It's going to drop to 25º here tonight. Last night it got down to 34º and tomorrow night is supposed to be freezing too. I think my Cordyline Tricolor will be a goner since it's still out on the deck. It's covered with a blanket along with many other plants but it looks like I might lose more plants again this winter. These winters we've been having the past few years are just too cold for tropical plants!

Wow, I didn't know it got that cold in FL.

You don't think of it getting that cold in FL. But I seem to remember another FL gardener (I think it was over on Cubits) posting a really interesting picture of her frozen fountain. Don't remember who it was tho.

These Tree Philodendrons (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) have been hit many times over the years with freezing temp's, sometimes to the point where they are really mushy ... but they always come back strong as soon as the weather warms up again. This is what they look like normally, and this time last year when we had a freeze and they had ice on them and the brown leaves showing the cold damage:

I have had my Phil in a big pot for about 5 years now. And yes it comes back after a freeze. But looking at your beauties Lin, I think I will plant it in the ground this spring. The first year I got it, it was huge (in the pot) and continued to grow so large. But after the freeze, it came back, but never as large again. Do you grow it in full sun or partial?

Debbie: I've seen them down here in both full sun as well as full shade. I moved about a month ago and my old house had a large number of Tree Philo's in the side yard that were mostly in shade but there was one single plant in full sun in the backyard. The ones in the side yard have been there for more than 37 years.


After a cold blast of winter temp's:

Thanks for the info Lin. The first pic is awesome. The 3rd pic looks like some of my garden right now. But, that's ok, cause soon we will have Spring.

Just had to add another comment to this thread. DH recently brought me one of those miniature roses in a 6 inch pot. There were SEVEN tiny rose plants in that pot!

SEVEN! That might be a record!

I was amazed when I tipped it out and saw how many there were! And I was good, and snipped off all the buds when I repotted them. So with luck, they'll survive to go outside when the weather warms up.

Wow! Congrats on a whole rose garden in one pot!

Woofie,

They're NOT happy sitting on my kitchen table (I think one of the teeny ones may have gone south), but I have nowhere else to stash them for now.

Dutchlady what is that beautiful tricolor plant in your picture. It is to die for. I have always chosen pots with the most plants in them. It is a great way to get multiples without having to by them. Congrats on the 7 in a pot.

It is a Cordyline, also known as 'Ti plant'. They are very easy to grow from cuttings and come in many great colors.