by Lauren Goldsby | Dec 13, 2024
UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones
Many of us experienced our first freezing temperatures in the Panhandle last week. As we welcome winter, here are some helpful resources to prepare your plants when temperatures dip in the months ahead:
Frost in the Panhandle? Practical Tips for Protecting Your Garden
Cold Protection of Landscape Plants EDIS
One tip you’ll often see in these recommendations is to water your plants before a freeze. At first, this might seem counterintuitive, but wet soil can actually help your plants weather freezing temperatures for several reasons.
Soil naturally has small pockets of air. UF/IFAS Photography: Tyler Jones.
Water’s ability to absorb and hold heat—known as high specific heat—makes it a powerful tool against cold stress. Dry soil contains air spaces that don’t hold heat well. By watering your soil, you replace those air pockets with water, which absorbs more heat during the day and releases it slowly at night. This helps keep the soil and roots warmer than the surrounding air. Covering plants with sheets and frost cloth can help trap this warmth around the plants.
Dehydration from freeze damage can make leaf tissue look similar to drought stress. UF/IFAS Photo by Cat Wofford
Beyond heat retention, water also reduces the effects of cold stress. Both freezing and drought conditions cause plant cells to lose water, leading to dehydration. Water is essential for many plant functions including photosynthesis, nutrient transport, and maintaining structural support of the plant. Good water availability within the plant before the freeze helps reduce the water stress associated with cold damage. However, watering right after a freeze will not provide the same benefits because root activity slows in the cold weather.
For best results, water the soil in the morning before a freeze, focusing on the soil, rather than the leaves, as wet leaves are more prone to freeze damage. During fall and winter, plants generally require less frequent watering, so check the soil moisture before watering to avoid overwatering. Standing water can harm roots and increase stress on the plant.
Get familiar with your soil by checking moisture level before you water. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones
by Lauren Goldsby | Dec 5, 2024
In recent months, I’ve noticed an increasing number of AI-generated plant photos being shared on social media. These posts feature plants that seem to have stepped out of a dream rather than a garden—orchids shaped like cats, elephant ears as tall as your house, and neon-colored variegated plants.
What is an AI generated photo? An AI, or artificial intelligence, generated photo is made using a computer program instead of being captured by a camera. These programs can produce images based on a user’s description or request, generating realistic or abstract photos. Scroll through the comments on these images and you’ll see a mix of reactions. Some love the photos, asking where they can find these plants. Others are quick to point out that they aren’t real. For the most part, these images are harmless fun, sparking creativity and potentially inspiring people to spend more time outdoors with their own plants.
This image was generated with the assistance of AI. Exceptionally large flowering plants do exist, but the varying leaf and flower sizes in this photo point to the use of editing or AI.
However, these AI-generated photos are also being used to market seeds and cuttings that do not actually exist. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of discovering a new plant you’ve never seen. To avoid being scammed online, look out for these signs of AI-generated photos.
AI-generated photos may look quite real at first glance, but a closer inspection often reveals common flaws.
- Unnatural details: Look for leaves growing into each other, flowers without stems, and other gravity defying traits. These are common errors made in computer generated images. Some images may show plants to be much larger than they appear in nature.
This image was generated with the assistance of AI. The flower on top seems to grow right into the leaf below.
- Blurred backgrounds: Close up shots with blurry backgrounds are frequently used in these listings. This blurring is used to hide inconsistencies and reduce the visibility of errors in these photos.
- Inconsistent photos: Check all photos in the listing for similarities and differences. Large differences between photos in the same listing could point to the use of AI. Plants shown below appear to be similar at first glance but show leaves with different shapes and color patterns. These leaves would not be found on the same plant.
These images were generated with the assistance of AI. Note the green outline in one leaf and red outline in the other.
In real plants, leaf shapes and patterns are typically similar but not identical. AI-generated plant photos often have leaves and patterns that are either identical or differ more than a living plant would. To help differentiate between real and AI-generated images, watch for repetitive patterns that appear perfect, or identical on leaves. In nature, there are subtle differences within patterns and shapes that we expect to see.
This image was generated with the assistance of AI. All the leaves look identical here, in living plants we expect subtle differences and natural looking growth.
Before purchasing, search for more information about the advertised plant.
- Check for reputable vendors: If no other trusted vendors are selling it, it’s likely not real. Search for additional listings and compare descriptions and photos.
- Look for botanical names: The botanical name can be used to find out more information about the advertised plant.
- Use trusted sources: Avoid using social media and other unreliable sources to get more information on these plants. The Ask IFAS search engine can connect you with current Extension publications.
Still unsure?
If you’re uncertain, reach out to your local Extension office for guidance.
by Lauren Goldsby | Oct 17, 2024
Orange chrysanthemum flowers in bloom. Photo credit: Lauren Goldsby
It feels like everywhere you turn, chrysanthemums are the star of the show right now. These hardy blooms offer a bounty of fall color to your front porch and seasonal decorations, making them a go-to favorite for sprucing up your space.
We typically see mums offered at garden centers and supermarkets this time of year, with their fall hues of yellow, burgundy, orange, and purple. But here’s the secret: as a perennial plant, mums can do so much more than just serve as a short-lived decoration. With the right care, they can become a permanent part of your landscape, blooming year after year and keeping that fall feeling alive long after the season ends.
To enjoy your mums for more than a few weeks follow these tips!
It’s ok to be picky
When shopping, look for mums with buds that have just started to open and show a hint of color. This ensures you’re choosing the color you want while also increasing the time you can enjoy the flowers at home.
Flowers just starting to open on a chrysanthemum. Photo credit: Lauren Goldsby
Water wisely
While temperatures are cooling down, don’t let that fool you into thinking your mums don’t need regular watering. The middle of the day can still bring heat and producing flowers is energy intensive for the plant. Be sure to check the top inch of soil regularly. If it feels dry, it’s time to water! Mums in full sun may require daily watering but try to avoid getting water on the leaves—this helps prevent pathogens from spreading.
Make room for more bloom
Once flowers have bloomed and begin to fade, it’s important to remove them—this is called deadheading. By trimming away the spent blooms, you’re helping the plant conserve energy and encouraging more new buds to grow. Plus, it keeps the plant looking neat and tidy!
Don’t toss them
When it’s time to make space for poinsettias, simply move your mums to a sunny spot in the yard. Mums can be kept in their containers or planted in the ground. If you’re planting them in the ground and have sandy soil, amend with compost. In late spring, when flowering has ended, prune off the top 2 inches of growth. You can propagate mums by taking vegetative cuttings or dividing the plants.
If you love the look of mums, check out these other plants in the Asteraceae family, many of which are native to Florida. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/asters/
