Winter can be a challenging time for indoor plants. The lower temperatures, reduced sunlight, and drier air can make it harder for your plants to thrive. However, with a little extra care and attention, you can help your indoor plants survive the colder months and keep them healthy until spring arrives.
In this article, we’ll go over the key factors to consider when caring for your indoor plants during winter, including adjusting your watering routine, providing adequate light, and protecting them from cold drafts.
1. Adjust Your Watering Routine
One of the most important adjustments you’ll need to make during the winter months is to your watering routine. As the temperature drops and the air becomes drier, your plants will require less frequent watering. Overwatering during the winter can lead to root rot, as the plants’ growth slows down and they don’t absorb water as quickly.
Tips for Watering Your Plants in Winter:
- Check the soil: Before watering, always check the soil to see if it’s dry. Stick your finger about an inch into the soil; if it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it still feels moist, wait a few more days before checking again.
- Water less frequently: In winter, most plants go into a dormant phase and use less water. Reduce watering by about 25-50%, depending on the plant species.
- Water in the morning: Water your plants in the morning rather than at night. This allows the soil to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of root rot caused by excess moisture.
- Use room-temperature water: Cold water can shock your plant’s roots, so always use water that is at room temperature.
Plants that Need Less Water in Winter:
- Succulents
- Cacti
- Snake Plant
- ZZ Plant
2. Provide Adequate Light
One of the biggest challenges indoor plants face during the winter is the reduced amount of sunlight. Days are shorter, and the angle of the sun changes, which can affect how much light your plants receive. While your plants might have been thriving near a window during the summer months, they may need a little more help during the winter.
Tips for Ensuring Adequate Light:
- Move plants closer to windows: Place your plants closer to windows that get the most light. South-facing windows usually receive the most sunlight in winter.
- Rotate your plants: If your plant is not getting enough light from one side, rotate it every few weeks to ensure even growth.
- Use supplemental lighting: Consider using grow lights if you don’t have a lot of natural light. LED or fluorescent grow lights can help your plants thrive by providing the right spectrum of light they need to photosynthesize.
- Clean the windows: Dusty windows can block light from reaching your plants, so make sure to clean them regularly to allow as much natural light as possible to enter your home.
Plants that Tolerate Low Light:
- Snake Plant
- ZZ Plant
- Peace Lily
- Pothos
3. Maintain Humidity Levels
Indoor heating systems can cause the air in your home to become quite dry in the winter. This can be tough on plants that thrive in humid environments, like ferns, peace lilies, and tropical plants. The dry air can cause your plants to lose moisture, leading to brown leaf tips, leaf drop, and slow growth.
Tips for Increasing Humidity:
- Use a humidifier: A room humidifier is one of the best ways to maintain the moisture in the air. Placing it near your plants can help keep humidity levels up, especially in rooms with heating.
- Group plants together: When plants are grouped together, they create a microenvironment that traps moisture and increases humidity.
- Misting: Lightly misting your plants with water every few days can help raise the humidity around them. Be careful not to overdo it, as excessive moisture on leaves can lead to mold or mildew.
- Place plants in the bathroom or kitchen: These rooms tend to have higher humidity levels, which can benefit plants that require more moisture in the air.
Plants that Prefer Higher Humidity:
- Ferns (e.g., Boston Fern)
- Peace Lily
- Spider Plant
- Tropical Plants
4. Keep Your Plants Away from Drafts
Cold drafts from windows, doors, or heating vents can be detrimental to your plants, especially those sensitive to temperature changes. Prolonged exposure to drafts can cause stress, leaf drop, and poor growth. Protecting your plants from these drafts is essential to keeping them healthy.
Tips for Protecting Plants from Cold Drafts:
- Move plants away from windows and doors: If your plants are near drafty windows or doors, move them to a warmer, more sheltered spot in your home.
- Use thermal curtains: Installing heavy, insulated curtains can help keep cold air from seeping in from windows.
- Create a protective barrier: If your plant is near a drafty area, try placing a piece of furniture, like a bookshelf, between the plant and the cold air source to block the draft.
5. Monitor Temperature Fluctuations
Indoor plants can be sensitive to extreme temperature fluctuations, especially when exposed to heat sources like radiators, fireplaces, or space heaters. Sudden temperature changes can stress your plants and make it harder for them to adapt to winter conditions.
Tips for Maintaining Consistent Temperature:
- Keep plants away from heat sources: Avoid placing your plants too close to heaters, radiators, or fireplaces. These can dry out the air and stress the plant.
- Maintain a consistent temperature: Try to keep the temperature in the room as consistent as possible. Most indoor plants prefer temperatures between 60–75°F (15–24°C).
- Avoid cold windowsills: While some plants like a bit of cool air, placing them on windowsills where the temperature drops drastically can harm them.
6. Prune and Care for Dormant Plants
Some plants, especially those in colder climates, may enter a dormant state during the winter. This means they’re not actively growing, and their care needs will be less demanding. However, it’s still important to give them some attention during this time.
Tips for Caring for Dormant Plants:
- Prune dead or damaged leaves: Pruning helps your plant conserve energy and encourages healthy growth when the growing season returns.
- Avoid fertilizing: Most plants don’t need fertilizing during the winter months when they’re not actively growing. Hold off on adding fertilizer until spring.