Welcome To Texas! (Part 2)

 

 

East Texas winters are a rollercoaster. One week it’s 70°F, the next we’re scraping frost off the windshield. Tropical plants like Bananas, Elephant Ears, Tropical Hibiscus and others aren’t built for this. Their leaves suffer below 32°F, and the crown (the part just above the roots) can die if it freezes solid. But with a little prep, you can help them bounce back come spring.
 
 

Bananas (Musa)

 

• Let the first freeze do its thing. Don’t panic when the leaves turn brown. That’s normal. After the first hard freeze, cut the plant back to about 12 inches above the ground.
 

• Mulch like you mean it. Pile up at least 12 inches of mulch—leaves, straw, pine needles—over the crown. This insulates the root system and gives the plant a fighting chance to regrow in spring if we experience a cold winter.
 

• Container plants need extra help. If your banana is in a pot, it’s more vulnerable. Move it indoors or into a garage where temps stay above freezing. The soil temperature in the container will be about 20°F lower than ground soil. Water just enough to keep the soil barely moist.
 

• Spring Comeback: Patience Pays Off If you’ve protected the crown, your banana should send up new shoots once the soil warms. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while – East Texas springs can be slow to settle. By late April or May they’ll reward you with fast growth.
 
 

Tropical Hibiscus:

These flowering beauties won’t make it unless brought inside, into a green house or enclosed garage.
 

• Protect before the first frost. It cannot survive freezing temperatures. In East Texas, where winters can dip below 32°F unexpectedly, overwintering strategies are essential.
 

• Timing: Move indoors before the first frost—usually late October to early November in East Texas.
 

• Location: Indoors – choose a sunny window with at least 4–6 hours of light. A south-facing window is ideal. Or move it into a greenhouse for protection. Or move into an enclosed garage on days and nights under 55°F.
 

• Pruning: Prune before binging in to reduce stress and size.
 

• Not sure if yours is tropical or hardy? Not sure if yours is tropical or hardy? Tropical hibiscus has glossy leaves and blooms in bright colors like orange, pink, and yellow. Hardy hibiscus has larger, matte leaves and large blooms in reds, whites, and pinks—and can survive East Texas winters in the ground.
 
 

Elephant Ears (Colocasia, Alocasia):

These flowering beauties won’t make it unless brought inside, into a green house or enclosed garage.
 

• If it’s a hardy variety, treat them similarly to bananas – cut back and mulch heavily.
 

• If not a hardy variety, they will usually not survive a winter outdoors. Treat them like a hardy hibiscus if you want to save them.
 

• Location: Indoors – choose a sunny window with at least 4–6 hours of light. A south-facing window is ideal. Or move it into a greenhouse for protection. Or move into an enclosed garage on days and nights under 55°F.
 

You will discover that gardening in East Texas is a dance with the weather. Tropical plants can thrive here, but they need a little winter TLC. If you’re new to the area, don’t let the first freeze scare you—just grab your pruners, mulch pile, and you’ll do just fine.