Plant care
Restrepo's Chiguatemperature & humidity
Chigua restrepoi
More about restrepo's chigua
Ideal temperature for restrepo's chigua
Temperature kills fewer restrepo's chigua plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at 18–30°C (64–86°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 18°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Restrepo's Chigua is frost-tender (USDA 11-12, 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 restrepo's chigua
Restrepo's Chigua sits happiest at around 70–90% relative humidity. Requires high, stable humidity replicating its Chocó rainforest origin — one of the wettest regions on Earth. In cultivation, a humidity tray, frequent misting of surrounding air (not directly on the caudex), or a closed terrarium/greenhouse environment is needed. Brown frond tips indicate inadequate humidity. 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.
Restrepo's Chigua temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for restrepo's chigua?
Restrepo's Chigua 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 restrepo's chigua tolerate?
Restrepo's Chigua 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 restrepo's chigua need?
Restrepo's Chigua prefers about 70–90% relative humidity. Requires high, stable humidity replicating its Chocó rainforest origin — one of the wettest regions on Earth. In cultivation, a humidity tray, frequent misting of surrounding air (not directly on the caudex), or a closed terrarium/greenhouse environment is needed. Brown frond tips indicate inadequate humidity.
How do I raise humidity for restrepo's chigua?
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 restrepo's chigua live outside?
Restrepo's Chigua is rated for USDA zone 11-12 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 restrepo's chigua care
In the UK? Keeping restrepo's chigua warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full restrepo's chigua care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.