Bringing Tropical Plants inside for the winter

Looking to rescue your favorite patio plants before winter but don't know what to bring in or when? You've come to the right place!!

I've been filling my parents' garden in New York City with tropical plants since I was a kid and I've never had the heart to let a New York winter turn them to compost. I have 30 large plants to bring inside here and more than 100 in my own garden on Long Island (that'll be such a big project I'm not sure I can catch it on video, but we'll see!!)

WHEN TO BRING THEM INSIDE?
Most tropical plants are forgiving about a few chilly days. I wait until the forecast calls for daytime highs in the 50s and 60s (13C to 20C) and nighttime temperatures above 40F (above 4C). I have many subtropical plants like my Cussonia (Cabbage Tree), Mediterranean Fan Palm, Yucca Gigantea, and Aloe that do stay outside during freezes.

READING WEATHER FORECASTS ...
Temperatures close to the freezing mark on a night with calm and clear wind could be damaging for our plants. That's because on clear nights it's really easy for pockets of colder air to develop around our plants. So while the air temperature might be above freezing, your lawn and favorite plants could dip below freezing. That's how frost develops!

FROST HAS A BAD REPUTATION
Frost itself isn't damaging the plants, it's a symptom of the problem. When conditions are calm, temperatures are below freezing, and moisture is present, you get frost (and with that damage!). But freezes that happen with wind are much more damaging and you'll never even see frost develop in those circumstances.

TAGS:
zone7, garden, autumn, New York, Staten Island, zone7b, windmill palm, palm trees, container plants, ficus, indoor plants, houseplants, plants,