HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR HOUSE PLANTS IN WINTER
QUEENS OF GREEN
TOP
TIPS
READ OUR TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE PLANTS THRIVING THROUGH THE WINTER!
Anyone who’s owned a houseplant knows that winter brings its own challenges. A plant that has thrived through the summer may suddenly look sad, droopy or brown-leaved. Cold drafts, hot radiators, dry air and dark days combine to make our usually happy houseplants sad. Some sulk until spring, others die suddenly without warning.
What is going on? And how can you keep your houseplants blooming through the winter?
Read on for our top tips!
1
LESS WATER
Let’s be honest, we all feel a bit like hibernating when the weather turns cold. Snuggling down and being a bit less sociable. Well your house plants are the same!
Nearly all plants enter a period of hibernation over winter - a time when they stop or slow their growth, helping to protect them from freezes and droughts.
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Dormant plants usually require less water - so make sure you cut down your watering to a couple of times a month (or less for succulents). The only exception to this is if they’re sitting on a heated floor or near a radiator - when they might dry out quicker. Always check the moisture content of your soil before watering to be sure!
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2
NO FOOD
If your plants aren’t growing, they don’t need feeding. Plant food can actually harm your houseplants in winter - forcing them to grow weakly (resulting in spindly stems and pale leaves) or suffer ‘fertiliser burn’ (when your plant gets brown leaf tips and leaves wilt and drop off due to salt build-up in the soil). So put away the plant food until springtime!
3
FOLLOW THE LIGHT!
The light coming into your home changes with the seasons - bright windows become dark, different areas of the house might get direct sunlight at different times of day. Be aware of what areas get the light and move your plants towards it if necessary.
Wipe your plant’s leaves with a damp cloth to keep them dust free and help them to absorb as much light as possible during the day. It may also be worth cleaning your windows (!) to maximise your light levels!
If all else fails and your home is still dark and gloomy - consider investing in a lamp with a grow bulb on a timer to ensure your more sun-loving plants get a boost in the winter.
4
AVOID EXTREME HEAT AND COLD
Most houseplants originated in tropical climates - they like a nice steady warm temperature of about 20°C. They don’t love our cold British winters and hot dry central heating.
Cold drafts can be fatal to houseplants so move them away from drafty windows and doors. Try not to trap them between curtains and icy window panes overnight. Similarly, extreme heat also stresses plants out so try and avoid placing them close to fireplaces and hot radiators.
When it comes to underfloor heating - you might want to consider a plant stand or cork mat to put under the pot and stop the roots overheating.
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5
MIST, MIST, MIST
Switching on central heating dries the air, leaving less moisture for our house plants. In addition to careful watering once the soil is dry, mist your plants every few days to keep them happy and their leaves clean.
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Try also grouping your houseplants together - plants release water vapour which then get trapped amongst the leaves of nearby plants and helps keep the air around them more humid!
With the help of these tips, you should be able to keep your houseplants alive through the winter and in tip top condition for them to start growing again in Spring!
