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About Tracy
Expertise
I have a great deal of experience with most tropical foliage houseplants. I am knowledgeable and experienced in the care and needs of many different kinds of houseplants as well as the pests and diseases common to houseplants. I have had experience with most propagation techniques. My specialty is Aglaonema, Ivy and the Marantaceae family, which includes prayer plants, calathea, stromanthe and ctenanthe. I am also knowledgeable and experienced with artificial lighting for plants. I can not answer questions about succulents or cacti and I have had very little experience with flowering plants. I can help identify plants ONLY if you send a picture of the plant with your question. Please feel free to visit my Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/experthouseplants for information and tips on plant care.

Experience
For the past 15 years I have always had at least 70 houseplants in my house at all times. I also have spent a great deal of time helping friends, family and neighbors with their houseplants.

Education/Credentials
I have done extensive research on the care of houseplants, the different kinds of houseplants, pests and diseases common to houseplants and artificial lighting for houseplants. I also have done some volunteer work assisting a master gardener for 5 years.

You are here: Experts > Style > Interior Decorating > House Plants > minimum temps for houseplants

House Plants - minimum temps for houseplants

Expert: Tracy - 11/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Tracy!

we recently had our screened in porch enclosed so it's going to remain dry for the winter. on a sunny day it can get to about 70 degrees out there, but the temps go down at night. here's my question:

what are the minimum temps for pothos, jade plants and cheerlead in order to survive? my spider plants last all winter in the garage with available light. we live in new jersey; I'm not sure of our zone - maybe 6.

i look forward to hearing from you. thanks in advance!

regards,
abby

ANSWER: Hi Abby,
  Pothos are comfortable in the same temperature range indoors as most people are. Just like us, they get a bit chilly below 60º and warm above 75º.

The jade plant can tolerate temperatures that range from very cool to very warm. Jade can tolerate temperatures that dip to about 50 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

I am not familiar with what you called a Cheerlead plant. It may not be a correct common name or botanical name for the plant you are asking about. The research I did on it as well as asking both of the 'plant gurus' I turn to when I come across something I don't know came up with nothing by that name but a kind of tree and a type of endangered clover that grows only in ponderosa pine woods in Washington state. If you find out what the correct name for the plant is or send me a picture of it so I might be able to better identify it then I can tell you the lowest temperature that plant can tolerate.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions or need additional information please don't hesitate to ask.
          Thanks
              Tracy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: dear tracy,

thanks for your reply. the "cheerlead" plant was actually schefellera before i hit "spell check". serves me right :-). perhaps you could give me a little info on that plant as well. sorry for the typo.

regards,

abby frantz

Answer
Hi Abby,
  Scheffleras are somewhat sensitive to temperature and humidity. They are native to regions that are warm and wet, so it is good to try and replicate this for your plant. It is best if temperatures stay around 70F during the day and don’t go below 60F at night. Keep the plant away from drafty areas like doorways and radiator vents.

Schefflera grow best in bright, indirect light. A curtain filtered east facing window or curtain filtered west facing window is ideal. Schefflera can also be set about 2-4 feet away from a south facing window. Do not set a Schefflera directing in a south facing window. That much direct sunlight could scorch the leaves and the heat generated in a south facing window will cause a Schefflera to wilt.

Schefflera like for their soil to be kept moist but not wet. Avoid letting plant sit in water.
Never allow the soil to dry out completely, this could be fatal to a Schefflera. Schefflera may or may not recover from allowing the soil to dry out completely even once.

Schefflera will grow leggy and out of shape if left alone and especially in low light conditions. Prune the plant regularly to keep it's shape. This plant will come back strongly after even a 'heavy' pruning.

It is common for a Schefflera to lose some leaves due to a change of environment and is not really a cause for concern unless the plant starts dropping leaves in great numbers.

Some common problems with Schefflera is the leaves turning black and falling off and wrinkled leaf tips. Leaves turning black and falling off is a sign that the plant is being over-watered. Wrinkled leaf tips is a sign the soil is being kept too dry.

Schefflera is also a favorite plant of spider mites. Carefully check the plant regularly for any sign of insects/mites. Regularly spraying the plant with a strong spray of water, especially the undersides of leaves, will help control insect/mites. It will prevent high populations of insects/mites from developing by washing off any insects or mites that may be on the plant.
Very warm, dry conditions are a perfect environment for spider mites. Raising the humidity around the plant by grouping it together with other plants or setting the plant on a tray of pebbles and water will help prevent spider mites. Regular misting may also help.

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