If you need to wear a heavy jacket or coat during fall and winter, its too cold for your tropical plants to stay outside year round. If you don’t take precautions, cold damage will definitely send your plant to the grave. Cold damage happens when plant cells freeze or when temperatures drop below the threshold a plant can tolerate. Tropical houseplants are especially sensitive—even a short cold draft from a window can cause a surprising amount of stress.
Cold stress affects all kinds of plants, from pothos and monsteras to citrus trees and garden shrubs. If you move your plant to a warm spot after being exposed to cold, you might experience the following:
1. Prolonged exposure to 5°C caused cell damage
Most tropical and subtropical houseplants cannot tolerate temperatures below 10–12°C.
At 5°C, the water inside the leaf cells begins to freeze or partially freeze, forming ice crystals that rupture cell walls. The plant may look okay at first, but the tissue is already damaged.
2. Bringing it into warmth accelerated the collapse
When you moved it into a warmer environment:
- Ice crystals melted
- Damaged cells lost their structure
- The tissue turned soft, mushy, and black
- Leaves rapidly died off
This is the classic pattern of cold shock + freeze damage.
3. Why it didn’t show symptoms in the cold
In cold temperatures, plant tissue can stay firm even when damaged. Once it warms up, the destruction becomes obvious.
If you want to learn more about tropical plants that thrive indoors, see my guide on the 8 Best Plants for Bedrooms and Better Sleep.
Common Symptoms of Cold Damage
Cold damage shows up in different ways depending on the plant and the severity of the chill. Many plants develop soft, drooping, or wilted leaves within hours. Others may show translucent or water-soaked patches that later turn brown or black. Some plants immediately curl their leaves inward or twist in odd patterns, while others simply begin yellowing or dropping leaves without warning. Outdoor plants sometimes develop crispy brown edges after frost exposure. These visual clues are often your first sign that the plant has been exposed to temperatures outside its comfort zone.
Why Plants Get Cold Damage
The most common reason plants experience cold damage is sudden temperature change. A single cold draft from a leaky window, placing a plant too close to an exterior door, or leaving a plant outside “just a little too late in the season” can all trigger stress. Even indoor plants sitting on cold tile or hardwood floors can develop temperature shock if the root zone becomes too cold. For outdoor plants, frost events, cold snaps after warm weather, or unseasonably late freezes are usually to blame. Tropical varieties like monstera, citrus, and banana are the first to react because their cellular structure isn’t built to handle freezing temperatures.
How to Treat Cold-Damaged Plants: Can the plant be saved?
Cold damage looks dramatic because it is. To determine how deep the damage goes:
If only leaves are damaged:
- Cut off all the mushy, black, or translucent leaves.
- Keep the plant warm (20–24°C).
- Reduce watering until you see new growth.
- Give it bright, indirect light.
If stems or the trunk are mushy:
- That means the cold reached the vascular tissue.
- This is more serious and sometimes fatal.
If the base/root crown is still firm:
- There is still hope.
- New shoots may emerge in a few weeks to a few months.
If your plant didn’t completely freeze, it can bounce back. Although it might be the end of the journey for smaller, more delicate plants. If your plant still has a chance, focus on stabilization, not quick fixes.
Treatment begins by moving the affected plant into a stable, warm environment away from drafts, cold windows, or exterior doors. Avoid the urge to prune immediately; damaged leaves may still photosynthesize and support recovery. It’s better to wait until you see which parts truly die back before cutting anything off. Reduce watering temporarily because cold roots cannot absorb moisture as efficiently, increasing the risk of rot. Once the plant is settled, increase humidity with a humidifier or humidity tray and provide bright, indirect light without exposing the plant to heat sources that could dry or scorch the foliage. Finally, avoid fertilizing until spring. Cold damage slows the plant’s metabolism, so fertilizers could burn roots. Explore how to keep your plants alive and happy indoors during winter.
If you need winter-friendly products, these work extremely well:
• Govee Thermometer Hygrometer – monitors temperature and humidity accurately
• Barrina Grow Light – provides consistent indirect light during dark winter months:
• VIVOSUN AeroStream 5L Smart Humidifier – gentle humidity that helps cold-damaged plants recover.
These tools create stable conditions that reduce shock and help new growth form more quickly.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
Recovery depends on the plant, the amount of damage, and the time of year. Most indoor plants start showing improvement in 2–4 weeks, while outdoor plants may take until spring to bounce back.
Severely damaged leaves will not turn green again, but new growth is a good sign the plant has recovered.
Preventing Cold Damage Indoors
Preventing cold damage is much easier than fixing it. Indoor plants benefit from a few simple adjustments:
Indoor plants should be kept away from drafty windows and cold exterior walls during winter. Raising plants on stands or shelves prevents cold floors from chilling the root zone. At night, using insulated curtains or even just closing blinds helps maintain stable temperatures. Grow lights can also provide gentle warmth while keeping plants on a consistent light schedule. If you live in a cold climate, thIs makes a huge difference.
Cold Damage vs. Other Plant Issues
Cold damage can sometimes be confused with:
- Root rot (mushy stems but usually wet soil)
- Sunburn (often only on the top leaves)
- Underwatering (crispy leaves instead of translucent spots)
- Nutrient deficiencies (gradual yellowing, not sudden overnight changes)
If damage appears after a cold night, after a draft, or suddenly in winter, temperature is usually the culprit.
When Cold-Damaged Plants Cannot Be Saved
Some severe cases are not recoverable, especially if:
- The entire stem is mushy
- The trunk splits from freezing
- The roots froze solid
- The main growth point (like a palm or banana) is dead
If only the leaves are damaged, the plant is usually still salvageable.
Cold damage on plants is common, especially during winter and early spring. The good news? Most plants can recover with warmth, patience, and gentle care. Keep an eye on indoor drafts, nighttime temperature dips, and seasonal transitions to prevent damage before it starts.