Succulents are a beautiful addition to any home. They can be kept outside in the summer when the weather is mild.

With the change of season and the colder weather around the corner, many people start bringing their plants indoors.

However, when it comes to succulent plants, some things need to be considered before doing so.

While succulents can handle the temperature change when brought indoors, they require special care.

Proper preparation and understanding when it is time will help you keep your succulent plant happy when bringing it inside for winter!

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Why Should You Bring Succulents Inside?

Succulents prefer a temperature range of 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some succulents can withstand temperatures as low as 40°F or as high as 90°F.

When succulents are exposed to temperatures outside their comfort range, they become stressed and may go into shock.

It is important to bring your succulents inside when temperatures drop or when the weather becomes very warm.

Low temperatures can damage succulents. When temperatures drop below freezing, your succulent will likely die.

High temperatures can cause irreversible damage to the leaves of a plant, and when exposed for too long, it may wilt or discolor.

Succulents are great indoor plants during colder months when they receive less light but must be brought back outside when summer rolls around again!

When Should You Bring Succulents Inside for Winter?

When it comes to bringing your succulents inside, some things influence when you should do so. These factors include where you live and what you’re growing.

Succulents, as a general rule, should be brought in before the first frost. This is usually at the end of September.

For those who live in hotter climates, bringing your succulents inside depends on when the weather starts to cool down.

The point at which it’s time to move them indoors is when nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and daytime highs fail to exceed 80 F for a few days straight.

This is typically when they start feeling cold and begin manifesting signs of stress or bad health like falling leaves or shriveled growths (especially if this has happened before).

Some species, such as rosette types, will be fine with lower temperatures during winter, but most species need warmer conditions, over 50 degrees F all year round without exception.

When nighttime temps fall into the 40’s any tropical varieties growing outside will need to be brought inside.

Another factor that determines when to bring succulents inside is when it starts getting dark earlier in the day.

If your days are still long and sunny, then bringing them indoors won’t be necessary yet. However, when nighttime comes sooner than expected (before sunset), this becomes a necessity.

Which Succulents Need To Be Brought Inside During Winter?

Succulents may be divided into two categories based on their temperature tolerance: cold hardy succulents and soft or tender succulent plants.

Cold hardy (deciduous) succulents are the ones that can withstand frost when the temperature goes below a certain point. These succulents can stay outside all winter when the temperature is at least 20° to 25° F (-28.88°C).

When brought inside for the winter, some cold-hardy succulent plants may not be able to withstand dry indoor heating and can become dehydrated.

Tender succulents are tropical or subtropical species that cannot withstand frost when the temperature goes below a certain point, so they must be brought inside when winter comes.

Soft succulents can be kept outside when the temperature is at least 50° to 60° F (28.88°C).

Some cold-hardy succulents are:

Agave havardiana
Aloe aristata ‘Lace Aloe’
Aloe ‘Blue Elf’
Delosperma cooperi
Euphorbia myrsinites
Rosularia muratdaghensis
Sedum spurium
Sedum telephium ‘Autumn Joy’
Sempervivum pittonii
Sempervivum tectorum

Common soft or tender succulents are:

It is important to know what type of succulents you have when deciding when to bring them inside for the winter.

How To Bring Succulents Inside for Winter

When it comes to bringing your succulents indoors, careful preparation is required to avoid any issues.

Water Your Succulent Outside

Two to three days before moving your succulents inside, water your plant outside one last time.

Give your plant a good soak outside and let the water drain from the bottom of its pot before moving it indoors.

This will help your succulent’s root system transition to its new environment.

Dead Leaves Should Be Pruned Away

If your succulent has any dead or dying leaves when you bring it inside, prune them away. This will help the plant focus its energy on new growth.

Be sure to remove all of the foliage that is brown and dry at this time as well.

Removing the leaves will help your succulent make its transition when brought inside for winter.

Check for Pests and Diseases

Before you bring your succulent inside, check it for any signs of pest infestations or diseases.

If pests are present when brought indoors, they will have a harder time surviving the winter conditions of the house.

When bringing plants indoors during fall and winter, it is important to ensure all bugs are removed before entering your home.

When bringing your succulents inside, the last thing you want is to have them infested with bugs when winter comes around.

Check Your Succulent Pot

Before bringing your succulent inside, check the pot it is in.

Ensure that when you bring your succulents indoors for winter, they are placed in a pot with drainage holes, and make sure there is proper airflow around them.

If not, place rocks or pebbles at the bottom of the planter to ensure water can drain when watered.

Also, clean the planter when bringing succulents inside for the winter season to make sure they are kept safe from any bacteria or pests that may be present.

Check the Soil

When bringing succulents inside for the winter, make sure the soil has good drainage.

If not, you will need to bring soil when moving your succulent indoors.

This is important if you are planning on having the plant grow in winter.

Succulents do best when their roots have good drainage and when they are placed inside a larger pot with fresh potting mix for growing during the winter months.

How to Care For Outdoor Succulents Indoors?

When bringing succulents inside, it is important to understand how they will react when brought indoors. Proper care when bringing succulents inside is crucial.

Succulents Light Requirements Indoors

Succulents require bright, indirect light when indoors. You can place them by a window where they will get bright sunlight or near an artificial source of bright light.

If you have succulents in the yard and are bringing them inside to keep as houseplants during winter, it is essential that when placed indoors, they receive more direct light than they did outside. Succulents need a lot of light when indoors, but not too much direct sunlight.

In addition, if your plants were grown outdoors with lots of shade, then do not move them directly into full sun when brought inside. Brightly lit areas should be sufficient while allowing your plants to adapt when bringing succulents indoors slowly.

When placed in a window with direct sunlight, your plants may fade, and the colors will be washed out when brought inside to bright light areas.

Watering Succulents Indoors

One of the biggest concerns when bringing succulents in is keeping them hydrated enough throughout the winter months. There is very little natural light and cold temperatures that don’t allow water to evaporate quickly.

When watering succulents when they are brought inside, it is crucial that you do not overwater them, or else the roots will rot. If your plant feels light and dry, then go ahead and give it a good drink of water when bringing indoors.

Otherwise, keep an eye on how often to water when keeping outside plants as houseplants during winter.

It’s important to note that when you water your plant, do not allow the pot to sit in a saucer filled with standing water. Succulents need good drainage when indoors, and sitting in water will encourage root rot which can kill them quickly when brought inside.

If too much moisture is given, leaves may turn yellow or fall off when succulents are brought indoors.

Indoor Temperature Requirements

Succulents need a certain temperature when brought indoors. They do not enjoy extreme temperatures, and they like it even less when moved from outdoors to inside, which can shock them when getting succulents in during the winter months.

When your outdoor succulent plants are dormant, you should keep the indoor temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit when bringing them inside when there are cold outdoor temperatures.

Placing them in a sunny area when bringing succulents indoors can even help them stay warmer.

When Can Succulents Go Outside?

If you bring succulents inside when it’s cold outside, they should be able to go back out once the weather warms up. The majority of the time, they may be brought back outside in mid-February.

Remember when bringing succulents back outside to acclimate them gradually with warmer temperatures.

If you bring them straight from inside when it’s cold outdoors, they will most likely die when brought outdoors when there is a sudden temperature drop.

When taking your plants out of the house again after winter has passed, begin by placing them in an area with filtered sunlight when bringing succulents back outside.

Gradually increase the amount of time your plants are outdoors until they can be placed in direct sun when outdoor temperatures remain mild – usually mid-May to early June depending on climate and location (north vs. south).

Should You Bring Succulents Inside in the Summer?

Succulents are plants that usually require full sun, meaning they can live outside when it is sunny. However, it can be dangerous for succulents to live outdoors when it gets very hot and humid outdoors.

They need a place where they will not receive direct sunlight when the temperatures are higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 32 Celsius.

If you are concerned about bringing succulents inside in the summer, place your plants under shade when it gets extremely hot.

Furthermore, if your succulent is situated outside where much sun exposure and heat radiates off surfaces, it can overheat very quickly.

If this happens, take action immediately by moving it away from these areas not to dry out or get burned.

The reason why succulents should live indoors when temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) is that when their temperature rises too high for too long it will cause permanent damage.

They might wilt and show signs of scorch on leaves even when you water correctly, which may lead to death later on.

Should I Bring My Succulents Inside When It Rains?

Succulents dislike being wet for too long, and they will rot. So, it would be common sense to protect your succulents from the rain and bring them inside.

However, this is not always the case.

If you live in an area that receives less than 20 – 25 inches of rain on a yearly basis, you may be fine leaving your succulents outside.

However, if you reside in a location that receives more than 25 to 30 inches of yearly rainfall, root rot is possible.

In this case, when it starts to rain, you should bring your succulents inside.

Additionally, if there is a chance for flash flooding or standing water when it rains in your area, you might also want to consider bringing them indoors.

Final Thoughts

Succulents thrive when grown outdoors when you can give them the amount and type of sunlight they need.

However, succulents are sensitive to extreme temperatures, and when it gets too cold or too hot outside, you will need to bring them indoors.

When bringing plants indoors, make sure they have adequate light and that you water them properly when they are indoors.

If you notice your succulents start to get a bit limp when you bring them inside, it is because of the temperature difference and lack of light.

Make sure to give them time outside when temperatures become more bearable for outdoor growing conditions before bringing them back in.

Succulents are low maintenance and easy to care for plants, but they still need a bit of attention to keep them healthy.

If you give your succulents what they need when they need it and in the amount required for their size and age, these low-maintenance plants will reward you with many years of beauty and enjoyment indoors or out!

When Should You Bring Your Succulents Inside?