With temperatures dipping into the 30s, Wigert's Bonsai is working to protect its delicate plants from the cold snap.
Crews at Wigert's Bonsai are moving hundreds of trees indoors to prevent damage from the freezing temperatures. The nursery's office assistant, Angela Lorino, emphasized the importance of this effort.
"These trees, they're not just worth an amount of money, they're years of styling and labor and ramification that just it would be a huge, huge loss if we were to lose, I mean, really, any of them," said Lorino.
The drop in temperatures can cause harm to root systems, leaves, and new growth, making it crucial for the nursery to act quickly. Lorino explained their unique process for preparing for the cold.
"We have very tropical bonsai trees here, so we need to do whatever we can to get them out of the cold," said Lorino.
The nursery uses an irrigation system that runs all night, allowing water to freeze over the trees. This process keeps the stems warm, ensuring the trees' survival.
"The water freezes to a point in which the stems closest to the branches actually stay warm because the water under the ice is warm and it keeps the tree alive," said Lorino.
Stephen Fugii, a visitor to the nursery, came to witness the freezing process firsthand.
"We're down in Fort Myers, visiting my mom, and I follow this nursery on Instagram, and saw the last time that they froze the trees to keep them warm. And thought this would be really cool, especially with the cold spell coming, so we wanted to come check it out," said Fugii.
Workers spent the day moving trees into covered areas and greenhouses, a task that Lorino described as a major undertaking.
"It's definitely a huge process to move each one of these trees inside. So it's all hands on deck," said Lorino. "I thought we were out of the woods a few weeks ago, but it turns out we're not. So I'm really hoping that this time is the last time."
With temperatures expected to rise later in the week, the team at Wigert's Bonsai hopes their efforts will keep the trees thriving.
