Four Houseplants You Didn’t Know Can Tolerate Cold Weather

With autumn weather passing quickly, we know it can be difficult to prepare our houseplants for lower light and even lower temperatures. Luckily, winter doesn’t have to mean that your plants will die or that your indoor jungle will start looking bare. These four houseplants are our best fits for houseplants able to tolerate low temperatures this fall and winter, sure to thrive in any household.

• Corn Plant / Dracaena Fragrans 

An indoor plant staple since the mid-1800’s, the corn plant is very hardy and can easily withstand cold weather. As long as temperatures do not fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, foliage will remain unharmed. This option is best for those wanting a “large and in charge” plant in their indoor (or outdoor) jungle, as the average corn plant measures in at 8 feet tall. Many varieties of dracaenas, in addition to corn plants, have proven to be the best at tolerating temperature drops. > SHOP

• ZZ Plant / Zamioculcas Zamiifolia 

Although the ZZ Plant is tropical, it can tolerate lower temperatures and drafty rooms year after year. In addition, ZZ plants show their appreciation in their foliage, even when neglected. Along with its beginner friendly qualities, the ZZ plant looks stunning with its glossy leaves and serves as a perfect fit for every environment. > SHOP

• Snake Plant / Sansevieria 

Also nicknamed “Mother in Law’s Tongue”, the snake plant is one of the most popular houseplants in good reason. Just like the ZZ plant, it seldom needs to be watered, it can tolerate even the darkest corner of a room, can be incorporated into outdoor landscaping, and is overall one of the most beginner friendly options. On top of all its best qualities, the snake plant can withstand cool temperatures and the dry weather than comes with the temperature drops of fall and winter. As an added bonus, the sansevieria has colorful varieties in lime green, yellow, black, and even silver. > SHOP

• Maidenhair Fern / Adiantum

Lastly, the lacy foliage of the maidenhair fern relies on low light so it does not scorch, making the maidenhair fern a fitting winter companion. In nature, these ferns grow on forest floors or in the shade next to waterfalls, so it welcomes low light conditions and is no stranger to low temperatures.

One thing to know before bringing a maidenhair fern into your home is that it needs high humidity in order to survive. Colder temperatures often means drier air, and turning on heaters in our homes dries out the air even more. We recommend having a humidifier near the maidenhair fern or making it at home in a bathroom, that way it can enjoy low light and bask in the humidity it needs.

Keep in mind that the best thing for our plants is to be patient. It is normal for houseplants, especially tropical plants, to slow down new growth during cold months. By keeping plants a few inches from drafty windows, considering adding LED grow lights, and lowering water and fertilizer intake, we will all get through the cold together!

Sources:

Barth, Brian, “Maidenhair Fern’, Love to Know. Web

https://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Maidenhair_Fern#:~:text=Evergreen%20Maidenhair%20%28Adiantum%20venustum%29%20is%20the%20most%20cold-hardy,down%20to%20-10%20degrees%20without%20losing%20its%20fronds.

Di Lallo, Raffaele, “Cold Tolerant Indoor Plants: Houseplants For Cold Drafty Rooms”, Gardening Know

How, Web https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/cold-tolerant-indoor-plants.htm

Faber, Sheryl, “Large Houseplants That Can Withstand Cold Temperatures”, SF Gate, Web

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/large-houseplants-can-withstand-cold-temperatures-44475.html#:~:text=1%20Corn%20Plants.%20The%20tall%20and%20stately%20corn,Norfolk%20Island%20Pine.%20...%205%20Citrus%20Trees.%20

“10 Hardy Houseplants That Will Survive the Winter Cold”, Eco Gardener, 2018 Nov 15, Web

https://ecogardener.com/blogs/news/10-hardy-houseplants-that-will-survive-the-winter-cold