The effects of temperature on your houseplants.

Just as certain houseplants have varying tolerances to light, so they also have varying tolerances to temperature. Most houseplants will tolerate a maximum temperature of 25°C (77°F) with low humidity, but the minimum temperature they can tolerate varies as shown below:

Although many houseplants require warm rooms, they generally prefer an even temperature. In winter this becomes a problem when central heating creates large fluctuations between day and night temperatures.

Here are a few places to avoid when positioning houseplants:

• Don't leave houseplants on window sills as the temperature near the glass can get very hot during the day and very cold at night next.
• Don't position houseplants over or near heat sources like radiators. Temperature variations are less pronounced the further you get from a heat source.
• Avoid positioning houseplants where they are likely to experience cold air draughts similar to those you can get in a hall way or near an outside door.

No plant likes sudden temperature changes, and the shock will cause some houseplants to drop all their leaves. This creates a problem if you are buying a plant during a cold winter. Get the store or online supplier to pack the plant using some form of insulation to protect it against the cold.