By: Serge Guenette

TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR INDOOR PLANTS ALIVE ALL WINTER

TAGS: TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR INDOOR PLANTS ALIVE ALL WINTER

Indoor plants are a great way to provide clean air, they add a bit of the outdoors into your space, and they’re perfect decor pieces to brighten up any room. This is particularly true in winter when we’re indoors much more. But our plants also require a different type of attention in winter.

Winter brings freezing temperatures, leaky windowsills and less sunlight. Fortunately, there are things you can do this winter to make sure your plants survive until spring.

1. Reduce watering & feeding: Plants tend to be dormant in winter, meaning they don’t need nearly as much water as they do in summer when they are actively growing. Test for soil dryness and if the first couple inches of soil are dry then water. Misting with a spray bottle also gives them the moisture they need without adding too much. Fertilizing is not needed when plants are dormant.
2. Clean plant leaves: With less sun exposure in winter, plants need to absorb as much sun as they can get during the shorter days. But when their leaves are dusty, they can’t absorb as much sunlight, which slows the photosynthesis process. A damp sponge or cloth will usually do the trick. For smaller plants, misting can help or your shower head on a gentle setting.
3. Give them light: With winter’s reduced daylight hours, giving your plants as much light, whether natural or artificial, helps. Place plants in southern rooms and rotate them regularly to balance the exposure.
4. Keep them away from the windowsills: While southern exposure is good, don’t be quick to put them right in the window where they’re more susceptible to drafts.
5. Add humidity: Our homes are usually drier in winter, which is not good for people or plants. A humidifier will help. If you don’t have one, misting or bringing your plants into high moisture rooms like the bathroom can help.