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How do I protect my tropical plants when it freezes?
With containers, just bring them inside or into a garage. If they've simply gotten too large to move, some gardeners take cuttings to start new plants for next year.
For tropicals in the ground: Even if it's not freezing yet, you want to be ready to throw a blanket or even a sheet over as temperatures drop at night. Check online for how low a temperature your tropical specimen can withstand.
Make sure you don't use something like plastic, and make sure you don't leave it on during the day when temps are high during the day. Put it on as late as possible before dark, and take it off first thing the next morning.
Again, avoid plastic because it creates a moist situation. Most likely the leaves will touch the plastic, too, unless you prop it up somehow, and that will create a situation where fungi and molds can really take off and damage your leaves.
If you do see any burned areas after the frost has occurred on your tropical plants, normally you can just shear that part back in spring and the plant will respond and grow in response to that pruning.
For many plants that are possibly cold tender, be sure to mulch their roots too.
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