cold wave science

[flplantguy]

Ever since the freeze at christmas i have been wondering about cold waves and penninsular florida, specifically the science behind the power of a cold wave like 1989 vs 2022.  The media called 2022 the coldest since 1989, even equated the two (and up north where i grew up this one was colder), but in florida at least they were very different. Was the difference meerely chance, was the media being excessive in their description, or was that freeze the new normal for us in florida, specifically central and south where the water has more impact?  Im in Hudson about 2 miles inland, but far enough north that its not in the city really, so any change to my advantage would be great. Im guessing its a warm 9b with the plants here but wasnt always so a little bit warmer into 10a would be awesome.

[flplantguy]

I think this may be in the wrong spot.  Prob in weather/climate actually

[kinzyjr]

29 minutes ago, flplantguy said:

I think this may be in the wrong spot.  Prob in weather/climate actually

I'll ask the moderator to move it for you.

32 minutes ago, flplantguy said:

Ever since the freeze at christmas i have been wondering about cold waves and penninsular florida, specifically the science behind the power of a cold wave like 1989 vs 2022.  The media called 2022 the coldest since 1989, even equated the two (and up north where i grew up this one was colder), but in florida at least they were very different. Was the difference meerely chance, was the media being excessive in their description, or was that freeze the new normal for us in florida, specifically central and south where the water has more impact?  Im in Hudson about 2 miles inland, but far enough north that its not in the city really, so any change to my advantage would be great. Im guessing its a warm 9b with the plants here but wasnt always so a little bit warmer into 10a would be awesome.

A large portion of the peninsula had cloud cover for this cold wave.  To give one comparison, the Lakeland airport hit 21F during the 1989 Christmas Freeze and officially 29F during the 2022 Christmas Freeze.  If not for the cloud cover in most areas, the dew points were very low and would have certainly allowed at least mid-to-low 20s in most areas.  Since the January and December 2010 freezes, we've been relatively lucky considering Jan. 2018 was only a bit below average but very windy.  10a above Tampa is a stretch unless you're very close to a large body of water or in a strong UHI like Orlando. 

Here are a few threads you might be interested in:

• Florida Winter 2022-2023: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/75122-florida-winter-2022-2023/
• Looking Back at the Great US Freezes: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/15208-looking-back-at-the-great-us-freezes/
• N. America Winter 2022-2023 Temperature Screenshots: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/76356-n-america-winter-2022-2023-temperature-screenshots/
• West & SW FL Zone Map: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/73496-west-sw-fl-zone-map/
• Florida Freeze and Weather Station Data: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/66320-florida-freeze-and-weather-station-data/
• Florida Christmas Freeze 2022: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/76409-florida-christmas-freeze-2022/

If that's not overkill and you want to see some plants closer to your location: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/61172-remarkable-palms-of-tampa-bay/

[flplantguy]

Im actually a bit of a lurker before i decided to post about it (i have severe anxiety), and have read quite a bit here and elsewhere while trying to decide what to plant and how.  The average would not be 10a unless a lot changed i know, and the person a bit north of here that planted a coconut will not like what happens to it now (the vietchia is already gone and neither are pre 2018), but cool tolerant species that like canopy is where i may go.  I dont want anything tall i have to climb to trim either, but my acre has a lot of trees already so shade tolerant understory is what im thinking. 

Outside of the 27-30 i had in the yard (open vs dense plant cover) at christmas (2 freezing nights) i had a 31 and light frost jan 16 (just over 32 the day prior and wind), and a few high 30s till now.  Im sure a few more 30s at least will happen before its spring, but its not quite as cold as even just inland from here.  I can walk to highway 19 (near aripeka) and a lot of asphalt, and the other three sides have wetlands around my neighborhood sand bar (hence no urban heat help) so its slightly away from the cold parts of shady hills, but still way too close for my comfort.

Ill probably retire to a warmer spot since my favorites are all crownshaft palms, but a few may grow under my jungle with the bromeliads and an encyclia tampensis i saved that were both native to the site.  Its a unique spot, and with a little creative thinking maybe even more so.

Any suggestions on how to grow a happy satakentia up here are very welcome and appreciated!

[kinzyjr]

23 hours ago, flplantguy said:

Any suggestions on how to grow a happy satakentia up here are very welcome and appreciated!

In a UHI or under canopy, they are pretty sturdy. 

This photo is from Downtown Lakeland (UHI modified microclimate) and was originally posted in the Florida Christmas Freeze 2022 thread:

This photo is from my yard in the Lakeland Highlands under live oak canopy:

[flplantguy]

This is my starting point.  Its the clearest part in the back that is almost all native canopy, the rest is very dense still. Ive just moved in and im planning but i know the front is a no go, all western sun.  Im going to have to add live oak most likely, probably a few of a spreading variety to add protection. Windbreaks too.

I have a lot of space including where a greenhouse will go, so im going to start small with seedlings in there. I can observe the area until i know whats what and plant accordingly.  And probably give away a few errors in judgement when reality sets in lol.

[kinzyjr]

37 minutes ago, flplantguy said:

Im going to have to add live oak most likely, probably a few of a spreading variety to add protection.

Might as well get them while they're cheap if you have a truck to haul them:

https://lakeland.craigslist.org/grq/d/lakeland-liquidating-all-trees-gal/7587875476.html