What Is the Best Temperature Setting for Houseplants?

The beauty of houseplants lies in their ability to bring leafy green life into your home at any time of year. If you live in a colder climate, wintertime can’t sink its icy claws into your plants—because thankfully, they’re located indoors. Similarly, if you reside in warmer climes, it’s tougher for the heat (and sun) to dry up your Monstera.

Though houseplants aren’t subject to the whims of the weather, temperatures can vary indoors. But is there one ideal temperature setting to keep houseplants at their best? We asked a leading plant expert how hot (or cold!) our homes should be for happy plant babies.

What is the Best Temperature for Houseplants?

“I like to say the ideal temperature range for indoor tropical plants is whatever is comfortable for you,” says Hilton Carter, a houseplant expert and author of several books on plant styling. “Around 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit mimics their natural environment and allows them to grow best.”

And according to the University of Maryland, indoor plants with foliage grow best between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and from 60 to 68 at night.

Factors to Consider

Plant Variety

A plant’s ideal temperature and care depends on its variety, naturally. Carter recommends doing research on your plant’s optimal growing conditions, then trying to recreate that as best as possible in your space.

Tropical plants, for example, thrive in a shaded canopy environment in rainforests and jungles. Indoors, you’d want to provide them with bright indirect light and high humidity, he says. On the other hand, you can mimic the dryness and sun level of an arid desert for plants like succulent and cacti.

The Seasons and Sunlight

Though your houseplants are shielded from the elements indoors, they are affected by changes in season. In the winter, the sun is weaker, since it’s farther from the Northern Hemisphere.

“Winter is considered ‘dormant season,’ where most plants are not growing as much and are saving their energy for the springtime,” Carter explains. “However, low light doesn’t mean no light. If you find your plants are declining because of limited light access, then I would recommend supplementing with adding grow lights to the equation.”

In the summertime, the opposite occurs; there’s plenty of sunlight to go around. “It’s recommended to increase watering, fertilizing, and possibly up-potting your plants for the growing season,” Carter says. “Another good tip is to monitor their location and move them a few inches away from bright windows to avoid burning their foliage.”

It's Okay to Be a Little Flexible

Don’t fret if you’re worried about creating the absolute perfect conditions for your plants. Most varieties will adapt to their surroundings.

“One of my favorite things about houseplants is that they’re so resilient and adaptable,” Carter adds. “As long as the minimum water and light requirements are met, most houseplants can acclimate to various environments.”