Winter Care for your Houseplants
This time of year we are spending a lot less time out in the garden, and more time indoors curled up under a mound of blankets. Luckily, we can still enjoy our plants indoors! Winter care is slightly different than any other season. We’ll see far less growth over a few months and some plants even show signs of winter dormancy. Altering your care strategy for the colder months will help your plant bring lots of new life in the spring. Follow these tips to get through the darker days!
Stay Humid
Winter dryness is not great for plants when plants require moisture as their main sustenance. Many popular plants are tropical plants as well, like a banana plant, croton, monstera, elephant’s ear, birds of paradise, and many more. These types of plants already need humidity, all year round, but with cold and dry winter months all of your plants will need an extra dose. One way to increase humidity for your plants is to buy a humidifier. Not only will it help your plants, but you, as well. If you need a more affordable option, you can temporarily move your plant to your bathroom for the season. The tighter quarters and steam from your showers will produce natural humidity. Grouping your plants close together and misting them with water are two other easy ways to add moisture to the air.
Sunlight
We could all use some extra vitamin D in the winter, and so can our plants. Even if it doesn’t look sunny outside, open up those blinds so those rays don’t have to penetrate an extra layer. Dust off the leaves of the plants, so the sun hits directly onto the surface of your plant. And a serious consideration you should make in the winter is to rearrange your plants. Move them closer to the line of sunlight (that doesn’t necessarily mean closer to the windows). If you have South and West facing windows in your home, make sure that’s where your plants reside for the winter.
Water
Don’t overdo it. Your plants will need significantly less water in the winter. Your plant's soil will take much longer to dry in the winter, so you risk an overwatered or moldy plant. Before watering, stick your finger a couple of inches deep into the soil to see if it’s still moist. If you are ever unsure, side on underwatering in the winter.
Feed your plant
The changing season is always a good time to add some fertilizer to your plant’s soil. Don’t worry if you don’t see a lot of growth, that doesn’t mean your plant is doing poorly, it’s just that time of the year. Add 1-2 tablespoons of Clean Water Grow All-Purpose Plant Food to your plant’s soil. Fresh soil is better! Make sure the plant food is mixed in with the soil near your plant's roots.
Cut loose ends
Your plant will likely start to look like it’s dying– leaves will begin to brown and some will shed. It is not uncommon for your plant to shed some weight in the winter. But make sure to remove the browning or crunchy leaves, this will help your plant not waste energy on the dying leaves. Your plant might be smaller but it will be stronger!
Try not to worry too much about your plant this winter. In fact, they’ll probably benefit from a little neglect. It’s natural to lose some plant life in the winter, but hopefully, these tips will help you have something to bring into spring. New growth is on the horizon!