The winter is a hard season for plants that are used to the warmth of summer. They need some help during this time in order to survive and not die. The following 6 tips will help your plants stay alive during the cold months:
1. Adjust Your Watering Routine
The watering routine will be different during the winter and you should adapt it to your plant needs. The best thing is to water them less but monitor them regularly.
This may seem counterintuitive given that the air in your house is likely to be dryer in the winter than in the summer, but plants naturally adapt to colder conditions by slowing their growth rate and so using less water.
You can use a moisture meter or just by touch, if they are dry then the time is right for watering. There are many helpful guides found on websites, such as https://www.urbanorganicyield.com if you need some tips on how to water your plants properly.
Remember that offering your plants less water is essential if you are growing plants in containers because the excess can drain away through holes at the bottom.
2. Monitor Temperatures and Protect Your Houseplants
Plants, especially those that do not have an extensive root system, should be placed so that they are protected from both drafts and temperatures below freezing.
Drafts can cause damage to the leaves and cold air will kill a plant quite quickly since it causes water to evaporate. This can be resolved if you place plastic or fleece around the pots to give an extra layer of insulation.
Make sure that those plants with thicker leaves, such as broad-leaved plants, are placed on a surface that is not cold or wet. If they sit on a colder floor like concrete then this will quickly kill them.
3. Find Enough Light For Them
Winter can be hard to bear for houseplants, especially if it is dark out. This means that they need more light than usual, which can be difficult during the winter.
Artificial lighting is useful here and there are many lights that work well for this purpose, you can use halogen lamps or fluorescent lights.
These may seem a high expense to replace but they are worth it for most plants. You can also use a sunny window as long as they are not exposed to direct sunlight, which can damage their leaves.
The best place for them is likely to be near a west-facing window where the sun will have already set by the time you return home from work.
4. Fertilize Them Less
As explained in the previous point, houseplants have less light during winter so they don’t need so much fertilizer. You can keep these plants healthy by not fertilizing them during the winter.
This is because, in general, plants absorb more water than nutrients so they can be harmed by an excess of fertilizer.
During the warmer months, it’s a different story and feeding should continue as usual. For more information about how to choose plant food, do your research and find helpful information online.
5. Be Careful With Pests
During the winter, several pests emerge, focusing on indoor plants in particular. If you notice aphids, mealybugs or scales then you should take care of them quickly by using a suitable insecticide.
These pests require special attention during the winter in order to survive in your house. So, what can you do?
You should not spray the plant with a pesticide directly but instead, use a special surface spray or a pesticide that you can mix in a watering can.
6. Control The Temperature Inside Your House
Make sure that the temperature inside your house is not too low in winter in order to help your plants survive.
Sometimes this means turning on a heater or boosting the heat with electric radiators, but it’s worth doing if you want to have healthy plants. However, avoid leaving the windows open as this will let in too much cold air and moisture which is harmful to your plants.
The temperature inside your home should be around 18-21°C. You can attach small thermometers to the pots of your plants to keep track of the temperature. You should also avoid having too much humidity inside the house since this can lead to fungal infections.
Winter is a difficult time for houseplants to survive in the home, but there are many things that you can do to help them. Hopefully, these tips will help you to keep your indoor plants alive when spring comes around.