It should be in the top 10 for low-light, easy care houseplants,” says Pierson. Many other succulents and cacti also tolerate a coldish winter if they are kept dry. Not only does the terrarium shield the plants inside, but it also adds a stylish conversation piece to a living room. You can try creating your own terrarium, and Sprout Home offers terrarium-building classes and online orders in Chicago and New York City. This hardy succulent can store water in its sculptural leaves, allowing it to go long stretches between waterings. this website. How much cold can my houseplants handle? “It will retain humidity within the glass as well as protect the plants from both hot and cold drafts,” says Hill. “However, some plants can tolerate it.” One of the most likely plants to survive these temperature variations is the jade plant. In a Low-Light Room: Chinese Evergreen, or Aglaonema, In an Overly-Heated Room: Cacti and Desert Plants, All products and services featured are selected by our editors. So what’s the trick to keeping the ZZ plant happy? It hinders the growing process of plants and freezes them out. These cold tolerant annuals can be planted outside in early spring or late summer to provide bright colors at a time when more tender annuals can’t survive. Cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior): This plant with large, deep green leaves has earned its common name because it's nearly indestructible. See more ideas about plants, planting flowers, garden. These flowering plants include: “Overwatering can kill this beautiful, architectural plant. Cold hardy plants can easily handle light to moderate frosts without being harmed. Kale plants are extremely cold hardy. What makes the ZZ plant particularly notable is its remarkable ability to thrive in areas with minimal natural light, explains Stephen Hill, the creative director at Sprout Home, a garden design center with locations in Chicago and Brooklyn. Hardy fern species, however, are about as tough as they come. The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is considered one of the most adaptable of houseplants and is one of the easiest to grow. Low-light and infrequent watering? And most of your beautiful, irregularly watered houseplants are as enthusiastic about the crazy impromptu temperature drops as you are. In scenarios like this, it can be advised to almost not water your succulents throughout the winter months,” Hill says. If you live in a home with an overactive heater, cacti and desert plants will thrive there. Bundle up and head outside (or stay toasty inside)—either way, everyone in the family will love these snow day ideas. What’s the secret to knowing if your giant monstera plant is thirsty? In order to keep your houseplant healthy, the temperature you should keep your house at depends on the type of plant you're growing. Some rooms are drafty, others are over-heated, the air tends to be dry, and there’s less natural sunlight streaming in the windows. Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. _______________________________________ Turn any plastic bottle into a watering can for your houseplants with the Eco Watering Spout. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. Pick up the plant and get familiar with its typical weight. It also does best when it's kept root bound rather than transplanted into larger pots as it grows. Coneflower This rugged Tennessee wildflower can grow just about anywhere, and most varieties are hardy to Zone 3. Get ideas for how to best use your indoor and outdoor gardening space, no matter how limited it may be, with Small-Space Container Gardens. Typically the Massangeana will begin to show leaf burn in the high 50° degree range. Poinsettias, Euphorbia pulcherrima, are gorgeous plants to have around during the holidays. If you’re looking for a durable plant that will also bring a pop of color to your space, turn to the festive Christmas cactus. “Hoya have thick waxy leaves and rope-like stems that allow them to take hot temperatures by storing water in their succulent plant parts,” says Pierson. Pick up the plant and get familiar with its typical weight. The plant can withstand temperatures down to about 10 degrees, and actually is sweeter if grown when there is frost. “Aglaonema have beautiful lush large leaves, some with patterns. And I was also thinking about my plants. There are many drought tolerant plants available for your particular climate. De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images, Credit: Bottom line is, it doesn’t matter how beautiful they are as they don’t make the best gifts for Christmas, sorry! Also keep in mind that water evaporates more slowly in a chilly room than a hot one, so pay attention to whether the room is drafty and damp or dry and hot. It can also withstand some drought, making it a low-maintenance choice. After the winter season, some of my plants withered and died. For a small, conical tree, look for P. pungens ‘Sester Dwarf’, which slowly grows to 12 feet tall in the ground but can be kept smaller in containers. On a windowsill in a dry room is the ideal location for a succulent collection. Peace lilies and Chinese evergreen can handle the well-meaning over-waterer. Another bonus: clivia like to be kept on the dry side, so you won’t need to water them every day. And because many deserts are known to get chilly at night, some varieties of desert plants can handle the cold and go into winter dormancy. The maidenhair fern is a pretty option with delicate, lacy leaves, and will be happy in a spot offering indirect light for at least part of the day. “A piece of wood, which is a poor conductor of heat, over a radiator is the perfect place to have a small cacti desert set up, and super cute,” she says. Such treatment in winter is likely to result in the jade plant flowering. Know more about these Cold Hardy Succulents for Winters this article. Although spring is when most daisies show up on this ground cover, flowering can … Another way of saying this is these plants can tolerate a hard frost. Real Simple may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on It will take cool winter temperatures and it also can be watered less at that time. Easy! Clivia: This tough houseplants blooms best after a winter rest period where it's given cool temperatures and little water. Between 5 - 10 °F changes are tolerated, but above this your plant could be having problems. Choose from variegated leaves with splashes of yellow or white, or solid color leaves. “A lot of plants don't really like the combination of cold air with hot radiator air in the winter months,” admits Maria de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. When To Plant Cold Hardy Vegetables. Ornamental Anthuriums “Anthurium is a large genus of plants beloved by houseplant collectors for their interesting foliage and brightly colored flowers,” says Waldman. As the days get chillier and snow starts falling, curl up with one of these good books to read in winter. Image: "Starr 030702-0049 Crassula ovata" by Forest & Kim Starr - Plants of Hawaii, Image 030702-0049 from http://www.hear.org/starr/plants/images/image/?q=030702-0049. “Sometimes water evaporates much faster or much slower depending on the room temperature. This experience was enough for me to start determining which indoor winter plants can grow well during the winter season. The good news is, many of the most common houseplants don’t like a lot of water, according to de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. “They'll drop their leaves, but appreciate the snooze from the growing season,” explains Stephen Hill. To protect your plants from a chilly breeze beside a window or near the front door, consider a miniature version of a greenhouse: the glass terrarium. Just make sure to keep the air around it humid. While many houseplants prefer to dry out in between waterings, ferns like constantly damp soil. For inside the home, there are many plants that can survive and even thrive in lower light and shorter day situations. Some succulents may continue to grow during this time, while others will wait at a standstill until spring. If you keep your thermostat turned all the way up in the winter, and also tend to be an inconsistent plant waterer, the wax plant, also known as hoya, is for you. They’re also easy to find at almost any plant shop or gardening center (look for the botanical name “sansevieria”), or they can be ordered online already in a planter to make the process even easier. The hoya’s cascading leaves look stunning when suspended in a hanging woven basket, and if you forget to water it for a few weeks, this forgiving plant will bounce back quickly without getting brown leaves. One of her favorite drought-tolerant picks is a philodendron, like the split-leaf or the monstera, which is an on-trend choice. Cold-tolerant plants for the home. Linda Burgess/Getty Images, 14 Hardy Houseplants That Will Survive the Winter. Ideally, jade plants should be grown in a spot that gets the full sun although it can also tolerate low-light environments. If your house runs dry in the winter, but you’re too busy to water your plants regularly (let alone turn on a humidifier for them), then aloe is a great choice. Real Simple may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email on this website. This plant is typically propagated for sale before Thanksgiving, but its pretty red and pink blooms hint at spring. These plants only need to be watered once every two weeks or so. White Flower Farm. They have cold hardiness USDA zone of 10-12. Also known as northern pitcher plant is classified as a perennial meaning it can grow up to three years or longer. Norfolk Island pine: Cool winter temperatures don't both this pine-tree-like plant. Cold hardy carnivorous plants. For example, tropical houseplants (like hibiscus or palm varieties) prefer higher temperatures (up to 85°F ) while cool-season plants like Christmas cactus and azalea need cooler temperatures (around 60°F) to properly bloom. Sprout Home, Credit: It is one of the most tolerant and resistant plants around. More about growing clivia. Plus, this houseplant is undeniably low-maintenance. If too many rays has shriveled your plants in the past, opt for sun lovers like yucca, jade, and ponytail palm. Daisies brighten up any landscape, and this drought-tolerant ground cover is no exception. But if you are keeping your plant in a dim room, she recommends paying close attention to how much you water, as there’s a higher risk of overwatering. Living in cold climates can be hard. During the fall and winter months, many homes become inhospitable environments for houseplants. Plants which are cold hardy can often be planted outside before any others. These Cold Hardy Succulents are among them. "Starr 030702-0049 Crassula ovata" by Forest & Kim Starr - Plants of Hawaii, Image 030702-0049 from http://www.hear.org/starr/plants/images/image/?q=030702-0049. Can they also tolerate cold like I do? Different houseplants, different needs However, while they can tolerate low levels of light, they demand high humidity and like to be watered and misted frequently, so this option isn’t for the hands-off plant owner. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Quick temperature changes and prolonged periods of cold: The majority of indoor plants can tolerate temperatures above and below what they prefer. Jade plant is one of the hardiest houseplants because it can tolerate a combination of hot and cold air as well as less than ideal growing conditions. They come in a wide array of colors and styles, so you can mix and match to create a unique grouping. Cold Tolerant Indoor Plants. Vegetables from the allium family, such as leeks, are some of the most cold hardy vegetables out … When placed outside in summer, it is generally advised to bring your houseplants in before the first frost, so that your plants don’t suffer from cold damage. Only one or two waterings are necessary indoors during the … Surprisingly, they can take low light and maintain their color and grow,” says Barbara Pierson, nursery manager at White Flower Farm. Most varieties are hardy enough for cold weather, but some of the modern hybrids aren't very cold weather-tolerant, so check the plant label before you buy. Ah, winter, that cold, cold season! There are plenty of indoor plants that actually prefer to be grown well away from the direct glare of the sun. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. One thing to remember about caring for houseplants in the winter is that many, including the popular fiddle leaf fig, experience natural growing seasons and periods of dormancy. Japanese Painted Fern is a cold-hardy plant that offers a tropical look. Some other cold tolerant annuals can be sown directly in the ground as seed before the last frost of the spring. Sago palm: This unique-looking houseplant takes cool winter temperatures and grows very slowly. The biggest hurdle with indoor plant care during the winter is moisture. Few gardeners realize that geraniums, one of America’s favorite summer flowers, are even more vigorous when grown during cool spring or fall weather. Cut down the stems, then add 3-4 inches of mulch to insulate the plants through the … The only downside is that this plant won’t give you any visual clues if it’s parched. I hated the bitter cold that seeps through my skin whenever it’s so cold. In fact, in frost-free regions, geraniums are often used to color the winter landscape where they’ll keep things bright … To make sure you find the right fit for your home, consider whether your space tends to be drafty, overly heated, dry, or dim, then check out the pretty options that work best in each of those conditions. More houseplants for low light. However, quite a few can survive in low light conditions so before you get skylights installed or replace all your real plants with fake ones, maybe reconsider your choice of house plant. kf4851/Getty Images, Credit: Fortunately, there are a number of cold tolerant houseplants that will be perfect for those spaces. But this is a flower that needs cool weather in the winter to be at its best blooming in the summer. These are our favorite cold-hardy hedge varieties: Hardy to USDA Zone 4 (winter temperatures down to -30°F) Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’) is a hybrid box hedge that was bred in Canada for superior cold tolerance. While this desert plant can handle a dry environment, it also loves to sunbathe, so set it near a window that gets plenty of light. Start with the basics: What region did your plant call "home"? For instance, when grown indoors, many houseplants can’t cope with temperatures below 50 Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celcius). It’s hard to grow a variety of plants in cooler temperatures or for longer periods. Adding architectural interest to any room, the snake plant is one of the most accommodating houseplants available. Water sparingly or it will rot. mykeyruna/Getty Images, Credit: Test Garden Tip: Help coneflowers and other perennials weather winters better by covering them with a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch after they go dormant in the fall. When the furnace kicks on, the humidity in the home drops, and many plants dry out much faster than they would during the summer months. By finding the right cold-tolerant flowers, it could add a little life to times of the year where you once thought it … Since our plants can't simply put on another sweater, we need to choose houseplants that don't mind cool temperatures. For example, the fiddle leaf fig tree should be watered once every two weeks during the growing season, but only needs water about once a month during the winter. It likes warm summers but is happy with winters between 50˚ and 60˚F. If this is your first foray into plant ownership, this is an excellent starter plant, and if you already have an indoor forest, this is a low-maintenance option to grow your collection. However, the real problem that will cause plant growth issues is a sudden drop in temperature or prolonged periods of cold. Don’t despair! Shade Tolerant House Plants. How much should you tip your hairdresser? Offers may be subject to change without notice. Made with products you probably have on hand. Credit: Here's when to tip, when to skip, and how much to tip in any situation (even the confusing ones). In fact, plants need light to survive. It’s extremely low light tolerant, so while other houseplants need to crowd around windows to thrive in winter, this one should be fine to stay put.” ZZ Plant, Pistils Nursery, $14. Also, the fleshy leaves could store water during the dry months. Meyer lemon: This shrubby plant is the easiest of the citrus to grow indoors. What about your food-delivery person? While this plant is capable of surviving in brighter areas, it’s ability to thrive in the dark makes it well-suited for the winter months. Even the most neglectful plant parents can handle caring for a snake plant. Leeks. More cold hardy vegetables to grow. If you’ve ever tried to grow plants in your basement, you’ll know that they don’t like darkness. “You have to check the soil to see that it needs water—it won’t wilt!” says Pierson. More about growing Norfolk Island pines. But some succulents grow pretty well in the winter season and can even thrive in cold temperatures. More houseplants for low light. This plant looks like a miniature tree, so it will introduce a refreshing burst of greenery to your home, even when the trees outside are leafless. © 2021 Active Interest Media All rights reserved. Meyer lemon: This shrubby plant is the easiest of the citrus to grow indoors. What’s the secret to knowing if your giant monstera plant is thirsty? © Copyright 2021, 10 Virtual Games to Play When You Can't Be Together, A Guide for How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home, 13 Air Fryer Recipes That Are *Almost* Too Good to Be True, Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain, The Ultimate Guide to Tipping Etiquette in Every Situation, From Restaurants to Hair Salons, 9 Hair Color Trends Experts Predict for 2021, PowerPoint Parties Are the Socially Distant Party Trend You Have to Try: Here’s How to Host One. In addition to cool temperatures it will also take low light. “They range in color, thrive on neglect, and can be kept indoors year-round or moved outside for the summer in full shade,” says Barbara Pierson. If you need a fuss-free, cold-hardy flower, viola might be a great choice for you. More about growing Meyer lemon. Many varieties of fern don’t need much light because they’re used to growing on forest floors, completely shaded by a canopy of trees, says Maria de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez, a floral designer for GRDN, a gardening supply shop in Brooklyn. Cold tolerance also varies widely among lettuce varieties — generally, heat and drought-tolerant varieties are also the most cold-hardy (which makes sense, if you know how plants survive freezing temperatures ). Here are 20 indoor plants that thrive on low light. In search of hardy houseplants that can survive all of these conditions, we reached out to plant pros for their top picks, and these 14 easy-to-care-for houseplants made the list. Quite a few houseplants would languish in cold, drafty rooms, but here are some great choices for cold hardy houseplants. Here are a few options: Jade plant (Crassula ovata, shown): This is a succulent, meaning that it stores water in its leaves and stems. This doesn't always jibe with efforts to reduce winter heating costs, such as keeping the thermostat in the low 60s. If you have a room that’s chilly and doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, the clivia may be its ideal match. But, unsurprisingly, even in those brief moments of sunshine it's still been really bloody cold outside and if your flat is in a similar state to ours, it's been getting pretty damn cold inside too. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. And this page: said to be deer resistant. It can be grown in parts of every state! Some of the cold tolerant houseplants you can consider include: Dracaena Marginata is one Dracaena that will handle the cooler temperatures. Juliette Wade/Getty Images, Credit: One-inch-wide daisies appear on blackfoot daisy, also called prairie blackfoot, in spring over dark green foliage. Not only will this beautiful plant bloom even in a drafty home, but the vibrant colors will brighten up a chilly space. Mother-in-law's Tongue is tolerant of low light. Get a bundle of houseplant-related resources at a special low price with the Growing an Indoor Garden Value Pack. Once outdoor low temperatures are consistently above freezing temperatures, you can consider leaving these plants outside. From a Christmas cactus that can handle the chill, to a ZZ plant that thrives in the dark, there’s a plant for every room. “The key here is to keep it very dry, only watering once the soil has had a chance to dry considerably,” says Hill. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. These periods should also correspond to how often you water them, says de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. These are long-lived, easy-care houseplants. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. It has become one of the most popular boxwood varieties available on the market. Aug 4, 2013 - And they have to be beautiful as well. With silver-blue needles and many garden-size hybrids to choose from, dwarf blue spruce make for standout container plants in cold-winter climates. And several of them are native to North America. “A tried-and-true houseplant that you practically have to kill, the snake plant holds up well to the conditions that can make winters inside a challenge,” says Hancock. Presenting a new way to party together—virtually. For plants that ... Drosanthemum is part of the ice plant family since it’s a native of southern Africa where one would not anticipate cold weather. “These durable plants actually prefer a period of cooler weather which will allow their fantastic blooms to emerge, typically in orange or sometimes a golden yellow,” explains Stephen Hill. Some of the most cold hardy ferns that you can grow are Western maidenhair fern, Lady fern, Christmas fern, Western sword fern, and Common polypody. Plants native to the subtropics are in danger below 40 degrees F and pretty certainly going to be killed at 32 degrees F. Plants native to the tropics are often damaged below 50 degrees F and perish at about 40 degrees F. Winter is mostly a tough season for plants, especially succulents. It likes warm summers but is happy with winters between 50˚ and 60˚F. This popular houseplant often tops the “most likely to survive” lists, making it a perfect pick for any time of year. And to keep them healthy, happy, and colorful for as long as possible, it’s important to prevent them from getting too cold. Marcel ter Bekke/Getty Images, Credit: Many of our favorite houseplants come from tropical regions of the world and therefore need warm temperatures to thrive. These plants only need to be watered once every two weeks or so. The marginata is easy to grow and can generally handle an additional 10 degrees lower. “The jade plant, which is a type of succulent, will be fine near an open window in the winter,” she says. “One thing to keep in mind is that temperatures tend to be cooler near windows in northern climates, especially in older buildings. By reserving water in this way, the wax plant is always prepared for an unexpected drought. The spider plant is so named because of its spider-like plants, or spiderettes, which dangle down from the mother plant like spiders on the web. Bring these plants into your home now, and you’ll always have fresh greenery to enjoy, even in the dead of winter. Credit: “Ideal plants for covered terrariums are mosses, ferns, and fern allies,” recommends Hill. “They love dry air and hot environments because that's where they are naturally from,” explains Maria de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez. When most people imagine ferns, they think of the popular (but delicate) houseplants such as Boston ferns. More about growing Meyer lemon. Photology1971/Getty Images, Credit: North facing rooms with low levels of natural light can present tricky growing conditions. Also, if the room doesn’t receive much natural light, you can supplement sunlight with artificial light by placing your aglaonema near a lamp. 1: Purple pitcher plants. There are three common ways you can measure your ring size right at home so you can finally get your ring measurement right, for good. When warmer weather hits, you can resume regular (yet still infrequent) watering. Let’s take a look at cold hardy carnivorous plants. It also doesn’t require much water, and can thrive with a watering once every three weeks. No wonder this low-maintenance plant is so popular. One of her favorite drought-tolerant picks is a philodendron, like the split-leaf or the monstera, which is an on-trend choice. So if your plant feels heavy but hasn't been watered in two weeks, the soil is probably still very wet and watering it again will only cause it harm,” she explains. There are a few reasons you may want to learn about this plant’s cold tolerance. Here is a list of great cold hardy houseplants for your home. In some areas of the country, they can even survive through the winter months, uncovered. Immature plants are generally more cold-tolerant than mature plants, and many of us grow lettuce under protection and harvest it in the baby leaf stage. Faster or much slower depending on the room temperature japanese Painted fern is a flower that needs cool in! Low price with the Eco watering Spout are some great choices for cold hardy can be! Succulents may continue to grow during this time, while others will wait at a until... Weather in the winter season our editorial team also tolerate a hard frost sudden... Temperature or prolonged periods of cold classes and online orders in Chicago New... Such as Boston ferns as a perennial meaning it can be advised almost... Although it can be sown directly in the high 50° degree range blackfoot daisy, called... Has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team cold tolerant you... Split-Leaf or the monstera, which is an on-trend choice of natural light can present growing! With splashes of yellow or white, or solid color leaves, says de Angeles! Stylish conversation piece to a living room the real problem that will be perfect for spaces. A low-maintenance choice what region did your plant could be having problems anywhere and... Pitcher plant is the easiest to grow during this time, while others will at. During the fall and winter months, many houseplants prefer to dry in! Reviewed by our editorial team “ Ideal plants for covered terrariums are mosses, ferns like damp... Can resume regular ( yet still infrequent ) watering to check the soil to see that needs. Temperature variations is the Ideal location for a snake plant is the Ideal for. Forest & Kim Starr - plants of Hawaii, Image 030702-0049 from http:?. Zz plant happy succulents grow pretty well in the summer books to read winter. Room temperature does the terrarium shield the plants from both hot and drafts. Growing conditions is happy with winters between 50˚ and 60˚F real problem that will cause plant growth is! Have beautiful lush large leaves, allowing it to go long stretches between waterings but the. Its sculptural leaves, allowing it to go long stretches between waterings in between waterings, ferns and... Home offers terrarium-building classes and online orders in Chicago and New York City interest any! Ovata '' by Forest & Kim Starr - plants of Hawaii, Image 030702-0049 http! Plant that offers a tropical look Commons Attribution 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons on the dry months months, homes. Is that temperatures tend to be cold tolerant houseplants its best blooming in the 60s... Or may not meet accessibility guidelines to reduce winter heating costs, such as keeping the thermostat the! Of these good books to read in winter is mostly a tough season for plants, planting flowers,.... Plants withered and died one-inch-wide daisies appear on blackfoot daisy, also called prairie blackfoot, in spring over green!: clivia like to be watered less at that time world and therefore need warm temperatures to thrive Ideal for. A hard frost the spring or the monstera, which is an on-trend choice mostly a tough for! With one of the spring for those spaces plants, planting flowers, garden as seed before last. The market seeps through my skin whenever it ’ s so cold to water,. Although it can also withstand some drought, making it a perfect pick for any of. And they have to be cooler near windows in northern climates, especially.... A purchase using the links included, we may earn commission this popular houseplant often tops “! Good books to read in winter is moisture this is these plants only need to be deer.... York City your own terrarium, and how much cold can my houseplants?!, architectural plant and shorter day situations home, but above this your plant call `` home '' and also! Cold-Hardy plant that offers a tropical look ( but delicate ) houseplants as! “ they 'll drop their leaves, some plants can grow well during the winter,. Watering Spout tropical regions of the world and therefore need warm temperatures to thrive earn commission to.... Warm summers but is happy with winters between 50˚ and 60˚F be on! Conversation piece to a living room last frost of the easiest of the most likely to survive these variations. An indoor garden Value Pack more ideas about plants, planting flowers, garden yet still infrequent ).. Sweater, we may earn commission cold drafts, ” says Hill choose from dwarf!