Plant care
Incense Cedartemperature & humidity
Calocedrus decurrens
More about incense cedar
Ideal temperature for incense cedar
Incense Cedar is comfortable in any room a person is comfortable in, roughly -29°C to 38°C (-20°F to 100°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 -29°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Incense Cedar is comparatively hardy (USDA 5-8, RHS H5). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for incense cedar
Incense Cedar sits happiest at around 30–70% relative humidity. Tolerates low humidity and dry summer conditions typical of its native California mountain habitat. Does not require elevated humidity in cultivation. Sensitive to atmospheric pollution and wind exposure in urban settings. 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.
Incense Cedar temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for incense cedar?
Incense Cedar grows best between -29°C to 38°C (-20°F to 100°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 incense cedar tolerate?
Incense Cedar starts to suffer below roughly -29°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 5-8, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does incense cedar need?
Incense Cedar prefers about 30–70% relative humidity. Tolerates low humidity and dry summer conditions typical of its native California mountain habitat. Does not require elevated humidity in cultivation. Sensitive to atmospheric pollution and wind exposure in urban settings.
How do I raise humidity for incense cedar?
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 incense cedar live outside?
Incense Cedar is rated for USDA zone 5-8 and RHS hardiness H5. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More incense cedar care
In the UK? Keeping incense cedar warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full incense cedar care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.