TY so much for the awesome, helpful & amusing replies, *Y'all!* Much appreciated, very encouraging & exciting.
So sorry, Tarev! Did they actually shrivel away, or just aren't growing/blooming?
Deborah, I wish I could too, I'd love to see that! Your heroic survivor deserves notoriety!
I've seen what you mean about the frost nip tips on Banana & Canna plants. Didn't occur to me that snipping could help. Good one, TY!!! I kind of like plants that disappear when it frosts, 'cuz it's so exciting when they start back up. (And makes it easy to mulch.)
I don't think these will need any fertilizer. Leaves have been piled in the area for countless winters, it's some of the best, darkest dirt I've ever seen anywhere. I would have been digging over there sooner if I'd realized! Next time I want to fill a short-term pot with yard dirt, it'll be from there.
