If you’re in Hudson this week, you’ll notice a classic Florida winter pattern: cooler mornings and nights, then warmer afternoons. This week is a good example, today (Monday) we’re warmer, but temperatures dip midweek with the coldest night expected around Wednesday (near the upper 30s), then we gradually warm back up toward the weekend. Florida plants can handle a lot, but sudden cool nights are when homeowners start seeing droopy leaves, brown edges, and stressed container plants. Here’s what this weather typically does to plants in our area and the simplest ways to protect your landscape without overreacting.

 

 

Many tropical plants droop overnight, then perk back up once the sun warms them.

 

Tender leaves may brown at the edges or develop spots after the coldest night.

 

Potted plants lose heat quickly, so they’re often the first to show damage.

 

Plants use less water in cooler weather. Wet soil and cool temps can lead to root problems especially for tropicals and succulents.

 

• Tropicals: hibiscus, crotons, bougainvillea, orchids, plumeria

• Tender foliage plants: coleus, some begonias, elephant ears

• Herbs and warm-season veggies: especially basil and young starts

• Newly planted landscaping (first 30–60 days)

• Anything in a pot: patio plants, succulents, hanging baskets

 

 

If you can move it, move it. Slide pots under a covered lanai/patio, under eaves, or close to the home.

Group containers together to help hold warmth and keep them out of wind, which increases cold stress.

 

For plants in the ground:

• Use frost cloth or a sheet (a lightweight blanket works in a pinch)

• Cover before sunset to trap daytime warmth

• Let the cover reach the ground (that’s what holds in heat)

• Remove the cover in the morning once temps rise and the sun is up. Avoid plastic touching leaves.

If you use plastic, tent it above the plant and remove it early.

 

A practical rule for this week:

• If soil is dry, water earlier in the day before the coldest night

• Avoid watering late at night

• Water less often during cool spells. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil,

but too much water in cool conditions is one of the most common winter plant problems in Florida.

 

Mulch helps stabilize soil temperature and protect roots:

• Add 2–3 inches of mulch around sensitive plants and new landscaping

• Keep mulch a few inches away from stems/trunks to avoid rot

 

After a cold night, it’s tempting to “clean everything up,” but:

• Don’t prune immediatelywait a few days to see what’s truly damaged

• Skip heavy fertilizer during cold snaps; it can push weak new growth that’s more sensitive

 

 

• Move under cover or cover overnight on the coldest night

• Expect temporary droop; don’t overwater

 

• Cold + wet is the danger combination

• Keep them dry and move them under cover if possible

 

• Cover seedlings and tender herbs overnight (basil is the most sensitive)

• Harvest what you can before the coldest night

• Cool-season greens usually do fine, but protect young starts if temperatures dip into the 30s

 

• Mulch the root zone

• Cover low canopy on the coldest night if the tree is small and exposed

 

This is the kind of week that highlights microclimates. Two homes on the same street can feel different at night depending on wind exposure, tree coverage, and whether the yard has a screened lanai or covered patio. If outdoor living and gardening matter to you, these features are worth noticing when you tour a home.

 

• Move patio pots under cover

• Cover tender tropicals before sunset on the coldest night

• Water earlier in the day only if soil is dry

• Add mulch around sensitive plants and new landscaping

• Wait to prune until temperatures stabilize