TAMPA, Fla. — As snow, ice and Arctic air begin to sweep across the country, the Tampa Bay area is preparing for a cold snap of its own.
Freeze watches are in place for most Tampa Bay area counties for Friday night into Saturday morning. And below-freezing temperatures don't exactly agree with our tropical Florida plants.
Here's what you need to know about covering your plants in the cold weather.
1. Bring your potted plants inside.
This may seem obvious, but you'll save yourself a lot of trouble if you're able to bring your plants into a garage, garden room, or even inside your front door.
2. Look for DIY coverings around your house
There's no need to buy a specific covering designed for plants. You can use blankets, sheets, towels, newspapers, bubble wrap or cardboard boxes to effectively protect your plants.
You can use plastic to seal in warmth, but make sure to remove that plastic in the morning so that condensation doesn't build up and freeze again under the covering, GardeningKnowHow.com explains.
3. Add a layer of mulch
Adding a 3- to 5-inch layer of mulch can help keep soil temperatures consistent, according to plant blog Jay Scotts Collection. When soil is wet, it's harder for it to freeze solid.
4. Try not to get leaves and stems wet while watering
If you can, avoid getting water on a plant's leaves or stem while watering in cold weather. Doing so could speed up the process of them becoming brittle and freezing over.
How cold does it need to be to cover my plants?
Unfortunately, there's no solid answer to this question. It all depends on how cold your plants are. You can check out the USDA's hardiness map for guidance.
According to Jay Scotts Collection, a few types of plants that need covering are:
- Tender bulb flowers like daffodils, tulips and begonias
- Delicate trees, especially citrus trees
- Tropical bulb plants like hibiscus and aloe
- Annuals plants like crabgrass, petunias and snapdragons