Houseplant Winter care Tips

 

Tuesday January 10, 2023, marked Houseplant Appreciation Day, an appropriate observation since houseplants help beautify our homes, elevate our mood, 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. Not only are there fewer daylight hours during the winter, but the available sunlight is coming from a lower angle. A South or West facing window that may have been too intense during the summer months, could provide bright, indirect light during the winter. If relocating your houseplants is not an option, consider adding supplemental lighting to their current location.  There are a wide variety of plant grow lamps to choose from. Many will fit a standard light socket, making it easy to increase the light levels.

 

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.  One way to tell if a plant needs water is to poke your finger into the soil and see how dry it is an inch or two below the surface.  A simple moisture meter will also help you decide when it’s time to water. 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 in the room where your plants are located. Water each plant thoroughly, until you can see water in the saucer below the pot. Wait a few minutes, then dump any excess water from the saucer. It’s important to not let your houseplants sit in water.

 

When it comes to feeding your houseplants during the winter months, choose a kelp-based, low concentration fertilizer. This will keep the root system strong and support healthy foliage. Plan to feed your plants every three to four weeks.  

 

Finally, forced air furnaces can deposit dust on the leaves of your houseplants. Keep the foliage clean by wiping the leaves with a soft, damp rag. Small plants can be put in the sink and rinsed off. Use products like Leaf Shine to help keep the leaves clean.  

It's important to check your house plants frequently for insect and disease activities. 

Doing these things will help your plants do their best through the winter season.