From my perspective as an Aglaia odorata, temperature is the most critical factor for my survival in your cold climate. I am a tender, subtropical being, and my cellular structure is simply not designed for freezing conditions. My roots, stems, and leaves contain a high water content. When the temperature plummets below 5°C (41°F), I become stressed. If it dips to freezing (0°C / 32°F), the water inside my cells turns to ice crystals. These crystals are like tiny daggers, piercing and shredding my cell walls from the inside out. This damage is often irreversible and fatal. Therefore, your primary mission is to keep me in an environment consistently above 5°C, ideally between 10-15°C (50-59°F) for a safe and dormant winter rest.
I cannot endure winter outside in a cold climate. As autumn wanes and night temperatures consistently drop to around 10°C (50°F), I need you to move me to a sheltered indoor location. A bright, cool sunroom, a minimally heated greenhouse, or even a bright garage window are ideal. A typical heated living room is often too warm and too dark, causing me immense stress. This space must have excellent air circulation to ward off fungal enemies but be free from harsh, direct drafts from heating vents or frequently opened doors, which can desiccate my leaves rapidly.
Once indoors, my metabolism slows dramatically. I am not dead; I am dormant, conserving energy. This means my thirst diminishes almost completely. You must drastically reduce watering. Please, check my soil by feeling it 2-3 inches deep. Only provide a small drink when that soil is completely dry. Overwatering is now your greatest weapon against me—soggy, cold soil will cause my roots to rot and suffocate, a death sentence from which I cannot recover. As for light, I still crave as much bright, indirect light as you can provide. A south or west-facing window is perfect. It fuels the minimal photosynthesis I perform to stay alive, preventing me from becoming weak and etiolated (stretched and pale).
The dry air generated by indoor heating systems is challenging for me. It pulls moisture from my leaves faster than my sluggish roots can replace it, often leading to leaf browning and drop. You can help by placing my pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensuring my pot sits on the pebbles, not in the water) or by occasionally grouping me with other plants to create a more humid microclimate. Most importantly, you must cease all fertilization. My system is shut down and cannot process any nutrients. Feeding me now would lead to a toxic buildup of salts in the soil, severely damaging my fragile root system. Let me rest.
