The fact that many succulents can survive outside year-round, even in snowy climes, surprises a lot of people. We divide succulents into two categories—”hardy” and “soft”—to make it easier for you to choose the best one for your area.
the USDA Grow Zone finder (based on minimum winter temperature). You may find a plant’s “Cold Hardiness” on the description of each one in our online catalog. If your zone number is equal to or higher than the plant’s, that variety can endure the entire year outdoors in your environment. The plant will need to be brought indoors before the fall temperatures start to drop if you live in a zone with a lower number than the Cold Hardiness of the plant.
Most of our plants are also sent with name tags that state the lowest temperature they can withstand for easy reference.
Zones 4 and higher are suitable for Sempervivum heuffelii’s growth, however zones 3 and lower are not.
How cold should it be for succulents?
Whether a succulent is a soft or hard succulent determines what temperature it can withstand.
Anything warmer than 32 degrees F will be enjoyable for soft succulents. preferably over 40 degrees.
These plants cannot endure colder than freezing temperatures. Their hefty, thick leaves, which serve as water reservoirs, will freeze and destroy the plant.
Succulents that can withstand the cold can sustain -20 F. The best it can manage is a zone 4 to 5, and let me tell you, that is very impressive.
You must keep in mind that even if they can withstand temperatures below zero, they still like dry soil. That remains constant.
The majority of winters in the contiguous US will not only be dry but also wet and snowy.
Do succulents require protection from freezing?
Winter care shouldn’t be necessary if you plant winter-hardy cultivars like Sedum (Sedum sp. ), Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum sp.), Ice Plant (Delosperma sp.), Lewisia (Lewisia sp.), or Yucca (Yucca sp.). As winter comes, you might notice that they start to wither, shrink, or change color, but this is just a typical part of their wintertime cycle. Some types of these plants can tolerate cold temperatures as low as zone 3.
The fatal combination of freezing temperatures and wet, soggy soil from rains and snow melt poses a concern for less hardy types during the winter. If the soil can be kept sufficiently dry, several types may endure colder temperatures. Following are some pointers for taking care of delicate succulents in frigid temperatures:
- Dry the ground as much as you can. Around the end of the fall, stop providing extra water and food.
- Make sure there is enough airflow to avoid the wintertime wetness.
- Place succulent plants in protected spaces. A sunny area under the eaves or on the porch can be a wonderful choice if your winters are rainy.
- Make sure your soil drains well.
- When it’s rainy outside and you see moist soil around your succulents, you should make changes to the environment to ensure the survival of your plant. To improve water drainage, add sand, organic materials that drains efficiently, or a substance like Perma-Till.
- When freezing temperatures are expected, cover fragile plants. You can use frost covers that you buy, bushel baskets, or cloth covers. Just be sure the coverings don’t touch the leaves, and don’t leave them covered for any length of time that isn’t absolutely required. They require sunlight and airflow.
Can succulents survive the cold outdoors?
Yes, it is the answer. Although certain succulents can withstand frost, they are frequently thought of as drought-tolerant plants. They flourish in chilly, snowy conditions, and the extreme cold even brings out their magnificent, vivid colors. They are referred to as “Hard Succulents.” Sempervivum, Sedum, and Euphorbias genera contain some of the most hardy succulents. You may plant such succulents outside all year round because the majority of them can withstand temperatures as low as -20F (Hardiness Zone 5).
“Soft Succulents” are another group of succulents that are more susceptible to frost. When the weather drops below freezing, they must be winterized inside.
How can I keep my succulent plants safe during winter?
If you have a variety of succulents that can survive the winter outside, you might wish to do so. Your plump outdoor greens still require adequate care, though, otherwise the frost risked damaging them.
Not to mention that your plant’s roots could decay due to the winter’s damp soil. Additionally, if your region gets too much rain during the cold season, the succulents’ cells will swell. Additionally, the plant cell walls may rupture as a result of the frost. As a result, it is crucial to take precautions to safeguard your plant from all of these harmful situations.
Although some varieties of succulents can withstand below-freezing conditions, none of the species prefers frequent watering or excessive humidity throughout the year. Succulents prefer healthy soil that drains well, good airflow, and bright sunlight. Here are some precautions you should take to ensure your in-ground plants are taken care of over the winter.
Build a Greenhouse
The majority of succulents cannot withstand temperatures below 25 F during the winter nights. Bring your succulents into a DIY greenhouse if your area has the same winter temperatures, or if you have a gazebo, cover it with 5mm plastic and move your succulents there. Make sure to securely anchor the plastic, and tape the seams. You can even include a little heater if the temperature falls any lower.
Cover Your Succulents
Cover your outside succulent plants with bed sheets if your region occasionally suffers frost. Row covers and nonwoven fabrics, which are often constructed of spun nylon, are further options. Your plants will be protected when it is 2-4 degrees below freezing if you cover them with such blankets.
Additionally, don’t remove the dried leaves from your plants because they protect them from high temperatures. Move your plants that are sensitive to cold under a tree, deck, or eaves; this will prevent heat from escaping.
I have succulents, when should I bring them inside?
Again, a lot of this depends on where you reside and what you’re growing. You should generally bring your succulents inside before the first frost. In the US, this occurs during the end of September for many people.
Naturally, if you are raising cold-tolerant succulents, they can spend the entire winter outside.
Knowing your local growth zone is crucial. You should at the very least be aware of your region’s typical low temperature. For instance, we were in Zone 5 when I lived in Utah. The majority of my succulents at the time were Zone 9 plants.
All succulents with a Zone rating higher than 5 must spend the winter indoors since they cannot withstand the cold.
Since I currently reside in a Zone 9 region near Phoenix, most of my succulent plants perform well year-round outside. Only a few succulents classified as Zone 10 or 11 will require spending the winter indoors.
Therefore, begin by classifying your succulents. Afterward, ascertain which growth zone you are in. Look how how the two contrast! Plants that are rated higher than where you reside should be brought inside.
You can use this video to decide whether you should bring your succulents indoors for the winter.
My succulents can I keep them outside?
Succulents are drought-tolerant plants because they can retain water in their large, irregularly shaped leaves. Succulents have a broad variety of eye-catching shapes and textures, which provide any landscape aesthetic interest. Can succulents live outside? is an often asked question. The quick response is “yes”! Growing succulents outdoors is an excellent alternative because they do well there and can withstand some neglect. They also do well in sunny areas with warm, dry weather.
Succulents can be grown in the ground, in pots, or hidden in unexpected planting locations. Take the uncertainty out of caring for these wonderful conversation pieces with stunning foliage by reading our suggestions for growing succulents outside.
Can succulents recover after a freeze?
Can a frozen plant still be saved? This truly depends on the kind of plant and how long it was exposed to the cold. On all save the most tropical plants, light freezes are typically something that a plant can recover from.
Remove damaged plant material from woody plants in the spring. In the late winter, you can detect which stems are dead by scratching the bark. The tissue is still alive if the substance is green below. They will lose their leaves as a result of the freezing, but they normally re-leaf in the spring. After all threat of frost has passed, maintain the plants’ moisture and apply a mild fertilizer.
More delicate plants won’t be able to endure the freezing damage and will turn into annuals. Perennial plants that have been frozen-damaged may only have little root damage, in which case you can divide the plant and replant the pieces. The ones that recovered from the root area’s cold did not deal a fatal blow.
Season
During the spring and summer, when succulents are actively growing, you’ll need to water them much more frequently. They rapidly extract water from the earth as they grow new stems, leaves, roots, and blossoms. Depending on the weather, such as the light and temperature, you might water them three times every week. Succulent plants go dormant in the winter. You won’t need to water them very much throughout the season because their growth has stopped. Giving a succulent too much water in the winter is one of the simplest ways to destroy it, so avoid using your watering can from November to March. Allow your succulent to rest peacefully in the desert.
Container Size
Because larger containers contain more soil, which retains moisture longer, they require less frequent watering. Small, shallow containers will require more regular watering because the soil dries out more quickly.
Can succulents withstand frost?
The weather can change at any time. It can change quickly from being mild to crazy. Even regions with generally stable temperatures and weather might throw a fit, dump a lot of snow, or produce strong winds. These kinds of conditions can be very damaging to our succulents. Are succulents resistant to the cold? Frost and succulents don’t typically mix, and this can lead to harm to these kinds of plants, but all may not be lost.
Frost protection is essential for the survival of succulents. Some succulents can withstand frigid temperatures, but most cannot. Some growers may be surprised by harsh winter weather, which could harm their plants. Can succulents withstand a freeze? Succulents that prefer warm weather and frigid temperatures will suffer, but this can be prevented with frost protection.
When should I cover my succulents to prevent frost damage?
Succulents that are native to warm, arid climes can perish in wet soil, dim light, high humidity, and freezing temperatures. You can use these products to protect your succulents from the harsh, wet winters in North America. (Advertising connections.)
You could just require frost cloth if you live somewhere where frost is sporadic. (Old bed sheets also function.) This helps keep warm air from dispersing into the higher atmosphere and stops ice crystals from falling from the atmosphere from falling on plants. Don’t cover your succulents with plastic sheets that resemble trash bags; whatever material you use should let air to circulate. If plants are covered for extended periods of time, translucent cloth is a must. However, removing the frost cloth throughout the day is ideal.
Below: This 6-by-50-foot, reusable “winterization fabric freeze blanket” from DeWitt. $28 or so on Amazon.
Floating row covers made by Agribon and Pellon nonwoven fabric can both be used. Spun nylon, often known as “floating row cover,” is similar to fusible interfacing but lacks the fusible component. It can be used as a sunscreen, insect barrier (against cabbage moths, etc.), and frost protection. It is permeable to water and allows vapor to pass through. It will provide protection from -2 to -4 degrees below zero. Use C-9 Christmas light strings for added warmth.
Succulents that are in pots can be covered or moved to an overhang till spring. Depending on how cold it gets, beneath your home’s eaves or on a deck or patio (near the house) may be sufficient. The warmth that walls give out may be sufficient to elevate the temperature above freezing.
Consider purchasing a compact walk-in greenhouse that can be disassembled and stored during the warmer months if you live somewhere where the temperature drops into the 20s. Put it in a location where a portable electric heater’s cord may reach from your home.
If you must (or choose to) keep your succulents inside for the winter, equip a basement, sunroom, spare room, or alcove with shelves and tables that can handle wetness as well as timer-controlled lights and a fan. Fortunately, the bulk of dormant succulents—those that fall dormant in the winter—need relatively little water. Every three weeks or so, dribble a small amount at the base of each plant, just enough to water the roots but not enough to create pools on the ground.
mount grow lights. Light is a plant that loves it. T-5 grow lights are advised by experts in indoor gardening and growing succulents in environments with low visibility. These will maintain the color of your echeverias!
Do succulents favor the indoors or outdoors?
Succulents, however, are hardy plants that may thrive in a variety of conditions, including neglect, little access to water, fast-draining soil, and a steady source of sunshine.
It’s excellent if you live somewhere where the weather is just right for them to thrive outside.
But if you don’t, you’ll need to make some alterations and adjustments.
These bizarre plants have evolved to survive in the worst conditions, including the wettest climates, little to no soil, and the steepest slopes.
A variety of surprises, including vibrant edges, tips, or complete shifts in foliage color, can be found in the sunlight or the chilly outdoors.
When succulents are grown outside, the weather will determine and set off when the plants are dormant or active, depending on the species. On the other hand, when it warms up, that can cause new births, color changes, or blooming.
Do succulents grown indoors and outdoors have different needs?
When the weather becomes warmer, find out how to effectively take your indoor succulents outside! The fresh air and additional sunlight will be beneficial for indoor succulents!
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You may have observed that succulents cultivated outside frequently appear to be more aesthetically pleasing and healthy than those grown indoors. More sunshine (which inhibits stretching) and greater ventilation are the two main causes of this (allowing the roots to dry out more quickly).
I strongly advise moving your indoor succulents outside for the summer, even only temporarily.