Plant care
Camu Camutemperature & humidity
Myrciaria dubia
More about camu camu
Ideal temperature for camu camu
Aim for 22–35°C (72–95°F) on the thermostat and you've handled the easy part. The hard part is the half-metre around the plant: window glass that drops to near-freezing on a January night, a radiator pumping out hot dry air, a draught from an opened front door. Move the plant 30 cm and you've usually fixed the problem. Below roughly 22°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Camu Camu is frost-tender (USDA 10b–12, RHS H1a). 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 camu camu
Camu Camu sits happiest at around 70–95% RH relative humidity. Native to the Amazon basin — one of the most humid regions on Earth. Demands consistently high humidity. In drier climates, growing near water, in a humid greenhouse, or with misting systems is necessary. Low humidity causes stress, leaf scorch, and severely reduced fruit production. Not suited to Mediterranean or semi-arid conditions without significant humidity modification. 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.
Camu Camu temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for camu camu?
Camu Camu grows best between 22–35°C (72–95°F). 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 camu camu tolerate?
Camu Camu starts to suffer below roughly 22°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 camu camu need?
Camu Camu prefers about 70–95% RH relative humidity. Native to the Amazon basin — one of the most humid regions on Earth. Demands consistently high humidity. In drier climates, growing near water, in a humid greenhouse, or with misting systems is necessary. Low humidity causes stress, leaf scorch, and severely reduced fruit production. Not suited to Mediterranean or semi-arid conditions without significant humidity modification.
How do I raise humidity for camu camu?
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 camu camu live outside?
Camu Camu is rated for USDA zone 10b–12 and RHS hardiness H1a. Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More camu camu care
In the UK? Keeping camu camu warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full camu camu care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.