Last month’s arctic blast brought surprisingly frigid temperatures to Florida. We experienced three consecutive nights in the low 20s, with a low near 18 degrees. Many of our outdoor plants aren’t built for that kind of sustained cold. In the three winters we’ve spent here, we remember one other low near 32 degrees, but temperatures rebounded quickly to our more typical lows around 45 within a few hours. Locals called this recent deep freeze a “once-in-a-century event.” It became the ultimate test for our landscaping, so here are the steps we took to protect our plants and what actually worked.
There are bigger priorities during extreme cold—protecting people, pets, and pipes—yet plants often end up as the fourth “P” to check. Since we’ve invested time and money in our landscaping, protecting what we could felt worthwhile. A bit of effort up front can save the time and expense of replanting later.
Tip 1: Identify Plants Vulnerable to Freezing
Start by learning which plants are least likely to survive the forecasted temperatures. Most are chosen for your growing zone, but an unusually cold multi-day event calls for more investigation. We searched terms like “cold tolerance” or “cold hardiness” along with each plant’s name. That helped us prioritize: which plants to focus on and which would likely be fine. For example, our saw palmettos didn’t need help, but our foxtail ferns did.
Note: If you don’t know a plant’s name, smartphone plant identification tools can help identify it for you.
Tip 2: Bring Plants Inside, If Possible
The surest way to keep plants from freezing is to move them inside where it’s warm. This isn’t always feasible—many plants are planted in the ground, too heavy, or too large for indoor spaces. Small-to-medium potted plants and hanging planters are good candidates for bringing in. Use your judgment about what’s reasonable for your home.
We have many potted plants outside. We brought as many inside as would fit, using tarps near doorways to protect floors from dirt and drainage water. It was inconvenient for a few days, especially over the holidays, but moving containers indoors had a 100% success rate for us.
By bringing many pots inside, we likely saved hundreds of dollars in plants we might otherwise have replaced. Even moving a large potted fiddle leaf fig into the kitchen was worth the hassle despite tighter spaces. If interior spaces aren’t possible, move plants to a protected area like a garage, basement, or covered porch. Potted plants are especially vulnerable because their soil insulates less than ground soil, and reducing wind exposure limits heat loss.
Tip 3: Add Pine Straw or Mulch
For plants that must stay outside, add a fresh layer of mulch around plant bases. Mulch traps air and insulates roots, with light materials like pine straw especially effective. Mulch also helps retain moisture—surprisingly useful because wet soil retains more heat than dry soil. If you plan ahead, add mulch before a cold snap and water beds after mulching to improve heat retention.
Mulching takes planning and effort, but it’s an effective layer of protection that can be timed with routine yard work.
Tip 4: Cover Plants With Breathable Fabric
Covering plants with blankets, sheets, or dedicated frost cloths helps trap the heat coming from the soil and plant. Breathable fabric is key—plastic can trap moisture against foliage and cause more damage. Spare bedsheets, towels, or lightweight landscape fabric work well. We used a mix of frost blankets and landscape fabric; the landscape fabric intended for weed control performed similarly when frost blankets were sold out.
Use breathable fabric, not plastic
Breathable fabric allows airflow and avoids trapping moisture next to plant tissues, which can worsen freeze damage. Sheets and lightweight cloths are preferable to plastic drop cloths or bags.
If frost blankets are unavailable, landscape fabric is a good substitute
Landscape fabric can substitute for frost blankets in a pinch. It’s often thinner and less expensive but can still provide meaningful protection.
Don’t “lollipop” your plants
Ensure covers reach the ground all around the plant so the soil’s warmth is trapped. Create “ghost” shapes where the cover touches the ground on all sides, and use garden stakes or landscape pins to secure coverings against wind.
Tip 5: Add an Ambient Heat Source
Adding a small heat source under coverings can increase protection. Wrap incandescent Christmas lights (older, heat-producing C9-style bulbs) through plant beds to provide gentle warmth—LEDs don’t emit significant heat. Be cautious not to overload circuits. Another approach is to place containers of warm water near plants, though that requires more maintenance and monitoring.
Adding lights created a soft glow under our blankets and seemed to help some plants hold on through the cold.
How Did Our Plants Fare?
Despite these efforts, many tropicals struggled during the sustained three-day hard freeze. Some covered plants looked pristine when uncovered and some didn’t. Results were mixed even within the same protection method: some covered plants survived with or without lights, while others wilted. Bringing plants indoors remained the only method with a 100% survival rate in our experience.
Variation likely came down to species differences and microclimates around the yard. For example, one lime tree survived well while another lost leaves and fruit, even though both were mulched and covered. The healthier lime was tucked into a corner with two fence sides acting as windbreaks. Many plants like monsteras, elephant ears, and gingers were limp, while some philodendrons already showed healthy new shoots at the base.
Some outdoor fiddle leaf figs survived and regrew even after looking lifeless, so we remain optimistic about recovery. It’s too soon to draw firm conclusions about which tactics were most effective; we’ll watch how plants respond through spring and report back.
Overall takeaway: some measures helped, but microclimate and species matter a lot. Moving containers indoors is the most reliable option when possible.
What’s the Good News?
A brown or limp leaf doesn’t necessarily mean a dead plant. There’s a big difference between dead leaves and a dead plant. Many plants only need time to shed damaged tissue and regrow when warmer weather returns. About three weeks after the freeze, we already saw signs of regrowth in several species.
Tip 6: Don’t Prune Right Away
Resist the urge to prune immediately. Experts recommend waiting because damage can be misleading right after a freeze. Reasons to hold off:
You might cut off healthy branches or dig up healthy plants
Damage may not show immediately and some plants that look rough will bounce back. Waiting allows you to see which parts truly fail to recover.
Dead leaves can still protect your plant
Until the last frost danger has passed, dead material can provide insulation. Removing it too soon exposes living tissue to additional cold and wind.
You don’t want to stress your plant more
After a freeze, plants direct resources to core survival. Pruning can trigger new growth that diverts energy and creates tender shoots vulnerable to future cold snaps.
We’ve generally let damaged leaves fall off naturally and only removed obviously rotten or mushy tissue to prevent rot. That approach has helped plants recover in past years.
Additional Freezing Weather Preparation
Plants weren’t the only concern—we also took steps to protect our pipes and outdoor fixtures. Several neighbors experienced burst pipes in outdoor showers during this event, so insulating exposed pipes and allowing faucets to drip where appropriate can reduce risk. Keeping your home heated helps, and planning ahead for power outages is wise.
More Plant Guides
If you want deeper care tips for common houseplants and outdoor favorites, look for species-specific care guides and resources. Understanding each plant’s hardiness and needs makes it easier to protect them during extreme weather.
- Golden Pothos Care Guide
- Marble Queen Pothos Care Guide
- Neon Pothos Care Guide
- Monstera Deliciosa Care Guide
- Snake Plant Care Guide
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Guide
- Tree Philodendron Care Guide
- How to Build an Easy Plant Shelf
- Getting Started With Houseplants: An Expert Interview
- My Favorite Faux Plants
- Easy Houseplants to Keep Alive
- 10 Houseplants for Better Indoor Air Quality
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