ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014\u00a0As Central Florida continues to deal with the aftermath of cold snaps, drought conditions and burn bans, some outdoor events could be feeling the impact. That includes one popular spring tradition that draws thousands each year.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
Cold snaps and drought conditions are impacting Central Florida growers ahead of the annual plant sale
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Vendors say greenhouse heating helped protect plants but cost thousands of dollars and slowed growth
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State agriculture officials estimate more than $3 billion in losses statewide due to recent freezes
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The Harry P. Leu Gardens plant sale is set for March 14 and 15, and is expected to feature more than 40 vendors<\/p>\n
At Harry P. Leu Gardens, spring usually means rows of vibrant blooms and vendors ready to sell out. But after weeks of cold weather and ongoing drought conditions across Central Florida, this year\u2019s annual plant sale<\/a> comes with a few more question marks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe specialize in exotic tropical ferns and foliage a lot of that can be generalized what you would consider house plants,” said Matt Roberts, general manager of Central Florida Ferns and Foliage.<\/p>\n Roberts says they\u2019ve been participating in Leu Gardens\u2019 plant sale for 15 years. Much of their inventory is protected inside greenhouses.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re able to heat all the plants during the cold weather,\u201d said Roberts.<\/p>\n He says greenhouses help shield delicate plants from frost, but that protection comes at a cost.<\/p>\n \u201cAn estimate across those three to four days for heating is probably close to $12,000. The only issue we have is it just slows the process down of the plants,\u201d said Roberts.<\/p>\n Even when plants survive the cold, growers say the real impact isn\u2019t always visible right away. Slower growth means smaller inventory, and that can affect how much vendors are able to sell. For small vendors, plant sales aren\u2019t just community events. they\u2019re critical revenue streams heading into the busy spring season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s our biggest event in general,\u201d said Jennifer D\u2019Hollander, executive director of Harry P. Leu Gardens. \u201cWe protected the most vulnerable plants, we tried to protect our annuals, we brought in all of out containers.”<\/p>\n D\u2019Hollander says most of their tropical plants, like palm trees, were damaged from the cold.<\/p>\n Across Central Florida, drought stress and back-to-back chilly mornings have damaged inventory not just locally, but across the state.<\/p>\n