2025 January 2025 Cold Damage - Florida and SE USA

[Bkue]

So far not much frost. Only thing noticeable is a decent size bottle palm with frosty spotted lower fronds. Anybody else have issues? Arecas, Christmas, bananas, coconuts, royals all look good so far. 

[flplantguy]

Hudson FL, inland a mile from the marshes next to the cold pocket. Low 26.6 with a little under 6 hours below freezing. Covered plants are looking fine so far, uncovered is hit or miss.  Damage seen on some but not others, and its not warm yet, so a full report wont be for another few days.  Many plants wont show any damage or issues for at least a few days, until it warms up.

[Gregor]

Freeze at 26 degrees for 6 hours damaged rebelling. Brown tips. 

[kinzyjr]

The temperature bottomed off at 35F during the cold snap, with ~64 consecutive hours below 50F.  Hopefully that ends up being the minimum for the winter, but we have a few months to go until actual spring.  A comparison of the currently available records - subject to amendment by NOAA and/or Wunderground later:

That temperature shouldn't bother much in a Central Florida garden on the I-4 Corridor.  As such, this post will just be observations on a few cold-tender species. 

Coconuts: These have some burned leaflets and frost-spotting to various degrees throughout the yard.  Most of the damage is on the lower fronds.  No photos at this time.  They take a while to show their true condition after long-cold.

Pritchardia thurstonii: This palm was bought with the understanding that it was probably an annual since it goes below 35F with regularity here.  Thus far, it handled everything really well.

Areca catechu 'Dwarf': These handled the length of cold really well.

Pritchardia (martii?): A little beat up on the lower fronds and outer edges, but it wasn't in the best of health before.

Latania lontaroides: No damage.  Performed as expected.

There could be more reports or an updated report later.  These were the most cold-sensitive species to observe in the area, and most stuff here in town is either bulletproof to 20F or suited for the 9b/10a transition zone winters.

[Bkue]

On 1/25/2025 at 9:32 AM, flplantguy said:

Hudson FL, inland a mile from the marshes next to the cold pocket. Low 26.6 with a little under 6 hours below freezing. Covered plants are looking fine so far, uncovered is hit or miss.  Damage seen on some but not others, and its not warm yet, so a full report wont be for another few days.  Many plants wont show any damage or issues for at least a few days, until it warms up.

How far from coast? I got whacked on the coast in Hudson. Waiting to see if bismarcks and others make it. 

[flplantguy]

6 hours ago, Bkue said:

How far from coast? I got whacked on the coast in Hudson. Waiting to see if bismarcks and others make it. 

Im right off highway 19 by aripeka but considered hudson.  No urban influence on temps for me here.  I was looking at the temps in the county and it was definately a rare event. NPR on the water was even at or below freezing since the water temps dropped so low.  I think the large urban areas are starting to have a greater effect on low temps.  There were a few Pinellas stations near freezing too and thats not easy to accomplish anymore.  We were just closer to the dollop of bitterly cold air and it sucked the heat right out.  Now that temps have been up near 80 i have even more damage as expected. Some plants are surprises one way of the other and inexpect no deaths as of now.  I think your bismark will be ok unless your in Shady Hills where it was 22, that would likely do damage, or kill it as a seedling.

[Bkue]

On 2/1/2025 at 9:07 AM, flplantguy said:

Im right off highway 19 by aripeka but considered hudson.  No urban influence on temps for me here.  I was looking at the temps in the county and it was definately a rare event. NPR on the water was even at or below freezing since the water temps dropped so low.  I think the large urban areas are starting to have a greater effect on low temps.  There were a few Pinellas stations near freezing too and thats not easy to accomplish anymore.  We were just closer to the dollop of bitterly cold air and it sucked the heat right out.  Now that temps have been up near 80 i have even more damage as expected. Some plants are surprises one way of the other and inexpect no deaths as of now.  I think your bismark will be ok unless your in Shady Hills where it was 22, that would likely do damage, or kill it as a seedling.

I’m right on the gulf so thinking most damage is still Milton. Spring will tell. 

[Bkue]

4 minutes ago, Bkue said:

I’m right on the gulf so thinking most damage is still Milton. Spring will tell. 

Damage in Oviedo is limited to bottle and slight frost on Christmas palms. No damage to areca’s surprisingly. No signs on royals either.