Can you keep plants in a sunroom in winter?

Author: Charlene Wiza  |  Last update: Friday, December 5, 2025

Winter Sunroom Greenhouse Tips Optimal plant growth means there must be plenty of access to light while also allowing for some degree of shading. Particularly in the winter months, it is recommended to provide plants with at least 6 hours of light daily to ensure their proper development and overall well-being.

How to keep sunroom warm in winter for plants?

10 Tips on How to Keep Sunroom Warm in Winter
  1. Add a Ceiling Fan. ...
  2. Insulate the Walls and Ceiling. ...
  3. Keep your Three Season Sunroom Radiant Heat From Escaping. ...
  4. Baseboard Heaters. ...
  5. Add Weather Stripping Around Windows. ...
  6. Install a Separate HVAC System. ...
  7. Portable Heating Options. ...
  8. Extended Ductwork.

Can plants survive in a sunroom?

One of the biggest advantages to owning a sunroom is the natural light that comes in through all those windows. Sunrooms make perfect environments year-round for growing flowers, herbs, and even some vegetables. If your sunroom gets chilly in the wintertime, you can use heat lamps to keep your little garden thriving.

How cold is too cold for indoor plants?

Below 40°F (4°C): Most houseplants are at risk of damage. Frost-sensitive plants can start to experience leaf damage or die if exposed to these temperatures. Below freezing (32°F or 0°C): This is typically lethal for most houseplants.

Can you sit in a sunroom in winter?

If you have a three-season sunroom, it's still possible to winterize it by replacing inefficient windows, hanging thermal-insulated curtains to close at night, and putting down a nice rug over cold tile or wooden floors. Insulating your sunroom in winter can allow you to use the space year-round.

How Our Winter Garden Survived -23°F (-31°C) With No Heat

Can a sunroom be used as a living room?

Sunrooms are often their own nook, tucked away from the rest of the home, surrounded by sunlight, year-round. This location in the floor plan makes it an excellent extension – or alternative location – for your living room.

What is the cheapest way to heat a sunroom?

What is the Most Economical Way to Heat a Sunroom? A ductless mini-split mounted on the wall can efficiently add heat and air conditioning to a room. Ideal for areas of the home where there is no ductwork, this is a much safer option than a space heater and can be left on when unattended keeping the room warm.

How to keep outdoor potted plants alive in winter?

If low temperatures loom, cover plants with cloth, burlap or plastic at night. If you use plastic, be sure to remove the covering during the day since temperatures can heat up, causing premature bud growth. Also, when covering, avoid damaging the top part of the plants.

Will my indoor plants survive winter?

Winter is probably the easiest time of year to kill a houseplant. Grueling growing conditions like lower light levels, dry air, shorter days and chilly temperatures put houseplants through the paces. The secret to helping plants survive winter is adjusting care routines to suit seasonal growing conditions.

Can plants survive in a cold room?

Fortunately, there are also plants that can withstand the cold rooms! Cold resistant indoor plants are the stronger type of plants. Not only can they withstand cold, but also drought is not a problem.

What is a sunroom for plants called?

An indoor enclosure, such as a solarium, greenhouse or conservatory, can offer your plants protection from harsh outdoor elements and predators while still maintaining a visually pleasing appearance for your home.

Is a sunroom a habitable room?

A habitable room is defined by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) as a room used for normal domestic activities such as a bedroom, living room, lounge room, music room, television room, kitchen, dining room sewing room, study, playroom, family room and sun room.

What are the best low maintenance sunroom plants?

Narcissuses and other bulbous plants are extremely low-maintenance and flourish in spring temperatures in the sunroom. As long as the narcissus is set in a big enough pot, it need not extensive maintenance and does well even in cooler temperatures.

How do I make my sunroom warmer?

Use insulated drapes to cover your windows at night or when it's cloudy. During the day, you can open the drapes to let the light into your sunroom and then close them in the evening to maintain your warm solar gain. If you can afford the expense, consider adding insulation to the walls and ceiling.

Can I turn my sunroom into a greenhouse?

A sunroom can easily be made into a greenhouse, but a sunroom itself does not a greenhouse make. There will still be certain tools you'll need in order to make the plants in your greenhouse thrive. Even in Texas, we still have cloudy days, so UV lights will be necessary to keep the climate in the greenhouse controlled.

How do you keep plants warm in unheated garage?

8 Rules for Overwintering Plants in a Garage or Basement
  1. Find a Good Overwintering Place. ...
  2. Clean Up Containers Before Bringing Them Inside. ...
  3. Don't Over-water Overwintering Bulbs. ...
  4. Let Overwintering Plants Rest. ...
  5. Avoid Temperature Fluctuations. ...
  6. Provide Good Ventilation for Happier Herbs. ...
  7. Tackle Overwintering Pests Promptly.

How cold is too cold for potted plants?

Most houseplants are native to tropical areas and will not tolerate freezing temperatures. Many indoor plants will see damage when temperatures drop to the mid to lower 40s°F and nearly all will die if exposed to below freezing temperatures.

Where to put indoor plants in winter?

Most of our indoor plants need more light over winter, so even if direct sun is a no go, move your jungle closer to sources of light or grab a grow light. Remember winter also means shorter days, so that means fewer daylight hours, so shift your plants in the best position to make the most of what they can get.

What are the most hardy indoor plants?

No growing pains: the 20 houseplants that are hardest to kill
  • Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
  • Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
  • ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
  • Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
  • Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
  • Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
  • Aloe vera.
  • Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

Can potted plants survive winter in the garage?

In order to overwinter a perennial or shrub in a container outside, it needs to be two zones hardier than the zone you live in. 2. Perennials and shrubs that are in your zone or one colder can be overwintered in an unheated garage, buried in the ground, or transplanted.

Can I keep perennials in pots over winter?

Just be sure not to leave the pot in the ground too long in the spring or the roots will start to grow out the drainage holes, anchoring the pot into the ground. You can overwinter them by moving the pots into a cold frame or unheated garage for the winter after the first hard frost.

Can plants survive on a covered porch in winter?

Some larger or hardier plants can withstand lower temperatures with the right covering or protection. Bring these potted plants onto a covered patio, or place them in an unheated garage to protect them from frost and long-lasting freezing temperatures in winter.

Can you use a sunroom in the winter?

We are often asked if a Lumon three season sunroom can be used in winter. Although three season sunrooms are not meant to retain heat, with some help from external sources – YES YOU CAN!!

Does sunroom add value to property?

Like most additions, a sunroom addition increases your home's resale value by about half of the amount you pay. It's a good idea to keep in mind that use-value is just as important when determining return on investment. If a sunroom gives you more enjoyment of your home, it's a useful addition to consider.

What is the cheapest device to heat a room?

Generally speaking, Halogen heaters are one of the most inexpensive types of electric heater. They average around 1200W in terms of power output and because they provide instant-heat at close quarters, you shouldn't need to leave them on for long periods of time.

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