Succulents Need Special Care in The Winter—What You Should Do Right Now For Happy Plants

Succulents are often associated with dry, warm climates and mild winters. However, some of the more than 10,000 succulent species from around the world are quite cold-hardy and survive even subzero winters.

Here’s what you need to know about making tender succulents survive the winter and caring for cold-hardy succulents during the winter.

Will Succulents Survive Winter?

Whether succulents survive winter depends on their hardiness. Most succulents sold as houseplants are tropical or subtropical plants and only hardy in frost-free climates, around zones 10 and 11. They won’t survive the winter outdoors in most areas and need to be brought inside for the winter.

However, some succulents are cold-hardy and typically planted in the garden where they survive the winter if planted within their hardiness zone range. 

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When Is the Right Time to Bring Succulents Indoors?

Succulents thrive in natural light, but be sure bring them inside at the right time in the late summer or fall.

The exact temperature tolerance depends on the type of succulent. Knowing the temperature tolerance of each of your succulents helps to avoid cold damage. Some succulents don’t fare well below 50°F and all tropical succulents must be brought indoors before the first fall frost.

If it’s just a light frost, you might get away with covering your tender succulents with a protective tarp or blanket for the night. If there is frost every night, on the other hand, bring in the plants for the winter.

In freezing temperatures, the water that succulents store in their leaves, trunks, and stems expands and bursts the cell membrane, damaging or killing the plant. 

How to Prepare Succulents for Winter?

The proper winter preparation depends on whether your succulent is a cold-hardy outdoor succulent or a tropical houseplant.

Outdoor Succulents 

• Mulch: In cooler climates, all succulents in your garden benefit from a layer of organic mulch (straw, shredded leaves, or wood chips) around the base of the plant. This insulates the roots against the cold and helps keep the soil temperature more consistent during freeze-and-thaw circles.
• Winterize potted plants: Potted succulents, even those that are winter-hardy in your climate, need extra winterization in areas with freezing cold winters. These plants should remain outside to maintain their natural growing cycle, but because their roots are not sufficiently insulated against the cold, it is important to winterize them; this can be achieved by burying the pot in the ground, building an insulating silo around the pot, or wrapping the pot with other insulating material.

Indoor Succulents 

• Reduce watering: Many succulents go through a period of winter dormancy: They don’t grow and therefore absorb very little water during that time. Adjust your watering accordingly and stop fertilizing the plants.
• Watch the room temperature: The ideal temperature for indoor succulents is between 55 and 75°F, with cooler temperatures at night and warmer temperatures during the day. Make sure your home is not too warm for succulents, which is often the case in the winter. Avoid placing the plants near radiators or drafts. 

5 Types of Cold-Hardy Succulents 

• Hens and chicks is one of the most popular outdoor succulents because it slowly forms dense mats. It grows in a wide range of hardiness zones and thrives in full sun to light shade. The plant prospers in sandy, gravelly, well-draining soil, which makes it a favorite for rock gardens, and an excellent potted plant.
• Agave is winter-hardy with a wide range of acceptable zones. It comes in a wide range of sizes, and grows best in rocky, sandy, well-drained soil in full sun. This is a long-lived plant and if it is not being fertilized it can take decades for it to bloom, which marks the end of its life.
• Euphorbia, also known as spurge, is a large genus with more than 2,000 species. If you intend to plant it outdoors, make sure to select one that is hardy in your zone, such as cushion spurge or myrtle spurge. Most species bloom in the spring or summer and go dormant in the winter.
• Sedum is one of the most popular outdoor succulents that grows in a variety of zones, coming in a variety of heights, colors, and forms. Most sedums are hardy and drought-tolerant succulents with thick, fleshy leaves and tiny, star-shaped flowers that bloom late in the growing season.
• Ice plant are mostly of cold-sensitive species, but both Delosperma brunnthaleri and D. cooperi are cold-hardy. The foliage is fleshy and succulent-like, morphing into a darker color as fall temperatures drop. Ice plants are good choices for rock gardens, slopes, ground cover, and edging plants.