I need to leave my home in New Jersey for three weeks during winter, and I'm planning to turn the heat way down to save on costs. I'm worried about my plants getting too cold, especially if the temperature drops to around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. What are some practical tips to protect them while I'm away?
5 Answers
Consider bringing your plants indoors and setting your thermostat to a minimum of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping them in a warmer room can definitely help if you have one that's naturally warmer, like an upper floor or a south-facing area.
I keep my plants in a sunroom set at 55 degrees to prevent the pipes from freezing. Even though it gets a bit cooler at night, my plants have survived well, just losing some leaves here and there during the coldest months.
You might want to set your minimum heating to around 50 degrees instead of 45. In my greenhouse, the heat kicks in at 55, and the plants do well even in colder spells.
Most house plants can handle cooler temperatures for a few weeks as long as their soil isn't too compact or soggy since that can lead to root rot. Just make sure they're not sitting in wet soil!
Installing a heating mat on a timer could be a good solution, especially if you can't keep the whole house warm. This method is usually cheaper than heating the entire space.