The Winter brings cooler temperatures that most of our houseplants do not like. You probably find yourself wondering, “Hmm, will my plants survive this winter?” Luckily for us, there are many plants that thrive on dark, dry and cooler temps. Here are 5 cold tolerant plants that can survive those colder rooms in the house.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ Plant is a beautiful plant that can tolerate temperatures as low as 45°F. They do very well in darker environments but will thrive in sunlight, they are also ideal for spaces with no windows as they will still grow with fluorescent lights. They are a very hardy plant that do not need a lot of maintenance. They do not grow too big, perfect for a smaller space.
Christmas Cactus
You probably recognize the Christmas Cacti, they are given during Thanksgiving and Christmas as gifts. They tend to bloom from early winter to mid-winter. Christmas Cacti tend to enjoy being neglected. They do not like direct sunlight and do well in less damp areas. You only water them every 2-3 weeks, once the dirt feels dry. According to Proflowers.com “The Salinas Californian suggests that eight days of 16-hour darkness will also do the trick, as long as the temperature is below 61 degrees. A colder room with window coverings or a cool garage could be the perfect place to store your Christmas cactus. Once you see buds developing, you can move the cactus into a brighter room.”
Philodendron
The Philodendron is one of the easiest houseplants. They thrive in almost all conditions and do not need much maintenance. They can tolerate low light and only need to be watered 1-2 weeks (when the top inch of soil is dry). Their ideal temp at night is 60°F. If you notice the leaves turning yellow or brown, it is either getting too much light and/or not getting enough water. This is an ideal plant for someone who has a brown thumb!
Geranium
During the Winter Geraniums are a very low maintenance plant. Do not over water them. They do well with dormancy through the winter months. You should not fertilize your geraniums during the winter time – wait till Spring to re-pot them. Farmers Almanac says that “During winter, geraniums grow best with night temperatures of 50° to 60°F (10° to 16°C) but will survive if they drop to 32°F (0°C) and/or rise above 80°F (27°C), as long as they are kept relatively dry.”
Snake Plant – Sansevieria
The snake plant loves partially shady spots in the house. Like the Christmas Cactus, they also thrive while being neglected. They do not like standing water, so a well-draining pot is necessary! They really only need watering when the soil is dry – the do well if they dry out before you water them. In the winter keep them away from drafty windows.