Indoor House Plants and Cooler Winter Temperatures

When the temperatures begin to drop and things get cooler across the nation you need to keep on the look out for some problems that could sneak up with certain indoor varieties.

Aglaonemas or the commonly called “Chinese Evergreen” are one of these plant families.

The Aglaonema is one of the most durable of the indoor plants grown. They are compact, have unique foliage variegations, can handle some pretty poor indoor conditions and pest control is easy with neem oil.

One condition that they are not fond of… is cool and drafty conditions. Prolonged exposure to temperatures less than 55 degrees can cause damage. Some of the new varieties which have been introduced recently such as “Silver Bay”, “Jewel of India” and “Emerald Stars” can handle temperatures lower than 55 degrees.

One of the most commonly produced varieties is known as “Silver Queen”. “Silver Queen” can even show some damage in the 60 degree area. Most growers try to keep their greenhouses at 65 degrees and above to control any damage.

The damage shows up first on the older leaves and also on older plants. The leaves will have a mottled, dark, greasy appearance which is the result of epidermal cell collapse. There is no way to repair the damage except for growing out the plant. 

When purchasing plants during this time period and on through the winter, keep in mind that just brief exposure to cold can damage the plant. This damage may not show up right away but may take 2-7 days to visually see it.
Also check out your nursery or garden center facilities. Can they back a truck right up to the greenhouse to unload?

Taking plants just 100 feet from the curb and exposing them to the elements can cause damage. Your “fresh” foliage plant may not be as fresh as you think.

So, as we approach the winter season make sure that your tropicals are not getting blasted with cool/cold air every time the door is opened or be on the look out for cold damage. This isn’t limited to just Aglaonemas… Dracaenas, Ficus, Dieffenbachia and many others can get cold damaged just from cold blast.

Keep in mind that most tropicals don’t like big changes in their temperatures (at least not into the 50’s). Remember our Plant tip on ficus?

Try to keep your tropicals out of the way of drafts and cooler temperature conditions, and generally you’ll have less problems.

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