Winter Houseplant Care

Winter is here and in full force this weekend with our first snow of the year. Ideally you have already moved any houseplants that you put outside during spring and summer back into the house for winter, but there are still a few things you can do to ensure their success during the darker and colder times ahead.

The most important thing you can do now is move any plants farther away from windows. As temperatures drop in the upcoming days, it is important that they not be exposed to those cooler conditions. Even though they need the sun, the cold can be more harmful. You should also remove them from any drafts, heating vents, and even fireplaces. Grouping plants together will increase the humidity between them and can be a great way to keep them warmer. If you have a humidifier, this would be a great time to throw that into the mix to boost humidity. You can find them at places like Walmart, Target, Amazon, or if you are up for a treasure hunt, I have found many of my own at thrift stores.

To help with light absorption, especially after plants are removed from windows, you should clean the windows to allow more light to travel through. Additionally, cleaning the plants is another great way to increase light absorption. Wiping down the leaves of your plants also helps them access more sunlight. If possible, use grow lights to compensate for the lower light of winter. We must remember that many common houseplants are native to much warmer climates and we should try to replicate their native homes. Giving your plants additional light really does make a huge difference. We sell grow lights here at Moore & Moore if you need to swing by!

It is best to water your plants ~before~ any big temperature drops. Watering helps to protect the plant from cold temperatures. But during winter, the slower growing months, you should reduce water consumption and only water when the topsoil is truly dry. Fertilizing during winter is also not nearly as important, so you can take a respite from your fertilizer schedule as well.

To help conserve energy in your plants, cut back anything that is dead or very yellow. This will allow the plant to eliminate any unnecessary energy expenditure. Don’t get too crazy with the snippers, try to stick to cutting off only problem areas so that the plant has plenty of leaves for light absorption.

Like many of us, winter is a time of rest for houseplants, almost like hibernation. We should try to keep them warm and happy but also be patient in terms of growth. If you have any further questions about winter care for houseplants feel free to stop by the store anytime or message us on social media!