Cold nights in Florida

[SFDrake]

It's forecasted to be 55 for the next couple of nights in south Florida. I have a few trees that are new to me that I am worried about. Brazilian Rain Tree, Pomegranate, and Live Oak. Do I just say screw it and bring them inside for the next couple of nights?

 

[RJG2]

They will be fine at 55°. The rain tree is probably the least cold hardy - and the Internet says that can handle zone 9b in the ground (lows of 30°).

I wouldn't worry unless it dips to the low 40's.

 

[Toastmaster]

I'm in central florida.
On the coldest nights recently (~45-50), I've been moving my rain tree in and out of my garage just to be safe, but it is seeming a bit unnecessary as I also have a few other (sub)tropicals I kept outside and they're fine (serissa and cherry brush).

I also have a few sand live oak and live oak seedlings (only few sets of leaves) that have been chilling outside, they're native so they don't care about the cold temps.

 

[SWfloirda]

How long have you had the pomegranate in South Florida? I have been led to believe they don't do well with our humidity. It will never get cold enough in South Florida for the live oak to need to be inside. My Brazilian rain trees have all been as low as 37F, they don't look happy about it but they also seem to get a nice growth spurt when it warms back up.

 

[Gabler]

That's not cold. I don't bring my ficus inside until it gets below 40°F. Think about it this way: if it's warm enough to go out in a T-shirt, your plants are fine.

 

[SFDrake]

How long have you had the pomegranate in South Florida? I have been led to believe they don't do well with our humidity. It will never get cold enough in South Florida for the live oak to need to be inside. My Brazilian rain trees have all been as low as 37F, they don't look happy about it but they also seem to get a nice growth spurt when it warms back up.

 

[SFDrake]

How long have you had the pomegranate in South Florida? I have been led to believe they don't do well with our humidity. It will never get cold enough in South Florida for the live oak to need to be inside. My Brazilian rain trees have all been as low as 37F, they don't look happy about it but they also seem to get a nice growth spurt when it warms back up.

I've had the pomegranate for a couple of months. It wasn't too happy when I bought it and still isn't. I'm overwatering a bit I think

 

[Paradox]

When I purchased my now 25+ year old BRT from the person that grew it in Florida, he told me they really dont like to go below 50 F and should be brought inside if it will go below that. In fact, I purchased it from him in March and he would not ship it until May when temperatures here would be warm enough.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Pomegranate grows well in a Mediterranean climate. Here in the desert, we typically have humidity from 5% to 20%. Our temperatures routinely drop below 20° a few nights each winter, and there are pomegranate growing everywhere. @SWfloirda is probably right about the humidity being an issue, as they seem to love our dry weather. We average about 13" of rain annually.

I agree that you probably won't need to be concerned about leaving the live oak outside, either. They also grow well in my area, and I'm about 99% sure you don't see temperatures as low as what we experience here. I've had one growing out in a grow pot for a few years, and never protected it from the elements.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

if it's warm enough to go out in a T-shirt, your plants are fine.

I have gone skiing in a tee shirt in the past so..... probably not the best advice for my naturally hot blood. lol.