The safety of geotechnical engineering in cold regions depends largely on the stability of the supporting structure. Owing to the advantages of less dust, small rebound during operation, and enhanced strength of the sprayed layer, wet shotcrete has gradually been employed to support the roadway with broken surrounding rocks. The curing temperature of wet shotcrete decreases in cold regions, seriously affecting the mechanical characteristics of the wet shotcrete sprayed layer. However, the impact of temperature has not been fully considered in current mine engineering practice. Therefore, this study investigated the factors affecting the strength of wet shotcrete when applying mine wet shotcrete technology in cold regions. The results showed that the strength development of the sprayed layer of wet shotcrete roadway support in cold regions was significantly correlated with temperature. The microstructure of wet shotcrete is primarily influenced by temperature, as the hydration reaction of wet shotcrete is sensitive to temperature changes, ultimately influencing the microstructure of the shotcrete. Furthermore, the strength of the interface between the initial pore fissures and aggregate transition zone directly affects the macroscopic mechanical properties of wet shotcrete. Controlling the water-cement ratio (W/C) stands as a pivotal factor in improving concrete compactness and mitigating crack development. By testing the specimens after spray plate processing and field engineering application research, optimization measures for wet shotcrete support in cold regions were proposed, effectively improving the structural strength of the sprayed layer. After curing for 28 d, the spray layer improved to 32.9 MPa (increased by about 40 %), and the support repair rate was reduced by 85 %, achieving a good construction effect. The findings of this study can guide the construction of wet shotcrete under similar engineering conditions.