Properly safeguarding your plants for cold weather in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tonight, there is a wind chill warning for parts of Central Florida, with temperatures expected to drop into the 30s. This drop in temperature signals a need to protect your plants.

So how do you do it the right way?

For helpful household tips, Erik visited Jim Hunter, a Master Gardener and the owner of South Seminole Farm and Nursery in Casselberry. Jim has been in this same location since 1978!

Step 1

Water. Jim advises getting moisture into your plants before a frost or freeze – not the night of one!

You can water them the morning before or even the night before so the plants absorb the moisture but you don’t want them wet going into the frost.

Step 2

Bring plants indoors. Bring the sensitive plants inside if they’re potted.

If you have space in your living room, store them there overnight!

Even your garage is better than outside because of course your garage doesn’t freeze.

Step 3

Any plants you can’t bring inside, try and cover.

A frost cloth is best. You can buy one at any home improvement store.

It’s breathable and sunlight passes through it.

Jim says you can leave the frost cloth in place for up to 10 days after a frost or freeze.

Blankets work fine too but you must remove them the next morning or you can harm the plant!

Never use plastic though because it’s not breathable.

And make sure to tuck the cloth under the bottom of the pot so the cloth stays in place and it insulates the entire plant, not just the leaves.

Heat comes up from the soil and will warm the plant if the cloth covers the entire plant from top to bottom.

You can also use garden stakes hammered into the ground to hold the cloth in place.

If you have a project you want Erik to take on, you can email us at [email protected], and Erik might just be at your doorstep next week!