Plant care
Moth Mulleintemperature & humidity
Verbascum blattaria
More about moth mullein
Ideal temperature for moth mullein
Aim for -20 to 32°C (-4 to 90°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 -20°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Moth Mullein is comparatively hardy (USDA 3–9, RHS H7). 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 moth mullein
Moth Mullein sits happiest at around 30–60% relative humidity. Best adapted to the drier conditions of open meadows and disturbed ground. The slender stems and relatively hairless leaves make it less drought-resistant than woolly-leaved Verbascum species but it still performs well in drier temperate climates. Avoid persistently humid, still-air positions. 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.
Moth Mullein temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for moth mullein?
Moth Mullein grows best between -20 to 32°C (-4 to 90°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 moth mullein tolerate?
Moth Mullein starts to suffer below roughly -20°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 3–9, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does moth mullein need?
Moth Mullein prefers about 30–60% relative humidity. Best adapted to the drier conditions of open meadows and disturbed ground. The slender stems and relatively hairless leaves make it less drought-resistant than woolly-leaved Verbascum species but it still performs well in drier temperate climates. Avoid persistently humid, still-air positions.
How do I raise humidity for moth mullein?
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 moth mullein live outside?
Moth Mullein is rated for USDA zone 3–9 and RHS hardiness H7. 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 moth mullein care
In the UK? Keeping moth mullein warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full moth mullein care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.