Aloe Vera is one of the hardiest plants you can have as a houseplant. However, it’s easy to care for but can be a bit picky about temperature.
A temperature range of 55-85°F (13-29°C) is ideal for Aloe Vera growth. However, aloe’s sensitivity to cold drafts and frost should not be consistently exposed to temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Extreme temperatures can have devastating effects on your aloe, causing its leaves to turn brown, yellow, and puckered.
In the absence of proper temperature control, your Aloe Vera may not be able to thrive.
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What Temperature is Too Cold for Aloe Vera Plants?
Aloe vera cannot tolerate temperatures lower than 40°F (4°C). Therefore, cold drafts and prolonged exposure to temperatures below 40°F (4°C) will eventually kill your plant.
Aloe vera cannot tolerate temperatures lower than 40°F (4°C). Cold drafts and prolonged exposure to temperatures below 40°F (4°C) will eventually kill your plant.
Keeping your aloe vera at or below this temperature will stunt its growth and even cause it to go into cold shock if you do it frequently.
In addition, the leaves of your aloe may turn yellow or develop dark spots if they are exposed to cold weather for an extended period.
Some of these succulents can’t handle any frost, and they’ll get a lot of damage to their leaves from frostbites.
Keep aloe vera inside or in blanketed containers during the winter if you live outside the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10b, 10a, 11b, 11c, and zone 12b, and 12. (Source)
I wrap my aloe vera plants in warm blankets and sheets to keep them cozy when we get sudden cold weather.
However, additional damage to your plants may be caused by open windows or air conditioning ducts during the winter months.
What Temperature Should Aloe Vera Plants Be In?
Aloe vera is indigenous to Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa, where temperatures are mild.
It’s essential to mimic these conditions when taking care of your aloe plant so that it’s not subjected to extreme temperature swings.
The ideal temperature for your Aloe Vera is between 55-85°F (13-29°C).
Of course, there are a few essentials you should be aware of when it comes to ensuring your plant receives the optimal temperature.
Aloe Vera cannot survive in temperatures lower than 50°F (10°C) due to its low cold tolerance.
Frost, snow, and cold drafts won’t do any good, but they can still make it through temperatures as low as 40°F (4°C).
The range of temperatures mentioned above should be accompanied by sufficient bright but indirect light.
Your aloe plant may turn yellow or brown if exposed to cold temperatures or insufficient light.
Most aloe species may hibernate during the cold winter months. Please keep it in a place that isn’t exposed to snow or frost, like a basement or garage.
It’s a good idea to plant your aloe in sand, stones, or gravel so that it doesn’t sit in stagnant water, worsening its ability to withstand the cold.
Signs Your Aloe Vera Has Been Exposed to the Wrong Temperature
Heat burn, frost damage, and freeze damage can all occur if the aloe vera is exposed to too high or too low temperatures.
To save your aloe plant, you’ll need to catch these problems early on.
As previously stated, aloe plants are native to the equatorial or tropical regions, where the climate is dry and warm.
Succulent leaves store water, allowing the plant to endure prolonged periods of dehydration. Even so, aloe’s ability to withstand extreme temperatures proves its undoing.
In general, succulents’ leaves have a tender, fleshy texture due to the high concentration of moisture in the leaves.
Near the freezing point, leaf tissue begins to degenerate and die as the liquid stored within the foliage freezes and damages the cells.
Lucky for you, there are several telltale signs that you can keep an eye out for before it’s too late.
[1 Shriveling of Leaves
Your aloe vera leaves will wrinkle, curl up, and shrivel up when the water stored in the foliage freezes. In addition, the affected leaves may begin to droop and show signs of stress.
[2 Leaves Turn Brown or Yellow
The leaves of your aloe vera plant will turn brown or yellow if they are exposed to extremely low or high temperatures.
When exposed to frost or cold drafts, the same holds true. When the cause is a cold shock, the leaves turn brown with a yellowish tinge before wrinkling and withering.
You can save and rejuvenate your aloe vera as long as a few green leaves remain. However, if the entire aloe plant is covered in brown, mushy leaves, you may be too late to save it.
Your aloe vera may suffer from overheating if the leaves exposed to sunlight turn brown on the surface. Direct sunlight can also sunburn or scorch leaves, resulting in browning.
Reddish-browning usually begins on the exposed surfaces first, with leaf tips and occasionally edges turning brown and drying out.
As a result, when the sun is scorching hot in the summer, bring your aloe vera inside.
It only takes a few days for the brown and sunburned leaves to start reverting to green again if exposed to too much sunlight.
[3] Soft, Glassy, and Mushy Leaves
Frost- and extremely low-temperature-damaged aloe leaves have a soft, glassy appearance.
It will die if you don’t move your plant away from the frost and treat it. The leaves will darken and become mushy or soft before they die off.
Most of the time, only the tips and edges of aloe vera tips are affected.
However, as the damage reaches the roots, your aloe will turn mushy and soft if exposed to cold for an extended time.
[4] Aloe Vera Leaves Drying Up
Aloe vera leaves that are wilting or drying up signify that you have been exposed to high temperatures for an extended period.
If your plant is also severely dehydrated from a lack of water and the soil is bone dry, this is likely to occur. It’s common for the leaf’s edges and tips to become crunchy and dry first.
[5] Aloe Vera Sun Scorch
Aloe veras do well in hot and harsh conditions. They thrive in direct sunlight, but too much of it can cause leaf damage.
This is especially true if you move your aloe vera from a shadier location to a location where it will be exposed to long periods of intense sunlight.
The scorching sun will turn the leaves brown and burn, giving your plant a sun-bleached appearance.
How Do You Recover Your Aloe Vera from Frost Damage?
As long as some of the leaves on your aloe vera are still green, it will be able to recover from the effects of frost.
However, if the entire plant has turned brown and soft, you have no choice but to discard it and start over.
Aloe vera can be revived and rejuvenated in several ways. However, the extent and duration of the frost damage will determine this. Here’s how you can save your aloe vera from frost damage:
- Remove your aloe vera from the frost as soon as possible. Then place it in a warm, bright location, but keep it out of direct sunlight.
- Hold off on watering your aloe plant for a few days, if not weeks. This will allow the damaged foliage to dry and possibly fall.
- Using sharp, sterilized prune snips, gently cut off damaged plant areas.
- Inspect the root system if the damage is extensive. Snip off any dead or severely damaged roots.
- When new green leaves emerge from the center of the plant, your aloe vera has recovered. Continue to provide the proper growing conditions until it is fully revived.
Can Aloe Veras Be Left Outside?
Both yes and no. If you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 12, you’re in luck because you can leave or even grow your aloe vera plants entirely outside.
But, overall, you should bring your aloe plants inside whenever temperatures are expected to drop below 50°F (10°C).
How Do You Take Care of Aloe Vera During Winter?
You should pot your plants and bring them inside to overwinter in a warm area away from cold drafts.
If your aloe vera is in a patio, greenhouse, or covered garden, you can use blankets or thermal sheets to keep them warm.
As a general rule, you should water less during winter. If you’re going to be planting your aloe veras in an area that gets a lot of rain, you’ll want to use stones or gravel.
Providing bright, indirect, or artificial light (check the latest price on Amazon here) can also help.