Plant care
Belgian Endive (Witloof)temperature & humidity
Cichorium intybus var. foliosum 'Witloof'
More about belgian endive (witloof)
Ideal temperature for belgian endive (witloof)
Temperature kills fewer belgian endive (witloof) plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at 10 to 18°C (forcing) (50 to 64°F (forcing)) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 10°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Belgian Endive (Witloof) is frost-tender (USDA Field stage hardy to light frost; force indoors at 10-18°C, RHS H4). It cannot survive a frost, so in most of the US and UK it lives indoors year-round or summers outside and comes back in well before the first autumn frost — once nights drop toward 10-12°C is the cue, not the first frost warning. Acclimate it over a week when moving between indoors and out so the leaves do not shock.
Humidity for belgian endive (witloof)
Belgian Endive (Witloof) sits happiest at around Ambient outdoor; moist during forcing relative humidity. Outdoors no special humidity is needed. The dark forcing environment should be cool and humid enough to keep chicons crisp, but never wet, or the heads rot before they mature. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Belgian Endive (Witloof) temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for belgian endive (witloof)?
Belgian Endive (Witloof) grows best between 10 to 18°C (forcing) (50 to 64°F (forcing)). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can belgian endive (witloof) tolerate?
Belgian Endive (Witloof) starts to suffer below roughly 10°C. It is frost-tender and will be damaged or killed by a frost, so bring it indoors once nights fall toward 10-12°C.
What humidity does belgian endive (witloof) need?
Belgian Endive (Witloof) prefers about Ambient outdoor; moist during forcing relative humidity. Outdoors no special humidity is needed. The dark forcing environment should be cool and humid enough to keep chicons crisp, but never wet, or the heads rot before they mature.
How do I raise humidity for belgian endive (witloof)?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can belgian endive (witloof) live outside?
Belgian Endive (Witloof) is rated for USDA zone Field stage hardy to light frost; force indoors at 10-18°C and RHS hardiness H4. Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More belgian endive (witloof) care
In the UK? Keeping belgian endive (witloof) warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full belgian endive (witloof) care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.