It’s a tale as old as time: green thumb goals blossom in springtime and the warm months are filled with growing a beautiful collection of indoor and outdoor plants. Then, fall rolls around and we let the outdoor garden beds rest – but it’s easy to forget that those indoor plants will react to the seasonal changes too!
Even though the inside of your home is temperature controlled, your houseplants will behave differently and need different care once winter arrives. Lean on these four tips to achieve thriving winter houseplants this season.
1. Water Thoughtfully
Lower temperatures and less light mean your plants will absorb moisture at a much slower rate during the colder months. Don’t overdo it on the water: feel for dry soil before watering thoroughly. Leave a bit more time between waterings than you might in the summer. It’s easier to come back from a short dry spell than it is to recover from mold or fungus caused by excess water and low light.
2. Find the Light
Shorter days in the wintertime mean your plants won’t get as much light. For varieties that love more direct sunlight, consider moving your plants to sunnier spots in your home in the wintertime. Keep in mind that this won’t always mean moving your plants closer to the window, where temperatures might be lower and drafts can affect the health of your plants. Look for well-protected spots that still see the sunshine for several hours of each day, and relocate your plants to those areas.
3. Add Moisture
Running the heater quickly leads to dry conditions inside the average home. If you notice sad houseplants in winter, dry air could be the problem. Consider setting up an area of your home with a nice humidifier and keeping your moisture-sensitive varieties in that area. Alternatively, you could keep those moisture-loving plants in or near a bathroom that you use frequently so they can soak up the steam from showers.
4. Keep It Simple
A common mistake in caring for winter houseplants is expecting and pushing them to behave the same way they did in the warmer months. Adding fertilizers unnecessarily in these months can do more harm than good: it’s important that your plants have the season to rest. Slow growth is not a red flag for winter houseplants, and instead should be expected and embraced.
Focus on simplicity and get back to basics: a bit of water and a healthy dose of light is all they need. Keep leaves clean by wiping with a damp cloth in these dustier months so that the chlorophyll in your plants’ leaves can process that sought-after sunlight. As much as possible, place them away from drafty windows or heater vents so that they don’t have to cope with fluctuating temperatures.
Support your plants with natural and organic biologicals for a gentle boost. BugHut’s Plant Protection Bundle is the perfect place to start for happy, healthy houseplants in winter. Destressor will help your plants tolerate winter’s temperature fluctuations while Insect Control and Fungicide protect your home and plants from unwanted pests and fungal infections that can result from less light. Save $8 and get free shipping when you buy the bundle!
Get back to basics and restful care in wintertime, and watch your plants thank you with exciting growth come springtime!
