Plant care
Thai Auberginetemperature & humidity
Solanum melongena 'Thai Green'
More about thai aubergine
Ideal temperature for thai aubergine
Temperature kills fewer thai aubergine 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 22-32°C (72-90°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 22°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Thai Aubergine is frost-tender (USDA 10-12 as a perennial; grown as a frost-tender annual elsewhere (zones 5-10 as a hot-summer crop), RHS H1B (warm-temperate; no cold tolerance, needs above about 15°C to thrive)). 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 thai aubergine
Thai Aubergine sits happiest at around 55-75% relative humidity. Enjoys warm, fairly humid conditions reflecting its tropical roots. Under glass, keep humidity up by damping down to deter spider mite, but ventilate enough to prevent fungal problems. 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.
Thai Aubergine temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for thai aubergine?
Thai Aubergine grows best between 22-32°C (72-90°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 thai aubergine tolerate?
Thai Aubergine starts to suffer below roughly 22°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 thai aubergine need?
Thai Aubergine prefers about 55-75% relative humidity. Enjoys warm, fairly humid conditions reflecting its tropical roots. Under glass, keep humidity up by damping down to deter spider mite, but ventilate enough to prevent fungal problems.
How do I raise humidity for thai aubergine?
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 thai aubergine live outside?
Thai Aubergine is rated for USDA zone 10-12 as a perennial; grown as a frost-tender annual elsewhere (zones 5-10 as a hot-summer crop) and RHS hardiness H1B (warm-temperate; no cold tolerance, needs above about 15°C to thrive). Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More thai aubergine care
In the UK? Keeping thai aubergine warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full thai aubergine care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.