▁in ▁the ▁wild . ▁Trop ical ▁trees ▁are ▁usually ▁toler ant ▁of ▁room ▁temperature ▁year - round ▁but ▁cannot ▁toler ate ▁temper atures ▁approaching ▁free zing , ▁as ▁might ▁occur ▁near ▁an ▁open ▁window ▁in ▁cold ▁weather . ▁Sem i - t rop ical ▁and ▁Mediter rane an - cl imate ▁trees ▁often ▁grow ▁better ▁when ▁temper atures ▁drop ▁well ▁below ▁room ▁temperature ▁during ▁winter ▁months . ▁The ▁lower ▁temperature , ▁combined ▁with ▁shorter ▁periods ▁of ▁day light , ▁triggers ▁an ▁expected ▁annual ▁d orm ancy ▁which ▁many ▁non - t rop ical ▁species ▁need ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁th rive . ▁These ▁non - t rop ical ▁trees ▁need ▁a ▁cool ▁location ▁in ▁the ▁winter , ▁such ▁as ▁a ▁cool ▁window ▁led ge ▁or ▁" c old ▁room " ▁area ▁in ▁the ▁house . ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁the ▁need ▁for ▁season al ▁temperature ▁variation , ▁many ▁non - t rop ical s ▁grow ▁better ▁when ▁there ▁is ▁a ▁distinct ▁difference ▁between ▁day ▁temper atures ▁( w arm ) ▁and ▁night ▁( co ol er ). ▁ ▁Hum id ity ▁Ind oor ▁conditions , ▁particularly ▁in ▁homes ▁outside ▁the ▁trop ics , ▁imply ▁very ▁low ▁hum id ity . ▁Both ▁air ▁condition ing ▁and ▁room ▁he ating ▁reduce ▁air ▁hum id ity ▁significantly . ▁Some ▁tree ▁species , ▁such ▁as ▁f icus ▁sp . ▁with ▁their ▁w axy ▁leaves , ▁are ▁toler ant ▁of ▁low ▁hum id ity . ▁Many ▁species , ▁however , ▁require ▁additional ▁hum id ification ▁to ▁surv ive ▁ind o