You may be wondering if any houseplants will be able to survive in rooms that get cold inside. Luckily, there are many plants that can handle being cold and will do great in those rooms. Many houseplants would suffer in cold, drafty rooms, but these are some great choices for houseplants that can handle the cold.
When the weather outside turns frigid, it can be harder to maintain beautiful, thriving indoor plants. Dry air, less sunlight, and cold drafts often lead to stressed, sickly plants by midwinter. However, some exceptional varieties can tolerate the cold and low light indoor conditions that come with the colder months.
If you want to keep your indoor garden lush and vibrant even during the dead of winter, consider adding these 9 cold-hardy beauties. With the right care, they will grace your home with lush greenery until spring arrives once more.
Cacti & Succulents – Made for Deserts
Cacti and succulents are champions when it comes to handling cold, dry conditions. After all, these plants evolved to thrive in harsh desert environments where water is scarce. Numerous varieties tolerate low light and temperatures down into the 40s Fahrenheit with ease.
Great cold-tolerant options include aloe, echeveria, christmas cactus snake plant, and jade plant. Just avoid overwatering allow soil to dry between waterings, and provide ample sunlight from a south or west-facing window.
Yucca – A Sturdy Stunner
With their sculptural shapes and elegant long leaves yuccas lend height and drama to any indoor space. These stalwarts soak up the summer sun but readily adapt to less light in winter. Allow soil to become nearly dry between waterings. Yellowing lower leaves can be trimmed.
For best results, situate yuccas in bright, indirect light near a sunny window. Protect from cold drafts below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The Yucca elephantipes and Yucca gloriosa varieties are particularly cold-hardy.
Sansevieria – A Low Light Champ
Known as mother-in-law’s tongue or snake plant, the sansevieria is almost impossible to kill. Its leathery spear-shaped leaves actively filter toxins from the air. Sansevierias thrive in low light and require little watering. Just let the soil partially dry out between drinks.
These plants tolerate neglect, making them perfect for beginners or anyone with a busy schedule. Place sansevierias anywhere from bright indirect light to nearly dark corners. They handle temperatures down to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hedera Helix – A Classic Climber
Better known as common ivy, hedera helix is a classic vining houseplant. Its trailing stems and lobed leaves look gorgeous draping from hanging baskets or climbing decorative trellises. Hedera tolerates low light and inconsistent watering quite well.
Let the soil dry out some between waterings and mist the leaves regularly to increase humidity. Temperatures as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit are fine. Keep ivy away from drafts and heating vents for best results.
Laurel – A Tropical Twist
The laurel family contains over 3000 species, many of which make excellent houseplants. Varieties like Indian laurel and california laurel handle low light and cool temps with ease. Their glossy leaves add a tropical vibe even in the dead of winter.
Water when the top inch of soil dries out and mist regularly to boost humidity. Protect laurels from drafts below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Place them near an east or west-facing window for the brightest light without direct southern exposure.
Fatsia Japonica – A Tough Beauty
This Japanese aralia plant has dramatically large, glossy green palmate leaves. The fatsia japonica handles cool temps down to 45 degrees Fahrenheit like a champ. Its lush foliage remains dense even in low winter light.
Situate fatsia near an east or west-facing window and water when the top inch of soil dries. Yellow leaves appearing in winter are normal. Simply trim back the plant in spring to restore its vibrancy.
Kalanchoe – Flowers of Winter
Kalanchoes are succulents that produce charming clusters of tiny blooms even in the darkest days of winter. Most varieties require minimal care and tolerate lower light and drier winter air without issue. Avoid cold drafts below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for best results.
Let soil dry between thorough waterings and provide as much bright, indirect light as possible. The Flaming Katy and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana are two particularly cold-hardy specimens perfect for beginners.
Clivia Miniata – A Touch of Sunshine
This South African native bursts forth with bright orange blooms in late winter, providing a burst of sunshine when it’s needed most. The strappy green foliage tolerates low light and cool temps down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Clivia prefers evenly moist soil so water whenever the top inch dries out. Provide the brightest light possible without direct sun exposure to encourage blooms. Shelter from air conditioner and heater drafts.
Keep Your Indoor Garden Going
Even when the weather outside is frightful, a beautiful indoor oasis is still possible with the right plants. Cacti, succulents, sansevieria, ivy, and other cold-tolerant varieties can handle the dry, low light conditions that come with winter.
Just avoid overwatering, protect from cold drafts, and provide ample bright, indirect sunlight. With a bit of love and the perfect plant picks, your indoor garden will stay lush and healthy until spring arrives once more.
Cold Tolerant Indoor Plants
Here is a list of great cold hardy houseplants for your home. Something to remember is that the cooler the room, the longer you can wait to water.
Keeping plants too wet (and cold) will invite root rot, so be careful of this balance.
- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): The ZZ plant is a tough houseplant that can live in low light and extreme dryness. It also does well in cooler rooms.
- As its name suggests, the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is another very hardy houseplant that can live in less-than-ideal conditions, such as cold rooms. As long as it stays above freezing (32 F. or 0 C. ), it will survive.
- The geranium plant, also known as the pelargonium, can be a lovely houseplant for colder rooms as long as they get a few hours of direct sunlight every day.
- While the geranium does well in cold rooms if it gets enough sun, the jade plant does even better. In colder weather, they can also stay alive and dry for a long time.
- Maidenhair Ferns: Maidenhair ferns do best in cooler, less-lit areas. To grow this plant, the most important thing is to keep the soil moist all the time.
- As the name suggests, the sago palm is not a palm tree. It is a tough houseplant that comes from the south of Japan. It can handle a lot of different temperatures, even very cold ones.
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria): The common snake plant is a great houseplant that can live almost anywhere. It does very well in low light, cool weather, and dry soil.
- Dracaena (Dracaena marginata): Dracaenacan also handle cooler temperatures with ease. It can withstand temperatures of 50 degrees F. (10 C. ) and above with no concern.
Remember that each of these winter houseplants has its limits, so don’t make them grow too big.
Keep an eye on your plants to make sure they are responding favorably to the cooler conditions.
15 Cold Tolerant Indoor Plants | Houseplants for Cold Rooms
What are the best low-light indoor plants?
The Sansevieria species are some of the best low-light indoor plants you can grow and they require very little maintenance. They are striking in appearance because they grow thick sword-like green leaves that can grow up to eight feet tall. The snake plant is a very long-lived plant that can thrive for decades.
Can cold weather plants survive?
Still, you can bring some plant magic to your winter garden with cold-hardy plants that survive – and even thrive – in chilly winter conditions. The best cold weather plants either stay green all year or put on a gorgeous show when temperatures are super low.
Can houseplants take cold temperatures?
Colder temperatures mean cooler areas inside and out. Most homes get a little draftier, a little cooler during the winter months. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have thriving houseplants despite the cold temps. Check out these houseplants that can take cold temperatures. Adding houseplants to your home can have a number of benefits.
Which houseplants are tolerant of low light?
Of all the plants, the swiss cheese and the snake plant are the most tolerant of low light in addition to cold. If you have a cold and dark (ish) room then these are your best bets. We do see a lot of articles on the subject of ‘best houseplants for cold rooms, dark rooms, dry rooms, etc.’