Plant Zoning Map
Grow zones are some pretty technical stuff! If you have never heard of it, the zoning map was created by the United States Department of Agriculture. It helps plant parents determine which plant are most likely to #thrive in certain areas. The climate and environment of the area your space is in plays an important role in the care of your plants. The USDA bases the map on the average annual minimum winter temperature. The minimum temperatures are then divided into 10-degree F zones.
We know most succs love sunny areas and require very minimal maintenance. A majority of succulents are happiest in zones 3-9, with average winter temperatures ranging from -30 – 30 degrees F.
About the Zones
There are 13 different hardiness zones in North America, all based on temperature and climate. Zone 1 is the coldest, with average winter temperatures ranging from -60 – -50 degrees F and the warmest zone, 13, with average temperatures ranging from 60 – 70 degrees F.
If all of this info has you thinking “huh?!” Let us break it down like this, plant zones are like shoe sizes. We all know if a shoe feels comfortable and fits our feet, each plant has a “size” that fits them best AKA their zone. Sometimes we can wear a range of shoe sizes, depending on brand or store, plants can fit into multiple zones as well!
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is not the end-all-be-all to being a plant parent, you can successfully grow whatever your heart desires with proper care. Want to grow tropical plants but live in a cold area? Invest in a grow light and humidifier! Want to grow desert cacti and succulents but live in a high humidity area? Keep those bbs away from the humid rooms of your home and water less frequently.
