Plant care
Chayotetemperature & humidity
Sechium edule
More about chayote
Ideal temperature for chayote
Chayote is comfortable in any room a person is comfortable in, roughly 18–30°C (64–86°F). The mistakes are micro-climates: a north-facing window on a frosty night, a south-facing windowsill in a summer heatwave, the standing draught between an opened kitchen door and the radiator behind it. Read the room around the plant, not the thermostat. Below roughly 18°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Chayote is frost-tender (USDA 8–12 (perennial in frost-free zones; annual elsewhere), RHS H2). 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 chayote
Chayote sits happiest at around 50–80% relative humidity. Naturally adapted to the humid tropics and subtropics. In dry climates, maintain moisture through mulching and consistent irrigation. Adequate humidity helps pollen viability and fruit set. Excessive humidity with poor airflow encourages mildew. 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.
Chayote temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for chayote?
Chayote grows best between 18–30°C (64–86°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 chayote tolerate?
Chayote starts to suffer below roughly 18°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 chayote need?
Chayote prefers about 50–80% relative humidity. Naturally adapted to the humid tropics and subtropics. In dry climates, maintain moisture through mulching and consistent irrigation. Adequate humidity helps pollen viability and fruit set. Excessive humidity with poor airflow encourages mildew.
How do I raise humidity for chayote?
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 chayote live outside?
Chayote is rated for USDA zone 8–12 (perennial in frost-free zones; annual elsewhere) and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More chayote care
In the UK? Keeping chayote warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full chayote care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.