I think it depends on how your heating is set up. I have hydronic heat with baseboard radiators below all windows. This works well as I've kept a jade (among other C&S) in a south window in winter for 15 years at least.

tj

I never move mine, have rads under each window and when curtains are closed some heat does go behind the curtain and keeps plants safe, plus generally all windows here are double glazed, or triple in some houses.

Gill

Depends on individual circumstances. In most homes and with newer windows I would think it would be fine., Older windows may not fit tight and be drafty or not as well insulated anyway and cause problems. A windowsilll in Michigan in December would be colder than a windowsill in North Carolina in December all else being equal. Remember also that curtains can insulate your plants/windowsill from the heat of the room and actually make it colder than a curtainless window.

The windows in my apt are by no means well insulated -- doubt they're even double paned. I put most of my cacti/succs on the windowsills with nary an issue. Others sit on the floor in front of my sliding glass doors. Mine get very little water over the winter which may be why I have little issue with them.

I was originally worried about leaving plants in my office right next to the glass, but I used my 24 hour max/min thermometer ($10 home depot) and a handheld infrared thermometer to confirm it doesn't get that bad during the coldest days of last year.

It's double planed new windows, so that wasn't much of a surprise.

Located in Ontario, Canada.

I'm beginning to think that for some people with very cold windows, which in some cases can be the coldest place in the house, it would be better to use lights away from the cold into a much warmer room)

I think if your windows are too cold to keep succulents alive, you have bigger problems than your plants not doing well..

I keep all my windowsills full of succulents. They do not touch glass, but are as close to it as possible. My house is old, and so are some windows. Didn't loose plant to cold window yet.

Breton, I would say a watering problem..I am thinking many of mine like it to go dry for TIME AND dry out fast...I'm thinking for many folks if the soil mix is still damp and then cold, no good..I'm glad I brought this up. I think many just don't realize just how cold and damp can affect their plants in very cold window sill during the coldest part of the year........

Most of mine do ok. I am fully aware of the situation, but I was curious to see how many more are and if many do remove some of their from their window panes...I also lost a variegated 'gollum' which can not stand cold areas..

Yes, cold and cold + damp are two different situations. I was assuming plants would be kept on the dry side if they were in a cold area for the winter..

Most of my jades can stay on the Southern windowsills or bay windows. I hate being cold so I keep the daytime heat at about 72F and night about 66F. The large bay window is a bit drafty on the super cold nights. Most pots have some sort of raised feet or are sitting on a tiered shower caddy. It helps with drying them out and hopefully there is some warm air circulating there too. I also try to water them when it will be a sunny day, If it's going to be overcast or snowstorm then I wait for a brighter day. I can only think of a rare few times of moving a jade away from a chilled window, one was my large tricolor while soil was wet.

Last year, early winter there was a decent cold spell that caused a Denethor to bloom from the area closest to the window.

Nancy, thanks for letting us know..I love yours..We should all post our set up for this coming winter!

I am disagreeing with Breton2. Because unless you just live in the south and even then unless you have double pane windows if it’s 20° Or below outside it’s really cold on the window sill. It’s scheduled to be in the lower teens this week so I moved my cactus because one of them was literally ice cold to the touch and I know they don’t care for that. I don’t really care if you have double pane windows are not put your hand up there…… It’s cold…… Cactuses don’t like cold generally…… So I move mine.

bluescitygirl

I am disagreeing with you...and so are other posters. Vast majority of succulents will be just fine in cooler temps, as long as they are not wet. And they shouldn't be touching the cold glass. Otherwise, they will survive lower temps. Breton is very right saying: I think if your windows are too cold to keep succulents alive, you have bigger problems than your plants not doing well..

BTW, this is a 3yrs old post ...

I’ve never kept plants directly on the sill. I’ve used a table right in front of the window and I haven’t had any problems.

I took this thermal image a little while back and all the coldest days that winter. Outside it was around -18C or so. Inside, at the window frame it was -1C. My variety of succulents did just fine sitting so close to this window for several winters. The leaves were not touching the window pane. My coworkers and I were freezing!

https://www.houzz.com/user/rina-

So have succulents changed that much in three years?? Oh wait has a temperature change been so drastic?? I’m not sure why you feel this is irrelevant information just because it is 3 years old. I found it. Nor do I understand why you felt like you had to be such a snarky rude person to me…… I had watered my succulents two days ago…But you know it’s not really relevant. Not all succulents are cold hardy even though I get you are…And it’s absolutely wrong to say that all succulents will fare well on the windowsill when it’s -5 outside no matter what the windows are made of. I mean surely you know that much about succulents don’t you?? Maybe you and that other fellow need to go cool your assets in that freeze and chill. Ewwmayo thanks for being nice.

Well said, Rina!

Move them away from the windows? Heckynaw! I purposely put them as close to the windows as I can short of them actually touching it. My succs must make due with whatever meager winter sun a Michigan winter can provide. (Howard can attest to just how infrequent and weak that sun can be.) Because of that, I purposely want the plants to stay rather chill and rarely give them water. My goal is for them NOT to grow over the winter. I have no interest in weak, etiolated growth.