Last month’s arctic blast sent unexpectedly frigid temperatures through Florida. We endured three straight nights in the low 20s, with a low near 18°F. Many of our outdoor plants aren’t adapted for that kind of cold—the winters we’ve experienced here previously never dropped this far for so long. Locals called this a “once-in-a-century” freeze, and it proved to be a rigorous test. Below are the practical steps we took to protect our landscaping, which tactics worked best, and what we learned.
Clearly, people, pets, and pipes take priority during extreme cold. But plants are often the fourth item on that checklist. Because we’ve invested time and money in our landscaping, we decided to do everything reasonable to protect what we could. A little effort up front can sometimes spare the cost and hassle of replanting.
Tip 1: Identify Plants Vulnerable to Freezing
Start by identifying which plants are least likely to survive the forecasted temperatures. Look up each plant’s cold tolerance or hardiness zone to prioritize protection. In our case, a quick search helped us realize, for example, that our saw palmettos could likely survive while our foxtail ferns were at greater risk. This step helped us allocate time and resources where they mattered most.
Tip: If you don’t know a plant’s name, your phone’s camera or a plant-identification app can help identify it quickly.
Tip 2: Bring Plants Inside, If Possible
The surest protection is moving plants into a warm indoor space. This isn’t always feasible—many plants are planted in the ground, too heavy, or too large—but small and medium potted plants and hanging baskets are usually movable. We filled tarps near less-used doorways and stacked as many pots indoors as we could. The tarps protected floors from dirt and drainage water. It was inconvenient for a few days, but this method produced the only 100% success rate in our experience.
We ended up bringing many pots inside—likely saving hundreds of dollars in plant replacements. Even our large fiddle leaf fig came in on a dolly and sat in the kitchen for a few days. If indoor space isn’t available, a garage, basement, or attic can offer enough protection; the key points are insulation from cold air and shelter from wind.
Where possible, removing potted plants from the cold was worth the inconvenience. Potted plants are especially vulnerable because pots offer little soil insulation and water in the pot can freeze quickly.
Tip 3: Add Pine Straw or Mulch
For plants remaining outside, apply a fresh layer of mulch—pine straw is especially effective—around the base. Mulch traps air and insulates the soil, reducing extreme temperature swings. It also helps retain moisture; interestingly, wet soil holds heat better than dry soil, so watering before a freeze can boost insulation benefits.
Mulching takes preparation and effort, but it’s an affordable and effective way to add protection to beds and planted areas.
Tip 4: Cover Plants With Breathable Fabric
Draping blankets, sheets, or frost cloth over plants traps warmer air from the soil and plant itself. Use breathable fabric rather than plastic: plastic can trap moisture against tissues and increase damage. Lightweight materials like spare sheets, towels, frost blankets, or even landscape fabric can work. The fabric should reach the ground so it traps heat from the soil—don’t just cover the top of the plant like a lollipop. Use garden staples or stakes to anchor covers against wind.
Use breathable fabric, not plastic
Breathable material allows airflow and prevents trapped moisture from damaging plant tissue. Sheets and frost cloth are preferable.
If frost blankets are unavailable, try landscape fabric
Landscape fabric is a useful substitute when frost blankets sell out. It’s thinner but still helps and is often more affordable.
Don’t “lollipop” your plants
Make sure covers reach the ground and are secured. The soil’s warmth is what the cover is trapping, so full contact with the ground makes the biggest difference.
Tip 5: Add an Ambient Heat Source
To boost the warmth under covers, add a small heat source. Incandescent Christmas lights (the older, larger C9 bulbs) give off enough warmth to be helpful under frost cloth; LEDs don’t provide heat. Wrap strands through plants and then cover. Be mindful of electrical load and safety. Some gardeners also use hot water bottles or filled milk jugs placed near plants for extra heat, though those methods require more upkeep.
How Did Our Plants Fare?
Even with these measures, many tropical plants suffered from the prolonged hard freeze. Results were mixed: some covered or mulched plants looked pristine when uncovered, while others were limp or brown. The only method that guaranteed survival was bringing pots indoors.
We suspect location and wind exposure played a large role. For example, one lime tree looked fine while another dropped fruit and browned out; both were mulched and covered, but the surviving tree was in a corner sheltered by two fences. Some philodendrons and other hardy species showed new shoots at the base, suggesting recovery is possible.
A few fiddle leaf figs outside showed varied outcomes: the smallest, most recently planted specimen survived unscathed, while others looked more damaged. Based on past experience, even plants that look dead above ground can sometimes regrow from healthy roots or trunks when warmer weather returns.
We’ll monitor regrowth into spring before making final judgments, but overall the experiments reinforced that layering protections—mulch, breathable covers, and heat—can help, even if they don’t guarantee survival for every plant.
What’s the Good News?
A brown, wilted leaf isn’t the same as a dead plant. Many plants can shed damaged foliage and regrow when temperatures warm. After a few weeks, several of our plants already showed signs of new growth. So don’t rush to remove everything that looks unhappy right after a freeze.
Tip 6: Don’t Prune Right Away
Resist the urge to prune immediately. Waiting lets you distinguish truly dead material from foliage that will recover. Dead leaves can also provide insulation against further cold snaps, and premature pruning can stress a plant or trigger vulnerable new growth. Remove only truly mushy or rotten parts to prevent rot; otherwise wait until new, healthy growth appears in spring before doing major cleanup.
We’re holding off on large-scale pruning and reassessing conditions as plants begin to regrow. Neighbors often view these events as an opportunity for a garden to return stronger and hardier, and we’re hopeful the same will happen here.
Additional Freezing Weather Preparation
We also took steps to protect pipes and outdoor plumbing, which are common points of failure during sudden freezes. Keeping heat on, insulating vulnerable pipes, and letting outdoor faucets drip slightly are simple measures that can help prevent costly burst pipes.
More Plant Guides
If you want detailed care information on common houseplants and outdoor species, search for guides on Golden Pothos, Marble Queen Pothos, Neon Pothos, Monstera deliciosa, Snake Plant, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Tree Philodendron, and related topics like building simple plant shelves or getting started with houseplants. Those resources can help you choose plants suited to your climate and care routine.
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