How to Protect Tropical Plants in Winter - Featuring Horticulturist Mark Hooten скачать в хорошем качестве

How to Protect Tropical Plants in Winter - Featuring Horticulturist Mark Hooten

We are introducing our new Series: Top Tropicals Podcast. Growing tropicals and pushing the limits. Watch the first episode: How to Protect Tropical plants in Winter ...Who doesn't like tropical beauty? Everyone wants tropical plants. But not everyone lives in a warm climate. Is it possible to grow tropicals outside of Tropics? Top Tropicals horticulturist Mark Hooten, who is well known to many gardeners as the Garden Doc with his Saturday Plant Clinic, is answering gardeners' questions about how to prepare and protect tropical plants during winter... How to Protect Tropical plants in Winter: Questions and Answers Q1) How to keep tropical plants alive indoors during the winter? A: The most important factors are temperature, humidity and water availability. These conditions will vary from plant to plant so it is important to research your specific plants needs. Q2) In a sub-tropical climate do we need to bring any plants indoors during the winter? A: Most plants will survive our growing conditions in zone 9B and higher. Ultra tropical plants like Mangosteen and Breadfruit will need to be over wintered even in zone 10b. Q3) Do we need to fertilize tropical plants that are indoors during the winter months? A: Only if they go through a period of active growth. Q4) Do tropical plants need to be misted on their leaves or just climate controlled? A: There is nothing wrong with occasionally misting but if your humidity is too low you will need a humidifier to keep the humidity level at least above 65% Q5) Should we prune our fruit trees in the winter if they go dormant? A: There are very few fruit trees that go dormant in Florida. Truly dormant trees loose all of their foliage and need a period of cold weather in order to rejuvenate in the warmer months ahead. Truly dormant trees like peaches and apples can be pruned in the winter without an issue. Q6) Do we water our plants with less water in the winter or dormant times? A: Each tree or plant will be different. Some trees like mangoes need a more dry and cold period to be as productive as possible. It is important to research your specific plants needs. Q7) Do plants go dormant even when the growing condition is simulated with lights and climate control? A: Plant cycles vary depending on their place of origin. Plants go dormant due to water, day length and temperature. Plants will follow their natural cycles regardless of mocking growing conditions. Q8) Can our sub tropical plants take a frost without intervention? A: Certain plants that are very cold sensitive will get damaged at anything below 50 degrees F. At 40 degrees F they are most likely dead. There is no frost involved at that point. Most plants that grow well in our sub tropical climate will handle the weather they are exposed to.