Plant care
Tamarindtemperature & humidity
Tamarindus indica
More about tamarind
Ideal temperature for tamarind
Temperature kills fewer tamarind 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 20-35°C (68-95°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 20°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Tamarind is frost-tender (USDA 10-12 (mature trees tolerate brief light frost; container/conservatory in UK and cooler US), RHS H1b). 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 tamarind
Tamarind sits happiest at around 40-60% relative humidity. More tolerant of moderate and even low humidity than rainforest fruits, suiting average indoor air. It withstands dry, semi-arid conditions well, though sustained extremely dry air can cause some leaflet drop. 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.
Tamarind temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for tamarind?
Tamarind grows best between 20-35°C (68-95°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 tamarind tolerate?
Tamarind starts to suffer below roughly 20°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 tamarind need?
Tamarind prefers about 40-60% relative humidity. More tolerant of moderate and even low humidity than rainforest fruits, suiting average indoor air. It withstands dry, semi-arid conditions well, though sustained extremely dry air can cause some leaflet drop.
How do I raise humidity for tamarind?
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 tamarind live outside?
Tamarind is rated for USDA zone 10-12 (mature trees tolerate brief light frost; container/conservatory in UK and cooler US) and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More tamarind care
In the UK? Keeping tamarind warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full tamarind care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.