come back. They have an excellent customer service department.

[mrsjoannh13]

On 1/7/2022 at 2:34 PM, eatyourpeas said:

I think you have to explicitly buy the heat pack from BP when you order in cold temperatures. Depending on how many days it was delayed, the heat pack may not have helped much. I would reach out to them and explain what happened, just in case they do not come back. They have an excellent customer service department.

I actually saw that about the heat pack AFTER I sent them the email today.  DOH.  I'm used to Cory at Aquarium Co-op watching out for his customers and automatically adding it in if temps require.   Hopefully it's not an expensive lesson for me in how to order plants from Buce.  They look okay for now - I've got them soaking in water.   I'll plant tomorrow and just hope for the best!

[eatyourpeas]

On 1/7/2022 at 12:36 PM, mrsjoannh13 said:

I actually saw that about the heat pack AFTER I sent them the email today.  DOH.  I'm used to Cory at Aquarium Co-op watching out for his customers and automatically adding it in if temps require.   Hopefully it's not an expensive lesson for me in how to order plants from Buce.  They look okay for now - I've got them soaking in water.   I'll plant tomorrow and just hope for the best!

I hope they come back. Plants tend to do so after a little while. Something I do these days is not put the plants in the substrate right away, but let them consume nutrients from the water column until you see new roots or signs of recovery. It stresses the plant a lot less. I have not had any Cryptocoryne meltdowns since I started this method. 🙃

Edited January 7, 2022 by eatyourpeas
Typos.

[eatyourpeas]

On 1/7/2022 at 12:40 PM, eatyourpeas said:

I'm used to Cory at Aquarium Co-op watching out for his customers and automatically adding it in if temps require. 

Very true. ACO has the most careful packing I have seen. 😍