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Can succulents live in cold weather


How Winter Cold Affects Succulents

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Winter can be tough on succulents. At best they look dull, at worst they kick the bucket. But with a few simple care tricks, you can help your succulents make it to spring looking healthy, robust, and vibrant. This guide will cover:

Can Succulents Stay Outside in Winter?

Recommended Winter Varieties

Winter Dormancy

Overwintering Hardy Succulents

Overwintering Soft Succulents

Can Succulents Stay Outside in Winter?

Many people are surprised to learn that there are lots of succulents that can live outdoors all year, even in snowy climates. To help you pick the right succulent for your region, we categorize succulents into two groups: "hardy" and "soft".

Plant zoning can get more specific too. From just your zip code, find your USDA Grow Zone (based on minimum winter temperature). On every plant's description in our online catalog you can find its "Cold Hardiness". If the number of your zone is equal to or greater than that of the plant, that variety can survive outdoors year-round in your climate. If you live in a zone with a lower number than the plant's Cold Hardiness, it will have to come indoors before temperatures start dropping in the fall.

For easy reference, most of our plants are also shipped with name tags that list the minimum temperature they can tolerate.
This Sempervivum heuffelii could grow in zones 4 and higher, but not zones 3 or below

There are plenty of succulents that can survive outdoors through winter, even in very cold climates. These Hardy Succulents do well in cold, snowy winters. Some of our favorites include Sempervivum heuffelii, which keep vibrant colors for Winter Interest. We also recommend the frost-hardy Sedum varieties, as they make for fantastic ground cover in almost all climates.

SHOP FROST HARDY SUCCULENTS

For indoor succulents, we recommend Kalanchoe or Senecio, if you have a sunny window or grow light. Can't get enough light? Then Indoor Succulents are for you! Top picks include Haworthia, Jade (Crassula), Gasteria, and Air Plants (Tillandsia) as they tolerate low-light conditions well.

SHOP INDOOR SUCCULENTS

Winter Dormancy

You can think of succulents in three categories: winter growing, partially dormant, or fully dormant. Most types experience at least partial dormancy in winter. While they won't change drastically in appearance, they also don't grow much. Give these types less frequent water and no fertilizer in winter.

There are a few types that go into a deeper dormancy and lose leaves like a deciduous tree. Some (like Sedum kamtschaticum and Orostachys sp.) die-back completely above-ground. Their root systems live on, though, and re-sprout new growth each spring.

On the other end of the spectrum are the varieties that grow during the cooler months, namely Aloe, Haworthia, and Aeonium. Shorter days and lower temperatures signal them to begin their growing season. If you choose to fertilize, winter is the season for it with these varieties.

Sedum spurium with exposed stems during winter dormancy 

Overwintering Frost Hardy, Outdoor Succulents

1. (Potentially) Transplant

If you have over a month before the first frost, consider transplanting potted succulents into the ground. In-ground plantings stay better insulated than those in pots. It is, however imperative that your succulents are fully rooted and acclimated before frost hits. If there isn't enough time, simply move pots to locations with morning sun and protection from heavy rainfall.

2. Remove Dried Leaves

Healthy succulents naturally shed basal leaves as they grow new ones above. In climates with cold, wet winters, these leaves can get soggy and rot. Remove them in the fall and your succulents will not only look tidier, they will be more resilient against disease.

3. Protect from Water

You'll find hardy succulents need less frequent water in winter. They should also be protected from water dripping from roofs and trees. A hardy succulent insulated under a blanket of snow can weather the winter well, but one left cold and wet risks rotting. If you get cold, wet winters but no snow, consider moving your succulents under a roof or positioning a clear rain cover at least 18.0" above them.

Overwintering Soft, Indoor Succulents

Soft succulents can get their sunshine fix outdoors each summer, but the need to be back indoors before temperatures drop near freezing. To transition your plants back indoor for winter, pay attention to their light, air, soil, and water conditions.

Light

Indoor spaces inevitably get less sunlight, especially in winter. It's important to put sun-loving succulents near a sunny window. Rotate the pots regularly to prevent stretching and fading. For rooms that just don't get enough sunlight, you can supplement with a grow light or try Indoor Succulent Varieties. We recommend Haworthia, Jade, and Gasteria for especially low light rooms.

SHOP INDOOR SUCCULENTS

Airflow

Without the wind and ventilation of the outdoors, succulents are more vulnerable to pests and rot. You can run fans or open windows to keep air moving, but changes to your soil mix and watering frequency are often enough to speed drying and prevent rot.

Soil & Containers

Bringing succulents in for winter is the perfect opportunity to fix any drainage issues. Use a light, gritty mix like cactus & succulent soil like Bonsai Jack's Gritty Mix. Do not fertilize until spring. Adding rocks to the bottom of a pot will not increase drainage, so we strongly suggest using pots with drainage holes. Ultimate Guide to Succulent Soil

Water

You should find your watering frequency decreasing in winter, as it takes longer for the soil to dry. With the exception the winter growers (Aeonium, Aloe, and Haworthia), most succulents prefer little to no water in winter. As always, only water if the soil is completely dry.

More questions?

Winterizing succulents indoors or out can be simple and hands-off if you:

  • Pick the right variety
  • Keep it in its preferred location
  • Provide plenty of light
  • Reduce watering frequency, watering only if the soil is completely dry

It can seem challenging at first, but it gets easier with experience. ..and we've got plenty of it! Don't hesitate to reach out with questions. We're here to help ensure your succulents make it to spring looking their best.

SHOP FROST HARDY SUCCULENTS

Cold Weather Care for Outdoor Succulents by Region

Should you be worried about your outdoor succulents in winter? It depends on where you live.

It's all about frost. The temperature at which water freezes (32 degrees F) is the Great Divide. Above that, most succulents are fine. Below that, most are at risk. See "Frost and Succulents: What You Need to Know."

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a good basic guideline. However, it doesn't take into account climate variables potentially harmful to succulents.

Regional Care for Succulents, An Overview

There's very little of North America where every kind of succulent will grow outdoors year-round. The "banana belt" is the heavily populated California coast. Of course, you can grow any succulent anywhere if you're able to replicate the conditions it likes, either in your home or in a greenhouse. But this article is about cultivating succulents outdoors, in the garden, during the most challenging season: winter.

If you live in...

Coastal CA from the Bay Area south: You don't get frost (at lower elevations), and humidity and rainfall are minimal, so simply make sure your succulents get good drainage during occasional rainstorms.

My garden is in Southern CA inland, in the foothills NE of San Diego at 1,500 feet (Zone 9b). A freak snowfall happened on New Year's Day, 2017. When temps rose above freezing, I hosed off the snow. The Agave attenuata at left was damaged but recovered.

Central and Southern CA inland: Frosty nights tend to follow rainy weather, December through February. Like a citrus grower, I pay attention to "frost advisories for inland valleys. " When temps are predicted to drop below 32, I drape succulents with bed sheets or commercial frost cloth made of non-woven fabric. [Learn more about how I protect my garden.]

When a non-gardening friend noticed bedsheets draped over my plants, she asked if my dryer wasn't working (!).

Areas of hard frost: You get temps below 32 degrees that last for hours, so it's not adequate to merely cover your in-ground succulents or shelter potted succulents beneath eaves. Move them indoors or into a greenhouse. Depending on where you live, an inexpensive temporary shelter may be OK. [See "Four Ways to Overwinter Succulents" on this site.]

Northwest and Northeast: Protect and shelter your succulents indoors (perhaps in your basement) or in a climate-controlled greenhouse. [On this site, See "Cold-Hardy Succulents for Northern Climates" for exceptions; "How to Grow Succulents Indoors;" and "Winter Protection for Succulents: Products].

Desert Southwest: You get hard frosts, so protect and shelter tender succulents indoors or in a climate-controlled greenhouse. Those that do well for you include cacti, agaves, dasylirions, yuccas and other succulents specific to your region.

South: If you get frost, see above. But even if temps stay above freezing, you'll still contend year-round with trying to grow arid-region plants in a wet, humid climate. Find out which succulents you can grow outdoors in Florida and other states too damp and humid for most succulents.

Learn more

Books
  • Designing with Succulents (2nd ed.) See the section on Cold-Climate Succulent Gardens.
  • All my books show design ideas and give care and cultivation for Sedum and Sempervivum.
  • The Plant Lover’s Guide to Sedums, by Brent Horvath (Timber Press)
  • Cacti & Succulents for Cold Climates, by Leo Chance (Timber Press)
  • Hardy Succulents: Tough Plants for Every Climate, by Gwen Kelaidis, Photos by Saxon Holt (Storey Publishing)
  • Sempervivum: A Gardener's Perspective of the Not-So-Humble Hens-and-Chicks by Kevin Vaughn
Videos
  • How to Help Succulents Survive Rain, Hail, Frost (4:53)
  • How to Protect Your Succulents from Frost  (3:30)
  • Growing Succulents in Northerly Climates: Sempervivums (9:03)
  • Growing Succulents in Northerly Climates: Sedums and More (7:08)

Caring for succulents in the winter

Today in the section "Advice from professionals" we will talk about the transfer of succulents to the wintering mode and proper care for them during this period.

Despite the fact that houseplants live indoors, where they are protected from seasonal fluctuations in the weather, almost all species respond to the change of seasons. With the advent of late autumn and winter, it is very important to properly organize a dormant period for succulents and cacti so that they meet spring healthy and ready for the resumption of vegetation. Otherwise, the plant may get sick and during the growth period will not be able to please you with its wonderful flowering. The need for reorganization of the temperature regime and irrigation regime in the autumn-winter period appears, first of all, with a sharp decrease in illumination.

At home, it is easier to store succulents until spring on a relatively cold window with little or no watering. In this case, the plants will not lose their decorative effect and will last until spring in their original form. The only change here will be the faded color of the leaves, but here you can’t do without the sun!

If, under these conditions, the abundant watering of the plant in a sufficiently heated apartment is continued, it will begin to stretch in search of light and become very exhausted. Of course, you can organize additional lighting for succulents and cacti with the help of special fitolamps, but in practice this is done by professionals or very enthusiastic amateur flower growers.

Proper and high-quality light is essential for healthy plant growth. Succulents, on the other hand, need as much light as you can provide them. Autumn-Winter is the time when there is a need for additional lighting if you want your plants to not stretch out and lose their decorative look.

For comparison.

  • Illumination in an open area on the street is 50-70 thousand lux.
  • Illumination on the windowsill of the southern direction reaches 30-50 thousand lux. And, finally, the illumination created by the phytolamp is 10-20 thousand lux. And at the same time, the lamp should shine "directly on the forehead." In other words, the gap between the lamp and the plant must be kept to a minimum! Ordinary fluorescent and twisted lamps, in the spectrum of which there is no ultraviolet component, are not taken into account at all.

How to be in such a situation? How to save succulents, for which the intensity of light in the room that is comfortable for a person is completely insufficient ???

If you still intend to create good conditions for your plants with the necessary high-quality lighting, then ordinary LED lamps of cold daylight 40W or special phytolamps with a pink spectrum will come to the rescue. Such lamps are installed at a height of approximately 40-50 cm from plants, providing additional illumination for succulents for 8-10 hours a day. Lamps can be found in various hardware and hardware stores.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW! Additional illumination is carried out during the day, since in order to ensure the most natural conditions, plants need an alternation of day and night, that is, a light and dark period per day. This ensures the normal development of succulents and makes it possible for them to bloom at home.

It is best to keep the plants in a cool place in winter to stop their growth. For most succulents, the optimum wintering temperature is +12-+14˚С. Chilean and mountain cacti require a cooler wintering - + 5- + 10˚С. And for epiphytic species and light-colored cacti, the temperature should not be lower than + 16- + 18˚С. If you do not have a glazed balcony or loggia, you can simply fence off the plants on the windowsill from the room with a plastic curtain.

Watering as the temperature drops, succulents are watered less and less and eventually watering is completely stopped. For example, adult cacti can go without watering all winter until April. However, with a warmer content, you need to moisten the soil about once a month.

Feeding plants with slow development in winter is useless and even harmful. At this time, they consume little nutrients and are especially sensitive to soil salinization with fertilizers.

Succulents and cacti should not be transplanted during the period of complete dormancy, because due to lack of light and low temperatures, all processes are slow, and the regenerative capacity of the plant is limited. There is a high probability that the plant simply will not take root in the updated soil. A good alternative in this case would be transshipment, which differs from transplantation in that the plant is moved to another pot, keeping the earthen clod. Plants tolerate this operation completely painlessly, so transshipment can be carried out at any time of the year.

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