ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The coldest weather of the season is moving into the Tampa Bay area on Tuesday night — which doesn't exactly come as welcome news to our tropical Florida plants.
The National Weather Service issued a Frost Advisory for coastal Citrus County and all of Hernando County for the potential for temperatures to drop as low as 33 degrees early Tuesday morning. Wednesday morning is expected to be even colder at around 31 degrees.
These freezing temperatures mean it's a good idea for everyone across the region to consider protecting sensitive outdoor plants.
Protecting plants in cold Florida weather
1. Bring your potted plants inside.
This may seem obvious, but you may save yourself a lot of trouble if you bring your plants into a garage, garden room or even inside your front door.
2. Add a layer of mulch.
Adding a 3- to 5-inch layer of mulch around sensitive plants can help trap in the soil's heat.
4.. Cover sensitive plants to hold in warmth.
If you don't have a plant-specific frost cloth, you can use a blanket, sheet, towel or newspaper to cover your sensitive outdoor plants.
Experts don't recommend using plastic as it doesn't allow for ventilation and could end up trapping in condensation and further damaging your plants. And you should never leave plants covered for more than 2-3 days.
Which plants to cover in cold
Experts, like Cypress Creek Landscape Supply, say you should cover any plants that were recently planted, even if they're hearty, as it usually takes a while for them to become established. Otherwise, sensitive plants you should consider covering include:
- Citrus trees
- Bougainvillea
- Succulents
- Salvia
- Hibiscus
- Jasmine
- Tree ferns
- Vegetable gardens
- Herbs
After a freeze, researchers from the University of Florida say you should water plants to help thaw out soil. They also recommend holding off on pruning until new growth appears to avoid further damaging the plant.
