Yeah, right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone knows that when you move to Florida, you can expect a few things: plenty of sun to soak up, a tropical breeze that moves the little umbrella in your cocktail, unhinged news headlines, and of course, hurricane season. When you move to Florida, you\u2019re mentally prepared for heat and rain \u2013 and a lot of it. You probably moved here because you want to get<\/em> away <\/em>from the cold. No more winter coats, no more blizzards, no more salt trucks and snow shovelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, you can imagine the uproar and surprise by Floridians, both new and native, when a polar vortex <\/em>parked itself over the southeastern US for a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the country knows how to handle the cold. There\u2019s infrastructure and common knowledge for that sort of thing. People own well-rounded wardrobes that accommodate all kinds of seasons. Leaving your sink dripping on cold nights is standard practice and doesn\u2019t really need to be said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Florida, however, is clueless. We simply don\u2019t get cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ice? Only found in lemonade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Snow? Only in movies that take place far away from here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless you moved here from somewhere cold, you\u2019ve never thought to leave your faucet on an annoying (but very important) drip overnight. You\u2019ve also never had to worry this much about whether or not you\u2019ll have a garden tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite all of the whining about being cold, most folks survived the little snow flurries and chilly nights unscathed. Our leafy friends, however, might be a little bit traumatized\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In early February, Central Florida saw record temperatures as low as 23 degrees! Some areas even saw snow flurries. At home and on the farm, resident magnolia expert extraordinaire Matt Roth decided it was time to pull out all the stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are \u201call the stops?\u201d So glad you asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bright and early at 3am on the coldest night of every native Floridian\u2019s lifetime, Matt rolled out of bed and bundled up. There\u2019s work to be done and trees to save! Thankfully, Matt is an early riser and morning person already \u2013 this is just another day in the life for him. Matt\u2019s solution to the cold conundrum was simple: If he can\u2019t bring his beloved trees inside for warmth, then Matt would bring the warmth outside to the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his yard, Matt constructed a few firepits, making sure the flames wouldn\u2019t pose a hazard to branches above. The wind on this night was blustery, and Florida has been in a drought. This had to be done with utmost care and strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each firepit was close enough to his treasured trees that the tree would stay above its critical freezing point. While Matt is scientifically minded, this process was his best guess-timation. He piled on the firewood, lit each pit, and prayed that it would be enough. He and his wife, Julie, stayed up till dawn with the fire pits, keeping a close eye on the blazes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n True to the nature of their relationship, Julie and Matt cracked jokes, reminisced on the story behind each tree they were working so hard to save, and danced with each other in the firelight (it\u2019s one of their favorite pastimes). One of these beautiful trees is a 15 year old avocado they grew from a tiny little cutting. That tree is the little engine that could, surviving years of harsh conditions and a cross-country journey! A tree like that holds so many memories, and there was no way the couple would allow this polar vortex to be the tree\u2019s final stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the sun finally broke the horizon, they carefully extinguished the fires and went on to check on the magnolia groves at the farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weeks later, it\u2019s safe to say the avocado tree in their family home survived the cold snap!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re a homeowner with palm trees and tropical flowers in your front yard, what do you do when nature pulls a U-Turn on your local climate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n First things first: if it\u2019s potted, bring it inside.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A garage, a sunroom, a porch \u2013 anywhere is better than direct exposure to the winds and cold. If it can move, move it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, now what about the plants that are in the ground? <\/p>\n\n\n\n To be honest, there\u2019s only so much you can do. Here are some helpful tips to give you the best odds at surviving the chill:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And of course, for those of you who are particularly dedicated to your trees, you have the option of getting up at 3am to light fires and warm your trees. If you do this, please make sure your area is not under any burn bans. Light your fires responsibly, have buckets of water or a hose nearby, and be vigilant! Coffee helps \u2013 just ask Matt! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the cold snap passes, move the plants that were inside back outside and resume your normal watering schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove all of your dressings from the outdoor plants and resume your winter watering schedule for them, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you see that a plant took frostbite damage, use a sharp pair of pruning shears or clippers to remove the dead growth. Wintertime is the best time for pruning, and unremoved damage becomes a candidate for rot and disease. Don\u2019t be afraid to prune aggressively to remove the damage. Most plants go into a dormant state during the cold months, so they can handle the stress right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Got questions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>The Great Polar Vortex of 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a>How To Prepare Your Plants for the Cold<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>The Cold is Over\u2026 Now What?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n