How much heat can houseplants take?
Houseplants vary a lot, and no plant tolerates unlimited heat. Most common houseplants are comfortable at normal room temperatures, roughly what people find comfortable. Sustained high temperatures put almost every plant under stress, and heat combined with dry air, direct sun through glass, or dry soil is harder on them than heat alone.
It helps to separate two situations:
- A hot room with little direct sun. Here, plants mainly face dry air and faster drying soil.
- A hot sunny window. Glass can intensify heat and light, which scorches leaves on plants not adapted to it.
Plants native to dry, hot regions, such as succulents and many cacti, are better suited to both. Tropical forest plants often live in shade, with humid, cooler air around them, so a hot, dry room is not always their natural comfort zone, even if they are called “tropical”.
Plants that tolerate warm, dry rooms
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
Stiff, water-storing leaves. It handles warm rooms and dry air well, and can live in bright or lower light. Water sparingly. Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Water-storing rhizomes make it tolerant of dry spells. It likes warm conditions but dislikes harsh direct sun. Toxic if eaten.
Aloe (Aloe vera and relatives)
Native to warm, dry places and happy in bright light. Water only when the soil is dry. Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.
Jade plant (Crassula ovata) and other succulents
Thick leaves store water, and many succulents enjoy a hot, bright sill. Introduce them to intense sun gradually. Jade is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. Safety varies between species, so check the specific plant. For help deciding which succulents stay indoors, see are succulents indoor or outdoor plants.
Cacti
Suited to hot, sunny windows and dry air. Watch for spines around children and pets. See popular cactus house plants for specific types.
Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Native to dry regions and stores water in its trunk base. Likes bright light. Generally listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Yucca
Tough and drought-tolerant, and happy in bright light. It is often recommended for hot, sunny rooms. Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.
Pothos
A flexible vine that copes with warm rooms, but not harsh midday sun on the leaves. Keep it a bit back from hot glass. Toxic if chewed.
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
Often grown in warm rooms with bright indirect light. Needs more watering in heat, and leaves can scorch in hard direct sun. Sap can irritate skin, and it is listed as toxic to pets if eaten.
Cool and hot extremes
If you have a cold sill as well as a warm room, see plants near a cold window. For plants that tolerate cooler temperatures in general, the cast iron plant, spider plant and Christmas cactus are commonly mentioned; the choice shifts away from desert plants in cooler rooms.
Caring for plants in a heatwave
- Check soil more often. Hot rooms dry soil faster. Water when the plant needs it rather than by calendar, and be cautious: cactus and succulent soil should still dry between waterings.
- Water in the cooler part of the day, early morning or evening, rather than at midday.
- Shade the window. A sheer curtain softens strong afternoon sun.
- Keep plants off hot glass. Move them a little back from the pane.
- Avoid direct air-conditioning airflow and heater vents. Hot or cold drafts can crisp leaves.
- Acclimate gradually. Moving a plant into strong sun suddenly is a common cause of scorch. Increase exposure over a couple of weeks.
- Don’t fertilize heat-stressed plants. Wait until conditions improve.
- Watch for pests. Hot, dry air can encourage spider mites; check the undersides of leaves.
Common questions
Which indoor plants absorb heat?
No houseplant meaningfully cools a room. Plants release moisture through their leaves, which can have a small local effect, but it is not a substitute for shade or ventilation.
Can houseplants withstand 100-degree weather?
Some succulents, snake plants and cacti can survive hot spells, especially on a sunny sill with dry soil, but high temperatures still stress them. Most leafy tropical plants struggle, and shade, airflow and careful watering matter more than the plant’s reputation. Avoid leaving plants in a closed, hot car or sealed sunroom.
Which potted plants do well in extreme heat?
Succulents, cacti, yucca, snake plants and aloe are commonly suggested. Heat stress also depends on pot colour, soil and exposure, since dark pots in direct sun can heat the roots.
What if the hot room is also dim?
Snake plants and ZZ plants are two of the more forgiving options. See our easy low-light houseplants and unkillable indoor plants guides for more.
Are these plants safe for pets and children?
Ponytail palm is generally listed as non-toxic. Most of the others, including aloe, jade, snake plant, ZZ plant, yucca, pothos and rubber plant, are toxic if eaten. Keep them out of reach and call a doctor, vet or poison control if a pet or child has chewed a plant.