Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical Plants and Gardens #116, 1 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Alice, your waterlily is a lovely little treat for the eyes. I've had my tropical waterlilies do that a couple of times, too. Tiny flowers out of the blue just pop up, when it's been warm for a few days and the water temp goes up a bit.

I've had amazingly little cold damage this year - even my little divas the Peacock gingers just finally gave up last week, when we had two cold nights in a row. They usually disappear at the first sign of cold. My 'Shooting Star' clerodendron still has buds that are ever so painfully slowly trying to open. I tried to cover the bushes but they are just 'way too tall and big, so they've been exposed to the cold 3 times now. Coleus are all shriveled leaves, but they're still alive!

I think the temps near the ground have stayed higher because of all the residual heat in the ground, and very little rain to cool the ground as well. Also the Gulf temps are still well up into the 60's where they were at least 10deg. colder at this time last year.

Brug 'Monster White' popped open a flower - the plant doesn't look great - I had to prune it down so I could cover it - but the flowers still smell wonderful.