5 TIPS FOR CARING FOR YOUR HOUSEPLANTS IN THE WINTER

Winter changes the needs of our houseplants. The shorter days slow down their growth, some even seem to stop growing and have a dormancy period, and they don’t photosynthesize as well as they did in the summer. Because they’re growing slower, they use less water. Air temperatures can affect them, too. Cold drafts from doors and windows, or hot drafts from the furnace, can be traumatic for plants. Plus, that dry air from our furnaces can turn those lush leaves into crispy potato chips pretty fast!

The only thing you should do on a schedule is to check if your plants need water.

Here’s how to keep your houseplants happy and cozy through the winter so that they’ll be happy to kick off new growth in a few short months. Remember, we’re only a few weeks away from the winter solstice, so it won’t be too long now until the days start to get longer.

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1. Adjust your watering schedule. Basically, you shouldn’t really be watering on a set schedule. Since most plants grow slower in the winter, they use less water, so you can probably cut back how frequently you water most of your plants. But, since our furnaces dry out the air, you may notice that plants in small pots, particularly terra cotta, actually need more frequent watering.

The only thing you should do on a schedule is to check if your plants need water. Use a moisture meter, stick your finger in the soil, pick your plant up every few days, or look for signs of droopiness or wilting leaves. If the soil feels dry to the touch, the pot feels unexpectedly light, the meter reads DRY, or they’re wilting from drying out, go ahead and water your plants. But, be careful with succulents and cacti; make sure you don’t overwater them. Don't fertilize any of your houseplants during the winter; they don't need the extra nutrients when they’re growing so slowly or not growing at all.

2. Give them more light. The days are shorter, and the path of the sun has changed. Ideally, plants should be getting 12-14 hours of bright light per day, and we don’t get that much light this time of year in Indianapolis. You can move some plants closer to windows; just make sure to protect plants prone to sunburn. A sheer curtain will still allow lots of bright light while shielding your plants from intense sunlight. You can also supplement with grow lights for those extra hours in the morning and the evening. There are various grow lights available, including bulbs that you can get for standard lamps.

3. Clean their leaves, and maybe your windows. With lower light levels and shorter days, your houseplants are having a harder time photosynthesizing. Having dusty leaves or dirty windows (like the “nose-print art” your dog leaves behind) means they’re getting even less light. Wipe the leaves of your plants with a soft, damp cloth every few weeks. This is also a great time to check for any pest infestations or other plant problems. It may not be a good time to clean the outside of your windows, but a quick wipe on the inside with some glass cleaner and paper towel will help.

Don’t get the leaves of African Violets wet as it can cause them to burn. If they look dusty or have soil on them from repotting, dust it off with a soft toothbrush.

4. Avoid repotting and transplanting. Repotting and transplanting cause a bit of stress to our plants. They have an easier time recovering from that stress when they’re actively growing, so it’s better to wait until spring or summer for repotting. Even if you bring a new plant baby home this winter, unless they’re very obviously suffering from being root bound, leave them in their current pot until the spring. Just set them inside of your favorite decorative pot for now, and leave them be for a few months.

5. Stabilize the room temperature and humidity. Plants tend to do best when they have a consistent temperature and higher humidity levels. The ideal daytime temp for our tropical houseplants is around 68ºF. Ideal humidity levels are about 40-50%. You don’t want to go much higher when it comes to humidity because you’ll significantly increase the risk of mold in your home.

40-50% humidity can be challenging to maintain during the winter, so you can do a few things to help out your plants. You can group your plants closer together for the winter, keeping them away from heat registers or radiators, and together they’ll create a sort of microclimate. The leaves in fairly close proximity create a canopy that will help retain humidity in the area. You can also add more humidity with a humidifier, pebble trays, indoor fountains, and daily misting.