Wendy's Wanderings
December 9, 2020
Tropical Plant Shuffle
For the second time in as many weeks I am doing my cold-weather dance, “the tropical plant shuffle.” When freezing temperatures or frosty weather is predicted for my area, the activity begins. All the tropical babies get protected by coming under cover or getting covered with frost cloth.
You might be thinking, Isn’t she the “Right Plant in the Right Place Queen?" And if you have to haul it in or protect it, is it the right place? I ask myself the same questions! With Florida’s changing climate, I have been tricked into believing that I can grow more tropical plants in Gainesville — and in fact, plants that I would have never recommended a decade ago for this area appear to be thriving. Zone 10 plants such as cardboard palm, pygmy date palms, and even plumeria have been doing well here in our chilly zone 9, especially with canopy cover. Tropical edibles like bananas and papayas that I used to tell folks were a long shot in North Central Florida are thriving and producing fruit…until the tropical shuffle dance music plays.
A favorite Master Gardener Volunteer I know just loads up all her tropical potted plants in her plant carts and they get wheeled in and out of the garage until the final warm up comes. I keep my 16-plus Phalaenopsis orchids in a large tray so I can move them all at once. I have promised myself not to buy any more tropical plants that need babying, but friends give them to me to take care of. It is sort of like that “fostering a kitten” scam I have fallen for. I am also a slave to the new house plant trend; those plants have their rightful spot in my home office, but what happens when they grow huge? Monstera deliciosa, I am talking about you.
I know many of you have adapted your horticulture to your climate, but as gardeners we usually have a couple of special plants that we like to push the limits with, either to the north or the south. For the tropicals moving north, this has worked out for the last few years, but we don’t know when a hard freeze or two will dash our "zone-envious" hopes. The weather in Florida is unpredictable at best, but I feel confident that we won’t have a white Christmas…at least this year. Happy holidays and happy new year from my garden to yours.
-- Wendy Wilber