IN THIS POST
- Alter watering routine
- Monitor humidity level
- Control temperature
- Relocate for sunlight
- Put your plants on a diet
Adding plants to your garden and your home is not only pleasant for the eyes but is also useful for other purposes, such as cleaning the air by absorbing toxins and producing oxygen. A touch of green can make your house look more beautiful while improving the quality of air, leading to a healthier environment. However, you can only enjoy these benefits if you take care of your plants, especially during extreme weather.
\In one of our previous blogs, we talked about gardening tips for summers that will help protect your plants from sunburns and rotting. This time around, we have brought you a few tips for caring for houseplants in winter.
There is no denying that the winter season could be difficult not just for humans but for plants as well. The reduced temperature, lack of sunlight, and dryness in the air are a few things that can affect the health of your plants and, in a worst-case scenario, even kill them. Hence, it will help to have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve to protect your plants during the chilly weather.
Caring For Houseplants In Winters
During winter you will need to pay a little extra attention to your plants and slightly modify their care routine to help them thrive. Here are a few things you will need to do:
Alter Watering Routine
In winter, plants grow at a very slow rate and some even go dormant. This is why they don’t need frequent watering during the season. Watering your plants regularly as you do in summers or other seasons is a mistake because it causes roots to rot and diminishes growth.
Since less water is required by plants during winter for hydration, as mentioned above, their growth is also slower. Although the upper layer of the soil might dry early, this is not the right indicator that your plant needs water. Checking a few inches deeper in the soil will give you a better idea if it’s time to water your plants or not. Some plants like cacti and succulents have thick stems and leaves that store water and can sustain drought. These require even lesser moisture for growth and maintaining good health.
Monitor Humidity Level
The air during winter is dry and inside homes. It gets even drier if you are using any heating equipment like heaters. Plants need moisture in the air and the best humidity level for houseplants is closer to 50%. Plants with thick leaves can survive in less humid air but those with thin leaves require more moisture.
These methods will come in handy to increase humidity in the air:
Humidifiers: If you use humidifiers in your homes during winter, placing them closer to the plants will provide them with the required moisture in the air.
Plant Grouping: Plants transpire water through their leaves in a very low quantity. If you have more than a few plants, group them in the same space which will create a micro-climate around them. This will put evaporated water to good use.
Misting: Misting is a temporary method to moisten the leaves. If you do decide to spritz water on the leaves, you will need to do it repeatedly at intervals. This will keep the leaves moist but allow the water to evaporate.
Placing plants in humid areas: Areas like bathrooms and kitchens are relatively more humid than other rooms because these accumulate moisture from showers and boiling water. If you have extra space in these areas, put your plants there for optimum moisture.
Temperature Control
Most houseplants prefer tropical weather conditions and are comfortable in temperatures between 18 to 26 degree Celsius in the daytime and 10 to 18 degree Celsius during the night. Keeping them in cold spaces and heated areas can be detrimental to their growth, so you should know the temperature best suited for their survival. The placement of your plants should always be away from fireplaces and electrical appliances that emit heat such as refrigerators and ovens.
Relocate For Sunlight
Winter days are short. Therefore, we get fewer hours of sunlight. However, as we all know, plants need an adequate amount of natural light for their survival since photosynthesis occurs only in sunlight. If you have set your plants in different corners of your house where they might not be exposed to sun rays, you should consider changing their location.
Relocating them to a brighter spot where they can enjoy better light could also help your plants thrive during the cold weather. Moreover, don’t forget to clean the windows from the inside as well as outside to ensure maximum exposure to light. For better absorption of sunlight, mist or water the leaves of your houseplants so that the dust cleans off.
Pro tip: Keep rotating the pot a few degrees after regular intervals so that all sides and leaves of the plant get sufficient sunlight.
Pay Attention to the Diet Of Your Plants
Many plants go dormant during winter, which means some of your houseplants may also experience this natural phenomenon and grow new leaves in spring. Even if they don’t, their growth will be the bare minimum until next season. When there are signs of new growth such as leaves and buds, you can resume fertilization. Though before that, just stick to essentials like water, humid air, and sunlight to sustain them through the season.
In addition to these, you will need to closely monitor your plants for any spider webs or any other pests and take immediate steps to eliminate the threat. Be mindful of the fact that excess of everything is bad. While caring for plants in winter, make sure you are not killing them with kindness. Pruning your plants is another trick to keep your plants out of harm’s way as removing diseased parts like branches, leaves and buds can help them survive for a longer period.
This concludes our guide on how to care for houseplants during winter. Please check out our blogs on the best gardening tips for healthy plants and the best indoor plants for cleaner air. You can also read our home maintenance checklist for winter for more seasonal tips and tricks
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