Indoor plants can add much-needed life to your home during the winter months. However, there are some important things to remember when caring for your plants during the colder weather.
Here are a few tips you can follow to keep your plants happy and healthy during the winter.
Don’t Overwater Them
Water readily evaporates in the summertime, and this makes plants more thirsty. However, in the winter, it's easy to overwater or drown plants with the same level of moisture.
“Before watering indoor plants in winter, stick your finger one inch into the soil. If the soil feels moist, don’t water it.” - Get Busy Gardening
It’s also important to make sure that your plants have proper drainage. If your plant’s container doesn’t have drainage holes, you can create a drainage layer with pebbles or stones by placing them at the bottom of the pot. This will give water a place to sit and reduce the risk of drowning your plants.
Stabilize Temperatures
The consistency of the temperature in your home is essential if plants are to survive the winter.
“Houseplants usually come from tropical regions. They come in a wide variety of colours, sizes and shapes, and they can be particular about the temperature they prefer. Make sure you know the ideal temperature for the plants you have and keep an eye on the thermostat.” - Ambius
While plants tend to require less water in the wintertime, they can also dry out if the temperature in your home is too high. Keep plants in a room that gets less direct artificial heat, or add a humidifier to put moisture back into the environment.
Repot
The benefits of repotting your plants are many.
Repotting gives your plants more room to grow and space for their roots to breathe. It also prevents plants from becoming root-bound, which occurs when root systems become too large for the container a plant is in.
“... if you have woody plants, they tend to go into dormancy during the colder months. Now is the time to repot woody plants so that they are ready to start budding and grow when spring comes around.” - Ambius
Monitor Light Exposure
Similar to people, plants need a certain amount of light in order to thrive. There are fewer hours of daylight during the winter months, so it’s essential to take advantage of what little natural light there is.
“The best thing you can do for a growing plant is placing it as close to the window as possible… the best window is a south-facing window.” - Click & Grow
Whether you’re caring for indoor plants or ones that have been brought inside, pay special attention to your plants in the winter. With these tips in mind, your plants will make it through the sub-zero temperatures in the best of health!
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