Ti Plants and Crotons

[BostonRich]

I have been told and read that certain plants are not hardy enough to survive here yet I see them everywhere. I am particularly interested in Ti Plants and Crotons. What has been your experience with these two plants? Does everyone cover them when it gets frosty? I haven't seen many Ti Plants covered recently yet they seem to survive the low temperatures and look great. Any tips?

[REDCART]

We’ve been in TV since 2005, and have winter frost experience with both Ti and Curley leaf crotons. Over the years we’ve lost them several times. If you have time and patience they’ll come back. Neighbors have dug theirs up and replanted new ones. It’s a lot easier to cover them than replace them but I’m lazy and have paid the price.

[Calisport]

The ones that are hardiest are the ones inside the birdcage, and according to a resident - had lost his to frost last year outside in the garden. His neighbor's ti plants inside the birdcage survived last year. Maybe covering would help below 40°

[DAVES]

I have been told and read that certain plants are not hardy enough to survive here yet I see them everywhere. I am particularly interested in Ti Plants and Crotons. What has been your experience with these two plants? Does everyone cover them when it gets frosty? I haven't seen many Ti Plants covered recently yet they seem to survive the low temperatures and look great. Any tips?

My OPINION. You are far better off with plants that are hardy in OUR climate. Same plants depending on where you put it, how you water it, cover it etc you can nurse it along. However, think, do you wish to baby sit a plant? Will you always want to? This area at one time was a major grower of citrus. In the 1960's they had a major COLD spell and it killed the trees.

[Kenswing]

We have 4 crotons. Three in pots in front of the garage and one in the ground. They all did fine uncovered the other night. Have no idea what variety they are though. That's the wife's area. lol

[La lamy]

I think you need to worry about the frost for these plants for a couple years (covering them up) is what I read. But once they are well established in the ground, I believe they do much better. No personal experience since I only have them in pots, so I do cover them for frosty nights. Worth it since they are faves of mine.

[spark291@comcast.net]

What is the best plants to obscure the back wall in a villa
Looking for height and hardiness

[Topspinmo]

I think you need to worry about the frost for these plants for a couple years (covering them up) is what I read. But once they are well established in the ground, I believe they do much better. No personal experience since I only have them in pots, so I do cover them for frosty nights. Worth it since they are faves of mine.

Agree, cover them up mind has survived every freeze in 8 years down to 27 degrees which will probably happen Saturday or Sunday night?

[thevillages2013]

What is the best plants to obscure the back wall in a villa
Looking for height and hardiness

Podocarpus. Plant them 2’ apart

[snhmhg]

What is the best plants to obscure the back wall in a villa
Looking for height and hardiness
Viburnum, pretty, grows fast and thick and has white little flowers in the spring.

[cj1040]

We covered our ti plant with an old pillow case slit up one side, not the croton. We do cover our oyster plants and our bromiliads with an old sheet.

[coconutmama]

Viburnum, pretty, grows fast and thick and has white little flowers in the spring.

Another vote for Viburnum

[Oneiric]

We have many Crotons in our front yard for years. A beautifully colored plant, they do not tolerate freezes well. Without coverage this Saturday night, they will definitely die. We are going to water the ground, then cover each with mulch and a black plastic bag and keep our fingers crossed. Fortunately they are very inexpensive to replace.

[christiewright]

I have been told and read that certain plants are not hardy enough to survive here yet I see them everywhere. I am particularly interested in Ti Plants and Crotons. What has been your experience with these two plants? Does everyone cover them when it gets frosty? I haven't seen many Ti Plants covered recently yet they seem to survive the low temperatures and look great. Any tips?

My Ti’s are doing great. I cut off branches and plant them everywhere. They grow like crazy and add a lot of color. I wouldn’t plant in this weather but when it warms up…GO FOR IT!

[Vernon Hud]

Do not cover with plastic.

[Calisport]

Podocarpus. Plant them 2’ apart

I had podocarpus at the fence of my old backyard. In 10 years they grow to 25 feet and are a trimming nightmare. But if they are in an area you don't care about then yes they produce privacy.

[Djean1981]

I have been researching the same - how to disguise the wall. It will be a fun project. As of now, I'm leaning toward the Sky Pencil Holly. It only grows 6-8' tall and 2-3' wide (our back strip of yard between the lanai and wall is not very wide). There are similar taller columinar varieties, but in the long run, I don't want the maintenance. I plan to plant them a few feet apart and then plant something flowery in between each (in a row in front of..) that attracts hummingbirds or butterflies. Then, I will make a slight wavy border with some decorative edging along the back length of our back wall and fill it with rock or tire mulch. Also, in one corner I will have the edging come out a bit further to include a bird bath. I will check with the arch approvals. If not approved, I'll just use large planters, versus planning in the ground (not preferred, but..)

[FromDC]

If your crotons get hit with frost, leave them alone until mid-March or so (last chance of frost). In March, look at the main stem. The top of the stem will be brown and the healthy, green stem will be towards the bottom. Just cut off the brown part of the stem and the plant will regrow nicely.

No need to wack the plant down to the ground.

[Tvflguy]

If in doubt-cover. Just did mine incl 4 crotons. Geez. It was cold out there with the wind etc. despite the nice sun.

[Carla B]

We had 3 large crotons in pots on the lanai and they got so big they needed to be put in the ground, which we did. The first year they were in the ground they froze, about four years ago. Now we have three more in pots and they are happy to have been moved indoors for this cold spell.

Otherwise, they give a lot of joy and color for little trouble. Don't seem to be bothered by pests. When they are thirsty, the leaves droop but perk up shortly when they are watered.

[DAVES]

Viburnum, pretty, grows fast and thick and has white little flowers in the spring.

Viburnum is actually a group of plants. We have whatever Viburnum whatever variety that was put in by the builder and they are roughly 9 years old. They are tough as nails. I cut them about every month or two. I used to do it with hand shears. A quality electric one or gas if you watch too much tool time, is faster and easier. We have them on the north side, south side and west side of our home and they all do fine.

[MDLNB]

I have several Hawaiian ti plants and they have been severely damaged during the winter freeze. BUT, I cut the freeze dead off of them and now they are thicker and more beautiful than ever. Almost everything I have that has been damaged by the cold have come back and anything that hasn't come back was easy to replace. I don't bother covering anything.