With Christmas less than 3 weeks away, chances are you have brought all of your plants inside to protect them from the cold. Maybe you also have plants that you keep in the house all year long. Whether these plants stay indoors our outdoors during the year, winter can be a stressful time for them. Caring for indoor plants during the winter can be a challenge but we have 5 tips on how to do it successfully.
5 Tips for Caring for Indoor Plants During the Winter
- All plants need adequate light. Adequate light is hard to access in the wintertime. To help your plants ride out the dark winter, make sure you place them where they receive the maximum amount of light all day. Certain rooms may only get small amounts of light at certain times of the day so try to place the plants in a room where it is bright most of the day. Wash the windows so the maximum amount of light shines in. You’ll also want to dust the leaves of plants so they can absorb light more easily.
- Watch your watering. Believe it or not, plants may need less water in the winter. Winter air is drier and because of this plants experience a slower rate of growth. If you want to see whether your plants need water, a good way to test this is to push your finger into the soil. If more than an inch of the soil is dry, it is time to water that plant. Try to have the water come to room temperature before watering so the plant’s roots don’t get shocked.
- Increase humidity in the air. Heat in homes can drop the humidity in the home by 10 to 20 percent. Plants prefer a level of 50%. To counteract the winter dryness, you will want to place the plants in a room with a humidifier. You should also place the plants in groups. Plants release moisture through their leaves and grouping them together will help them share the moisture they are releasing. If you do not have a humidifier or cannot purchase one, your second best bet is placing the plants in the bathroom where showers and baths keep it moist. Misting plants will also help them keep them from drying out.
- Don’t fertilize your plants. Feeding plants during the winter can upset their cycle. Hold off on fertilizing until spring, or until you see signs of new growth.
- Don’t expose the plants to drafts. Make sure your plants are in a room where the windows are sealed and there are no drafts. Cold drafts can lead to plants dropping leaves. An ideal temperature for indoor plants is between 70 and 80 degrees.
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