Calathea

So many of our favorite houseplants come from tropical regions and really want it warm to thrive. But that doesn't always work with keeping the thermostat in the low 60s to save on heating bills, does it? Since our plants can't exactly throw on a sweater, I've learned to choose houseplants that don't mind cooler temps. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Jade plant (Crassula ovata)

Jade is a succulent, so it stores water right in its leaves and stems. I've found it handles cool winter temps beautifully and actually prefers less water during that time. Here's a fun bonus: giving jade that cool, dry winter treatment makes it much more likely to bloom! Lots of other succulents and cacti are fine with a chilly winter too, as long as you keep them on the dry side.

2. Cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)

With its big, deep green leaves, this plant has truly earned its name—it's basically indestructible. Along with handling cool temperatures, it's perfectly happy in low light too. More houseplants for low light.

Of all the citrus, this shrubby little plant is the one I find easiest to grow indoors. It loves warm summers but is perfectly content with winter temps between 50˚ and 60˚F. More about growing dwarf Meyer lemon.

This tough-as-nails houseplant actually blooms its best after a winter rest with cool temps and minimal water. I've also found it prefers staying rootbound rather than being moved into bigger pots—so easy! More about growing clivia.

5. Norfolk Island pine

Cool winter temps don't bother this pine-tree lookalike one bit. Just do me a favor and keep the air around it humid. Read more about growing Norfolk Island pines.

This quirky-looking houseplant handles cool winter temperatures just fine and grows at a wonderfully slow pace. It can also put up with some drought, which makes it such a low-maintenance pick—I really appreciate that.