9 Signs Your Indoor Plants Have Draft Damage – And What To Do About It
Discover how to decipher these clues from your houseplants and prevent lasting damage caused by drafts
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Twice a week
Homes&Gardens
The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.
Once a week
In The Loop from Next In Design
Members of the Next in Design Circle will receive In the Loop, our weekly email filled with trade news, names to know and spotlight moments. Together we’re building a brighter design future.
Twice a week
Cucina
Whether you’re passionate about hosting exquisite dinners, experimenting with culinary trends, or perfecting your kitchen's design with timeless elegance and innovative functionality, this newsletter is here to inspire
Many a plant parent has despaired over sickly greenery, especially when it's well-tended. Knowing what has caused a houseplant issue isn't always easy to decipher either. Prodding the soil to check moisture levels is usually the first step but how often do we consider the plant's location?
Finding the right place for a plant isn't just about aesthetics or light levels; temperature is important too. Believe it or not, indoor plants can have draft damage. But how can you tell? With the advice outlined ahead from houseplant experts, it's possible to recognise this issue – and in most instances – help your plant to recover.
It's likely your best indoor plants are on display somewhere prominent, like a window sill or taking pride of place near a doorway. Yet, in winter, these areas can become prone to cold drafts. This matters because much of our favorite foliage hails from hot, humid places – so it doesn't cope well with the cold (or dry indoor air). Our green-thumbed experts can guide you through what to look out for and what to do about it, so your houseplants can thrive whatever the weather outside.
Why Indoor Plants Don't Do Well in Drafts
Even easy indoor plants can become sick and there are numerous reasons for this. Most often over or under watering is the culprit. But this time of year, a chilly draft could be the cause of your plant's demise.
'Generally, houseplants originate from tropical or subtropical regions, meaning they love warmth,' explains Paris Lalicata, plant education lead, The Sill.
'Most do not want to be exposed to temperatures below 55-60 degrees fahrenheit and should be kept away from unfavorable drafts. While some plants may be able to handle cooler temperatures for a period of time, it can stunt their growth and cause other issues.'
Here are nine signs to watch for and how to remedy them.
1. Leaf Drop
A couple of dead leaves on a window sill is not cause for alarm, but if your plant suddenly sheds lots of its foliage, or is regularly dropping its leaves, it is likely a reaction to being exposed to a draft. Thankfully, the solution is simple and similar to reviving houseplants from cold damage.
Alex Kantor, president, Perfect Plants Nursery explains: 'If a plant has been healthy but then randomly drops healthy, green leaves, then it is a sign of fluctuating temperatures.
'Lots of ficus varieties or indoor citrus species are affected by this. It will typically occur near windows or entryways where doors open frequently, and cold air can enter the home. To remedy, you can relocate the plant to a more temperature stable area.'
Paris Lalicata agrees that leaf drop is a common symptom for plants that are exposed to cold drafts hitting the foliage. However, she points out that with furnaces turned to high, hot, dry drafts can be as damaging as cold ones.
'Sudden changes in temperature, whether cold or hot, stress plants,' says Paris. 'This results in physiological changes that cause leaves to drop, similar to when plants don’t receive enough light or are under-watered.
'In this instance, the best thing to do is to simply move the plant to an environment without any drafts. Some light pruning may be necessary to remove legginess, depending on the condition of the plant.'
These Zenport floral scissors from Lowe's would be sufficient for trimming a houseplant.
Paris has been at The Sill for five years, where she leads plant education and community. A self-taught plant expert with over ten years of experience growing houseplants, Paris is currently working on becoming a certified sustainable gardener. She maintains an indoor garden of over 200 plants in the north-east (USA) and is passionate about making plant care more digestible for plant parents.
Alex has worked in the horticultural industry for over 20 years and grew up on the farm. He is an expert on landscape trees, shrubs, and indoor plants. Alex's passion is growing plants and supporting others learn how to grow and care for them.
2. Black, Mushy Leaves
Unlike dropped leaves, which could be due to cold or hot drafts, black mushy leaves point to severe cold exposure. Unless you have opted for cold-tolerant plants, this could happen to sub-tropical species kept on a chilly window sill overnight.
'Cold drafts can damage houseplants in two ways,' says Justine Kandra, Horticulturist, Kemper Center for Home Gardening, Missouri Botanical Garden. 'Firstly, the cold temperatures can damage the cells of tropical plants. These plants have not evolved to withstand cold temperatures, and when it gets near freezing, most tropical plants will start to exhibit signs of damage.
'The leaves closest to the draft will usually be the most affected, and may wilt or turn mushy and black, brown, or yellow before falling off.'
Paris agrees and adds: 'Severe cold temperatures cause plant cells to rupture and often resemble the same damage as overwatering (or rot),' she says. 'Plants can’t usually bounce back from this kind of severe cold damage.'
If you need to replace a plant that is beyond help, this Peace Lily from The Sill would be easy to care for. Just make sure it is placed away from drafts.
Justine Kandra is a horticulturist at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. A botanist by training, she enjoys helping customers with their plant problems at the Kemper Center for Home Gardening.
3. Browning on Leaf Edges or Tips
How to care for house plants in winter differs from other times of the year. This is mostly due to the the hot, dry heating in our homes, the drop in outside temperatures and the lack of light.
Justine explains another issue with cold drafts. 'The second way cold drafts can damage plants is due to the movement of air over the leaves,' she says. 'This can speed up transpiration, or water loss through the leaf surface. This usually causes the edges of the leaves to turn brown.'
Alex agrees: 'Plants placed near drafty vents or windows often show up with dry, brown edges or tips on the leaves, while the rest of the plant remains green,' he says. 'This can sometimes be confused with watering or humidity issues. It is especially significant to fiddle leaf fig and rubber plants.'
Justine recommends trying to eliminate the draft by sealing gaps in windows first. 'This will not only help your indoor plants, it will also reduce your heating bill,' she says. 'If eliminating the draft is not possible, you can protect plants by moving them away from the cold draft.
'This can be done temporarily either at night or when the temperatures are lowest to help protect them from the worst damage. Using grow lights can help your plants receive adequate light without having to be too close to a drafty window.'
This rubber foam weather stripping from Ace Hardware can be used to seal drafts around window frames. Alternatively, if you need to move your plant away from a chilly window, this full spectrum LED grow light kit from Lowe's can mimic natural light.
4. Dull Leaf Colorations
A more unusual sign that your indoor plants might be suffering from draft damage is dull leaf colorations. If once glossy foliage has lost its deep green lustre, or its color is starting to look patchy, check whether it's near a draft (or if the soil is dry).
'Dull leaf colorations are often mistaken for nutrient deficiencies,' says Alex. 'But what is actually causing this to happen is draft exposure. This is detrimental to tropical houseplants like monstera and calathea.'
Despite its striking looks, this Monstera Thai Constelation from The Sill is surprisingly low-maintenance. Yet variegated leaves can still discolor if the plant isn't happy, so place a plant like this in a temperate spot to prevent draft damage.
'North facing windows are often the culprit,' continues Alex. 'Improving insulation or removing the plant from cold surfaces or areas can help the plant to recover.'
Make sure your plants are sufficiently watered too, with this fern gray 1 gallon watering can from Ace Hardware.
5. Yellowing or Browning Leaves
Unless you've opted for the best winter houseplants, it's possible some of your favorite foliage may be turning yellow or brown. This can be due to a number of factors, such as over-watering, insufficient light or unsuitable temperature conditions.
The latter is often due to a plant being near a cold draft, or conversely, too close to a heat vent. Check the plant's location as well as the moisture levels in the soil to resolve the issue.
'Yellowing or browning leaves are associated with a number of plant problems,' says Justine. 'These can include irregular watering and low humidity. But if the affected leaves are concentrated on one side of the plant, and that side faces a draft, then the chances are likely that the damage is a result of the drafty conditions.
'The damaged leaves can usually be pruned off with clean pruners or scissors. If it happens again, it would be worth moving the plant to another spot.'
This soil moisture metre from True Leaf Market can help to rule out over or under-watering issues.
6. Brown, Crispy Leaves
Most drafts are cold and generally come in through cracked window seals, or gaps around door frames.
However, in the winter, it's possible for our indoor plants to be subjected to blasts of hot, dry air coming from vents, furnaces and radiators. Many houseplants prefer humidity, so may suffer if they are too close to a hot draft from a heat source.
'Heat damage from hot drafts can resemble underwatering symptoms,' explains Paris. 'Although, usually the development of brown, crispy leaves will happen rapidly and across most of the plant if it's exposed to extreme heat for a period of time.
'As long as the root system is still in tact and some healthy growth remains, you can prune back dead leaves and follow up with good care, including a more comfortable location for the plant. Then new growth may develop.'
If the air in your home is particularly dry, it may be worth investing in this tabletop humidifier from Lowe's or placing your plants on a shallow pebble tray with water.
7. Loosening Root Ball
The most obvious signs of draft damage to indoor plants involves the foliage, such as leaf drop, yellowing/brown leaves, wilting or discolored leaves.
However, another more subtle sign is damage to the root ball of the plant according to Samantha Adler, founder, Houseplant Concierge.
'This tends to show up as a loosening of the root ball, so the plant may move around when lifted,' explains Samantha. 'If you look closer, the roots may be mushy.
'In this instance, prune any mushy or rotting roots and then replant the root ball deeply into the soil. Add some fresh, room temperature potting soil to re-tuck the plant roots in and move the plant to a warmer location.
'After that, just keep an eye on it, pruning dying leaves if needed and allow the plant to acclimate to a warmer spot for a few days, until beginning to water in on its schedule again, with room temperature water.'
This coconut coir from Burpee is suitable for indoor (and outdoor) plants and improves aeration for stronger root growth.
Samantha is a certified Horticulturalist and founder of Houseplant Concierge, a small business in NYC providing comprehensive in-home houseplant services, including plant care, plant evaluations and plant recommendations.
8. Stunted Growth
The growing season for most plants (even those indoors) is in spring and summer, when new leaves and buds form. However, some species put out buds and leaves in winter and early spring, when it may still be chilly outside.
If your plant is showing signs of stunted growth, or buds not flowering, first check your watering. However, if you can rule this out, it may indicate that the plant is exposed to a draft.
'It's less obvious than other signals, but a general stifling of growth can be due to draft damage,' says Samantha. 'This is where you might notice buds that were starting to grow have stopped growing and not opened. The plant has usually stopped growing in size too.
'Generally, for stifled growth, move the plant to a warmer location and allow it to adjust. If you see dying leaves, prune those away but leave the plant to keep adjusting. Water lightly but consistently with room temperature water. And be patient with the adjustment period.
'Once you see signs that the plant is starting to recover, you can start adding some liquid fertilizer into your watering routing to help spur growth and buds.'
When your plant has adjusted to its new location, this Miracle-Gro tropical houseplant fertilizer from Lowe's could be added to the potting mix to help with new growth.
9. Wilting or Brittle Leaves
Wilting leaves can be due to common indoor plant mistakes, such as parched soil or a lack of light. However, if the moisture levels in the soil are sufficient and the light levels are adequate, the plant may be suffering from cold sensitivity.
'Wilting leaves are one of the more glaring signs of draft damage,' says Samantha. 'You also might notice that the plant has gotten especially brittle and breaks or cracks off easily.
'Unfortunately, in the wintertime, many of our windows and doors let in a lot of cold air and can cause some draft damage to particularly sensitive houseplants.
'The simplest solution is to move the plant away from a draft. Trim away any brittle leaves or stems and ensure they have adequate water. Wilting leaves can be left as they may perk up once the plant has acclimatized.'
It is worth noting that it is entirely possible to draft-proof doors without ugly strips. These aluminium alloy brush sweeps from Amazon offer a more attractive option.
When the temperature outside drops significantly, it's wise to review the location of your indoor plants, particularly those near cold or hot drafts and rearrange them if necessary.
'Draft damage is often subtle at first,' says Alex. 'But correcting airflow and temperature early can prevent long term symptoms in your houseplants.'
'There are some species, like snake plants, the Cast Iron plant and some species of cacti and hoya who can tolerate as low as 50ºF,' says Paris. 'On the other hand, plants like dracaena, peperomia, and pilea are more susceptible to cold damage and should always be in a room that is 65ºF or higher.'
'Other plants that are particularly susceptible to damage from cold drafts, include ferns, orchids, hibiscus, and citrus,' adds Justine. 'But most tropical plants will be negatively impacted by temperatures below 50°F.
'If a houseplant loses most or all of its leaves as a result of being too close to a draft, there is a chance it will not recover. However, the good news is that many plants are resilient and will put out new growth once growing conditions improve.'
