Cold damage on houseplants
Common causes of cold damage and the first things to check, summarized from 26 PlantGrail care records across 22 plants (as of ).
What causes cold damage on houseplants?
It depends on the plant and how it is kept, so check the plant pages below. For Cactus, the records explain it like this: Exposure to freezing temperatures causes ice crystals to form within the cactus tissue, rupturing cell walls. Once thawed, the affected areas become black, translucent, and mushy (necrotic).
Common first steps
- Inspect roots - if firm and white, plant will likely recover
- Withhold water for 2-4 weeks to prevent root rot during recovery
- Thaw the plant slowly in a cool, dry room (50-60�F); rapid heat can increase tissue stress.
Plants with records for cold damage
Most records first. Open a plant for its own causes and fixes.
- anthurium Anthurium spp.Plant care guide
- calathea Goeppertia spp.Plant care guide
- fiddle leaf fig Plant care guide
- rubber plant Ficus elasticaPlant care guide
- boston fern Nephrolepis exaltataPlant care guide
- kimberly queen fern Nephrolepis obliterataPlant care guide
- orchid Phalaenopsis spp.Plant care guide
- aglaonema spp.
- begonia beefsteak
- jade plant Crassula ovataPlant care guide
- zz plant Zamioculcas zamiifoliaPlant care guide
- hoya Hoya spp.Plant care guide
- philodendron Philodendron spp.Plant care guide
- monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosaPlant care guide
- anthurium crystallinum Plant care guide
- alocasia Alocasia spp.Plant care guide
- pothos Epipremnum aureumPlant care guide
- dracaena goldstar dracaena goldstar
- dracaena Dracaena spp.Plant care guide
- parlor palm Chamaedorea elegansPlant care guide
- snake plant Dracaena trifasciataPlant care guide
- peace lily SpathiphyllumPlant care guide
Questions about cold damage
Which plants have the most records for cold damage?
anthurium, calathea, fiddle leaf fig, rubber plant, boston fern and 17 others.
Can cold damage be prevented?
Know your species' cold hardiness zone. For most indoor cacti, bring them inside when night temperatures consistently drop below 50�F (10�C).
What are these records?
This page summarizes 26 PlantGrail care records on cold damage. Records describe care topics; they are not counts of observed plants or treatment outcomes.