Thursday January 10 is Houseplant Appreciation Day, an appropriate observation since houseplants help beautify our homes, elevate our moods and clean the air we breathe. Taking care of your houseplants in the winter is a little different because the days are shorter, there is less natural light and the air is drier. Keeping these things in mind, here are some tips to keep your houseplants healthy and thriving.
First, compensate for winter’s shorter days by moving your plants to a brighter spot or add supplemental lighting to their current location. There is a wide variety of grow lamps to choose from. Many will fit a standard light socket, making it easy to increase the light levels for your houseplants.
Second, increase the humidity by grouping your houseplants closer together. Placing plants closer together increases the relative humidity.
Adding a pebble tray will also increase humidity, just make sure the bottom of the pot doesn't touch the water. Placing a room humidifier close to your plants is another way to increase the humidity around your plants.
Third, it’s still important to keep your plants well hydrated and fed this time of year. If you're unsure when to water or if you've had problems with overwatering, a simple moisture meter will help you take the guess work out of watering your plants. When it is time, it’s best to use water that's room temperature. An easy way to do this is to fill your watering can the day before you plan to water and let it sit out overnight in the room where your plants are located.
About every two weeks, feed your houseplants with a good indoor plant food.
Finally, keep the leaves of your houseplants clean by wiping them with a soft, damp rag. Products like Leaf Shine are also available to help keep houseplant foliage cleaner, for longer periods of time. Doing these things will help your plants do their best through the winter season.
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