MIAMI — South Florida nurseries are rushing to protect their plants as a rare cold snap threatens temperatures not seen since 2010, when significant cold damage devastated inventory across the region.

At Sunset Nursery, a 10-acre operation that has been in business for 18 years off Southwest 72nd Street in Miami, employees worked quickly to shield plants from the cold. Plants are the nursery’s merchandise, and without them, owners say, there is no business.

“You can see it’s already has some cold damage,” said nursery owner Rocio Orellana as she walked through rows of plants.

From vibrant orchids to tropical staples like heliconia’s, some plants are especially vulnerable.

“The Heliconia’s are the weakest ones of all the plants. They get damage pretty easy,” Orellana said.

With temperatures expected to drop into the low 30s, workers used zip ties, plastic and roofing materials to cover plants in an all-hands-on-deck effort.

“If we don’t cover the plants, we lose the plants — we lose all the inventory,” Orellana said. “If we lose the merchandise we have no business.”

Orellana said most of the nursery’s plants can withstand temperatures in the 50s, but anything below that can cause damage.

“We’re going to cover up pretty much everything that we can. The temperature is going down around 32-33,” she said.

Preparations included covering smaller plants with plastic to trap warmth and fully enclosing entire rows.

“A lot of these plants we put the plastic on top to have some warm inside,” Orellana said.

Prospective buyers are also taking note.

Peggy Jordao, who spoke to Local 10 after purchasing plants, said the cold weather is unusual for South Florida.

“They are so not use to this cold weather,” Jordao said. “But it’s been a while I think a few years ago we had a cold thing and I have a makeshift greenhouse in my backyard. You do have to take precautions.”

Orellana said watering plants ahead of the cold snap is critical and offered advice for homeowners.

“If you have sensitive plants you can bring it in, especially orchids. If you can’t bring it in try to cover with a light blanket. If you have potted plants - bring it close to the house,” she said.

For trees, experts recommend watering to keep roots moist. Beyond that, growers say, preparation — and hoping for the best — may be all that can be done.

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