Because most outside plants are dormant throughout the winter, the season is known as the quiet season in gardens. The same applies to your indoor garden. Of course, snow and freezing winds tearing through the landscape are not conditions that your houseplants need to withstand. However, the colder, darker months of the year bring about a few small changes to the growth environment in your house. To keep your houseplants healthy and flourishing during the winter, you’ll need to modify your maintenance routine. Make sure your green buddies bring their lushness and natural beauty into your house far into the winter months by following these steps.
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Must-Know Tips For Houseplant Care In Winter
Reduce the amount of watering
Less light occurs throughout the winter, and generally speaking, less light indicates less water. Over time, a plant will become more thirsty the more sunlight it receives. Plants consume less water in the winter when they receive less sunshine than they do in the spring and summer when they are actively growing.
A summertime summertime watering-weekly plant may suddenly be content to go two weeks without water. To resist the urge to overwater, choose a smaller watering can.
When it comes to watering, it is preferable to feel the potting mix rather than according to a timetable. Insert your finger into the ground at least one inch. Water the plant well if it’s dry.
Be mindful of the sun
Plants receive less sunlight than they did in the spring and summer when the sun sets earlier and rises later. To give your plants the most light possible, you might want to place them closer to windows if at all possible. To get them closer to natural light, if they’re on the floor, think about setting them up on a plant stand. Make sure your plants receive some sunlight on all sides by giving your pots a quarter turn every week. For the most part, most plants will thrive if you can’t raise the light levels. Your indoor plants will adapt to the outdoors seasonal changes.
A few fallen leaves shouldn’t concern you
Houseplants that were outdoors during the summer will probably shed some leaves when they are brought back inside. They are getting used to the reduced light levels of being indoors, so this is very natural. It’s typical for your plants to lose some leaves as winter approaches if they live indoors all year. Wintertime leaf drop in houseplants is their natural adaptation to reduced light levels and should not be concerning.
Steer clear of severe temperatures
Most houseplants can withstand winter temperatures that are appropriate for them in your home. However, abrupt temperature swings, even if they only last a short while, can be problematic. Plants should not be near radiators, hot air vents, or cold drafts. Drastic changes in temperature can stress plants, harm them from the cold, or dry them out completely.
Put the fertilizer on hold
Winter is when most houseplants hibernate. If they grow at all, it’s usually quite slowly. Fertilizer is not needed because they are not growing new leaves and stems. Fertilizer should be stopped in the fall and restarted in the spring when plants are exposed to more light, which encourages active growth.
Scan for pests that affect houseplants
Aphids and scales, which are microscopic insects that feed on sap, are most active during the winter. Because they like warm, dry weather, spider mites are another prevalent pest throughout the winter. Every time you water a plant, turn its leaves over and look at the undersides. Examine the stems as well.
If any pests are discovered, try using a cotton ball dipped in alcohol or your fingers to wipe them off. Neem oil and insecticidal soap are safer alternatives for controlling houseplant pests in large infestations.
Increase the relative humidity
During the winter, the air inside our heated houses is typically dryer. The majority of houseplants, particularly those that originated in tropical regions of the world, thrive in environments with humidity levels between 40 and 50%; however, in the winter, indoor humidity levels are usually between 10 and 20%. Plants can be grouped together as an easy approach to increase the humidity around them. The relative humidity near your plants will rise as a result of water evaporating from the potting soil and water lost naturally through the leaves.
Maintain tidy foliage
Make the most of the little winter sunlight that reaches plant leaves by brushing off dust and debris from the foliage. For larger leaves, microfiber dusting gloves are useful, but a moist towel will do the trick for cleaning every leaf. Alternatively, quickly rinse the entire plant under the shower to expedite the process of removing any remaining foliage.
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