Winter can be a tricky time for looking after house plants so we hope our tried and tested tips help you through winter with no house plant casualties!
REDUCE WATERING
During the winter months, while light levels and temperatures are lower, plant growth slows down dramatically. This means plants need much less water than they would during spring and summer. Over-watering and root rot is the biggest killer of plants during winter.
For house plants that throughout summer have been watered roughly once a week, they may now need water once every two weeks. Before watering it is a good idea to to stick your finger into the soil about two inches, if the soil is dry, then it can be watered. Ferns, Calathea and Maranta that don’t like to dry out between waterings will want to be kept slightly damp.
Succulents may need water only once every three weeks in winter. Only water when the soil is dry.
Cacti shouldn’t need watering at all until spring.
MAKE THE MOST OF THE LIGHT
While the light is weaker and the hours of daylight are less, it is a good idea to give your plants as much exposure to the light as possible.
Bring plants close to south or west facing windows
Plants that would normally sit near to a south or west facing window with filtered sunlight during summer, won’t now need the light to be filtered, so raise the filtering blind, clean the windows and let the plants enjoy the spells of weaker sunlight.
Rotate your plants weekly so that all sides get an even share of the light.
Dust the leaves regularly so as much sunlight can get to the leaf surface as possible, a soft damp cloth will work perfectly.
Grow Lights can also be used to boost light levels - take a look at our grow light article packed with information from house plant fanatics about the best grow lights to use and how.
AVOID FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES
Be mindful that plants will not enjoy the hot dry heat of a radiator or being in a cold draught. With central heating the air becomes much drier than house plants generally like, you might see brown tips to the leaves.
Group plants together. Plants transpire releasing water through their leaves, make the most of this by bringing plants together.
A humidifier is a good way to combat the hot dry air from central heating. You can also sit a plant on top of stones or broken terracotta within a tray of water. Make sure the plant pot is not sitting in water, just above it on the stones. As the water evaporates it will increase humidity around the plant.
Misting will need to be done a few times a day for the plants to feel the benefit. When misting, mix a small capful of Neem Oil and a few drops of washing up liquid into the misting bottle to help keep pests at bay.
Water tray using broken terracotta to keep the plant pot out of the water, whilst increasing humidity around the plant.
NO NEED TO FEED
As plants are not actively growing in the winter months, they won’t require the extra nutrients a fertiliser gives them.
Start to feed plants again in spring when you see signs of new growth. Our go-to plant feed is Liquid Gold Leaf, made in the UK, it is not harmful to the environment, and it works brilliantly!
Plants shouldn’t need repotting during winter. Repot plants in spring and summer to give them a boost of nutrients within fresh soil and make room for new growth. We repot when we start to see roots coming out of drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
Good Luck!
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