Plant care
Japanese forest grasstemperature & humidity
Hakonechloa macra
More about japanese forest grass
Ideal temperature for japanese forest grass
Aim for -15 to 26°C (5 to 79°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 -15°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Japanese forest grass is comparatively hardy (USDA 5-9, RHS H6). 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 japanese forest grass
Japanese forest grass sits happiest at around 40-70% relative humidity. An outdoor woodland grass that appreciates ambient moisture; no special humidity regime needed. Exposed, windy positions cause leaf-tip browning — site in a sheltered, moist spot. 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.
Japanese forest grass temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for japanese forest grass?
Japanese forest grass grows best between -15 to 26°C (5 to 79°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 japanese forest grass tolerate?
Japanese forest grass starts to suffer below roughly -15°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 5-9, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does japanese forest grass need?
Japanese forest grass prefers about 40-70% relative humidity. An outdoor woodland grass that appreciates ambient moisture; no special humidity regime needed. Exposed, windy positions cause leaf-tip browning — site in a sheltered, moist spot.
How do I raise humidity for japanese forest grass?
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 japanese forest grass live outside?
Japanese forest grass is rated for USDA zone 5-9 and RHS hardiness H6. 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 japanese forest grass care
In the UK? Keeping japanese forest grass warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full japanese forest grass care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.