How Cold Can House Plants Tolerate

Like all living things, houseplants have specific temperature requirements. In order for them to survive and thrive, these must be met. Most plants prefer a temperature of no less than 60° F, though many can tolerate as low as 40° F.

What temperature is too cold for potted plants?

Potted plants can withstand colder temperatures than plants that are grown in the ground, but there is a point where it becomes too cold for them. Once the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, potted plants will start to experience damage. This includes wilting, leaf drop, and slow growth.

Is 35 degrees too cold for house plants?

As a general rule, 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2° Celsius) will not hurt cold-hardy plants. However, tropical, subtropical, and young plants will likely suffer cold damage. It is better to cover & secure all plants with burlap or fleece to prevent frost as a precaution.

Will 45 degrees hurt plants?

Cold weather, even if it doesn't drop below freezing, can harm cold-sensitive plants. Freezes are rare, but frosts can occur at above-freezing temperatures. Even temperatures at 45 degrees for more than several hours can harm some tropical orchids.

When should I bring my indoor plants inside?

When nighttime temperatures start to dip consistently to around 50°F, it's time to bring plants back indoors. Most houseplants are native to tropical areas and will not tolerate freezing temperatures.

Is 45 degrees too cold for houseplants?

Most houseplants are tropicals and prefer temperatures between 65-75°F during the day and about 10 degrees cooler at night. For many plants, temperatures below 50°F can cause problems.

Should I cover my plants at 45 degrees?

Our recommendation would be to remove the cold protection covering once temperatures are above 32 degrees. If you leave the covering on when it gets warm and the sun is shining brightly, it may get too hot inside the cover and stress out the plants.

How do you keep indoor plants alive in the winter?

5 Tips to Revitalize and Keep Houseplants Alive in Winter

1. Cut back the water (and the fertilizer for that matter) Yellow leaves?
2. Give your plant a bath. ...
3. Seal up those windows. ...
4. Shine the light. ...
5. Wait on re-potting, but don't be afraid to prune.

Is 50 degrees too cold for potted plants?

You have to remember that most common houseplants are tropical, and a lot of them are extremely sensitive to temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Some will start dying the second the temps dip, but others can regenerate from healthy roots below the soil even if the top part of the plant is completely frozen.

Is 46 degrees too cold for houseplants?

Most houseplants should be brought in when the outside temperature goes below 45 F. Tropical plants are more sensitive so bring them inside when the temperature is 50 F or below.

Is 42 degrees too cold for house plants?

I did some research and found out that houseplants need to be taken indoors before overnight temperatures dip below 45 degrees. Most tropical plants suffer harm from temperatures below 40 degrees.

At what temperature should you cover your plants at night?

Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants. Cover plants before dark to trap warmer air.

What plants need to be covered at 40 degrees?

Semi-hardy cool-season crops (beets, carrots, Swiss chard, lettuce, cauliflower, potatoes, parsley) grow in minimum daytime temperatures of 40 degrees and higher. They cannot withstand hard frost without some kind of covering or protection.

When should I cover my potted plants?

One way or another, when a warm spell during winter is forecast to be followed by a cold snap, make sure to protect not only the pot and the roots but also the top of the plant. Cover plants with plastic film, burlap, blankets or other cloth material at night.

Will plants freeze in garage?

The primary reason for storing potted plants in a garage is to protect them from adverse outside conditions. A garage's temperature tends to hover between 40 to 50 all winter. This is the reason why plants remain dormant but never freeze.

Should you sleep in a room full of plants?

It's totally true that many houseplants do this. But the reality is that the amount of Carbon Dioxide released and Oxygen absorbed is minimal (figures will be given and explained a little later). This means that it's absolutely safe to have plants in your bedroom.

What should I spray on my plants before bringing them inside?

If you're wondering how to debug plants before bringing them in the house, look no further than insecticidal soap. It's one of the easiest solutions for debugging houseplants, as well as outdoor garden plants.

Do indoor plants need direct sunlight or just light?

Plants that require full sun must grow outdoors and receive many hours of direct sunlight each day. Houseplants are a different story. The light inside your house does not compare to the intensity of direct sunlight outdoors. Nonetheless, many indoor plants manage just fine with indirect sunlight.

How do you know if your house plants are too cold?

Leaves curling over and turning brown are signs your plant's too cold.

Can house plants survive at 55 degrees?

By lowering the temperature in your home while you are away, the plants will use less water. Most plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 50 to 55 degrees for this time. Lower temperatures reduce plant water use and will extend the time between irrigations.