Ok, tropical weeds like what you're seeing will virtually stop growing around now, and not start up until maybe March. All the tropical stuff are "divas" and like it warm day and night, so as soon as the nights are cool, I like to say "the weeds slow down and the gardeners speed up".
The opposite happens in summer, so my weeds get totally out of hand "the gardeners slow down and the weeds speed up" in the heat of summer. I can manage maybe 10 minutes a few times a day outside, as long as I stay in the shade, or work early morning or evenings when the breeze comes in. Then jump in the pool to cool down.
For tropical look containers, try some Elephant Ears. They'll give you gorgeous foliage all year round (although they do slow down in winter) and they come in some absolutely amazing colors and variegations.
For containers in spring, get some gingers - the Hedychiums have lovely fragrant flowers and some have beautiful colored foliage as well. Both these are easy care, and don't have a lot of pests but do need lots of water in warm weather. They both like shade in the afternoons, so east side of a structure or tree is a good place.
