How to take care of house plants in the winter?
Tips on Preparing and Caring for Houseplants in the Winter. 1 Adjust Your Watering Routine. It might sound counterintuitive, but indoor plants need less water during the winter. While it's true that winter air is ... 2 Alter Humidity Levels. 3 Pay Attention to Temperature. 4 Follow the Sun. 5 Put Your Houseplants on a Diet.
Do Plants grow slower in the winter?
While it's true that winter air is drier, plants experience a slower rate of growth during colder months; some even go completely dormant. Therefore, plants need less water to keep hydrated, and overwatering can lead to root rot.
How do you make indoor plants grow faster in the winter?
Adjust Your Watering Routine. It may sound counter-intuitive, but indoor plants need less water during the winter. While it's true that winter air is drier, plants experience a slower rate of growth during the cold weather.
Do I need to fertilize my plants in the winter?
Grow lights are considerably less intense than direct sunlight, so plants need longer exposure to receive adequate energy. Most houseplants don't need any fertilizer in winter because they are not growing as actively. Feeding them now will just upset their natural cycle, so stop feeding until early spring.
Do indoor plants grow slower in winter?
It might sound counterintuitive, but most indoor plants need less water during the winter. While it's true that winter air is drier, plants experience a slower rate of growth during colder months; some even go completely dormant.
How do you keep houseplants alive in the winter?
5 Tips to Revitalize and Keep Houseplants Alive in WinterCut back the water (and the fertilizer for that matter) Yellow leaves? ... Give your plant a bath. ... Seal up those windows. ... Shine the light. ... Wait on re-potting, but don't be afraid to prune.
Do houseplants grow all year round?
While you may not feel the change of seasons, your indoor plants do. They thrive in the spring and summer just like their outdoor counterparts. And just like your outdoor plants, they need some special care during the cooler months of the year, even if they aren't so cool in San Diego.
Do plants still grow in winter?
Still, some other plants can grow in mild winters. Root vegetables like garlic, carrots, and radishes grow well in cold temperatures. So do leafy greens like collards, kale, and cabbage. However, even most cold crops grow best if they're protected from frost and freezing temperatures.
How often should you water houseplants in winter?
You should water much less over winter – every two or three weeks is a good rule of thumb, though this is species dependent. The dormant nature of houseplants during the coldest months means they will not be drinking nearly as much and any excess water will just sit in the soil.
Why are my indoor plants dying in winter?
The most common problem houseplants suffer from in winter is overwatering. About 95% of houseplants need soil to dry out almost completely before watering.
What months do indoor plants grow?
From spring to fall is the growing season. The most vigorous growth of plants will be in the summer when the sun is up and out the longest.
What month do house plants go dormant?
You must learn to recognize the signs of dormancy -- and even force dormancy on plants that need to rest. During the months of December, January, and February the days are short. This provides an excellent time to reduce the amount of water and fertilizer which your plants have been taking.
Should I Feed houseplants in winter?
In general, the majority of houseplants should be fed every second watering during the growing season (spring and summer), which is probably every 10 to 14 days. In autumn and winter feed every fourth watering as houseplants will require fewer nutrients. A good way to feed houseplants is with a liquid concentrate feed.
Does anything grow in the winter?
Examples of commonly grown plants in this category include root vegetables, winter lettuces, Asian greens, parsley, peas, kale, and spinach.
Why do plants not grow in winter?
All plants depend on sunlight and water to grow. But during the winter months the shortened day provides less sunlight and freezing temperatures means water is frozen and inaccessible. Freezing temperatures also rupture plant cells.
Do plants need sun in winter?
Plants are similar to people, they need light, even indoor plants. The amount of light that homes get during the winter months is short, and if your house doesn't face the right way, you may only get light in certain rooms and through certain windows.
How do I store my garage plants for the winter?
The first option is to place the pot in an unheated garage (or other unheated but protected spot). The protection from the building will be enough to keep the pot from freezing too hard and to protect it from freeze/thaw cycles. Wait as long as you can without risking the plant before placing it inside.
Where do I put my plants in the winter?
Put houseplants near a window to help them get enough light, but be sure to avoid drafts or breezes that may chill them. Don't crack open windows near plants, and make sure your window insulation is in good repair.
Where should I store my plants in the winter?
If you place the pots near a heating vent or a drafty window, the fluctuations in temperature may place too much stress on the plants. To increase the humidity around plants, set the pots on top of pebbles in a water-filled tray or dish, and keep the water level below the base of the containers.
Should you fertilize indoor plants in the winter?
Should houseplants be fertilized in winter? Answer: Fertilization is generally not necessary during the winter months as most houseplants are not growing during this time. Indoor gardeners should fertilize their houseplants on a regular basis in spring and summer when plants are actively growing.
How much sunlight do plants need?
If a plant requires six hours of direct sunlight, it may need as much as 12 or 14 hours of supplemental light to give it an equal amount of energy. Grow lights are considerably less intense than direct sunlight, so plants need longer exposure to receive adequate energy.
Why do plants need less water?
Therefore, plants need less water to keep hydrated, and overwatering can lead to root rot.
How to get water out of plants?
Start by clustering your plants in groups. Plants naturally release water through their leaves by transpiring, so grouping them together will put that moisture to good use. Bathrooms and kitchens are the best rooms to congregate your plants because they accumulate the most moisture from showers and boiling water.
How to tell if a plant needs water?
Push your finger into the soil to determine if it is dry an inch or two below the surface —that's when it's time to bring out the watering can.
How to get rid of dust on plants?
Layers of dust on plant leaves can also reduce the amount of light they receive. Wiping down leaves with a damp cloth will remove this dust and allow the plants better access to light during the winter.
Do succulents need water?
Keep in mind that different plants have different water needs—drought-tolerant cacti and other succulents might not need watering at all. Surface soil can dry out more quickly during winter months, but that's not a good indicator that the plant needs water.
Can you move plants in winter?
A good spot is a south- or west-facing window that remains sunny all day. However, don't move plants too close to a frosty window because they might get a draft.
Why do houseplants go dormant in winter?
Cooling weather and fewer hours of sunlight are signals to most houseplants that it’s time to slow the growth rate and get ready for the harsh winter environment.
What types of indoor houseplants go dormant in winter?
As stated above, most kinds of popular houseplants tend toward dormancy as the first frost approaches.
How do you keep houseplants alive in the winter?
There are three things that happen in the late fall and early winter that trigger houseplants into dormancy.
How to protect houseplants from cooling temperatures in winter time
Move your plants away from drafty windows and walls that are exposed to the outside of the house. Being too close to the exterior walls of your house can frost your plants and make them lose leaves, branches, and roots.
How to protect houseplants from diminishing sunlight in winter time
If you are going to be keeping your houseplants near windows for sunlight, make sure to give your windows a good cleaning to allow as much sunlight through as possible. Remember to keep your plants at least a few feet away from windows at night so they don’t get frosted.
How to protect houseplants from lower humidity in winter time
Get a humidifier. Spraying with spray bottles is fine in summer time when normal humidity is high, but during the winter it won’t be enough unless you want to spray them every couple of hours. A humidifier will take care of that for you and you’ll only have to check it to refill every few days depending on which model you choose.
How to care for dormant houseplants during winter
Dormant plants still need water, but not as much. I recommend watering them on the same schedule you usually keep, once per week, but only give them ½ as much water as usual. Remember to always check with your finger or a wooden dowel first to make sure the soil is dry at least two inches down.
How do you care for dormant plants in the winter?
Houseplants and plants brought indoors for winter and living in a temperature-controlled setting are still affected by changes to their environment.
Why do plants slow down in winter?
In the winter months, there is less sunlight shining through the windows . The plants will photosynthesize less, which causes them to slow down.
How can you tell if a houseplant is dormant?
Even though the leaves of houseplants often become yellow due to lack of water, and some even drop their leaves in winter and appear to be dead, there are methods of telling if the plant is still alive by conducting natural tests such as:
Can you stop a houseplant from going dormant?
You can stop a houseplant from going dormant by providing the required light, warmth, humidity, and nutrients. You can provide light using a grow light. You can provide the necessary heat by using heating mats. You can move them to a location that is warm such as the kitchen.
Why do houseplants go dormant?
Stressful conditions such as little or no water may cause houseplants to go dormant to conserve any water that may still be left. The plant may seem like it is dying, but this is just a defense mechanism to keep alive while waiting for more suitable growing conditions.
How to avoid shocking houseplant roots?
Avoid shocking the roots when hydrating houseplants in winter by allowing the water to reach room temperature.
What happens when a houseplant goes dormant?
When houseplants go dormant, the leaves will turn yellow. There will be less foliage growth and shedding of leaves. The houseplant may even look like it’s dead, but the roots will be alive.
What flowers bloom in winter?
Begonia (Begonia sp.) Begonias come in a variety of species and though they all have showy, pink flowers that bloom in winter, most people get Begonias for their leaves, which come in all different shapes and colors. Desert Rose (Adenium sp.) Desert Roses have bright, showy flowers that are quite spectacular.
How to keep a sage plant growing?
You can keep the plant growing by giving it a regular fertilizing schedule and good moisture. In around October, remove the bulb from its soil home and let it sit in a cool, dry place for two months before replanting.
What is the most popular flower over the holidays?
Amaryllis is a popular bulb plant that comes in a number of hues (red is quite popular) and pops up with a showy bloom over the holidays. You likely have some fond memory of African violets ( Saintpaulia ionantha ), as they were at least quite popular flowers in my great grandmother's home growing up.
When do desert roses bloom?
Desert Rose (Adenium sp.) Desert Roses have bright, showy flowers that are quite spectacular. They can bloom any time, but I've found that mine bloom through the winter. Shortly after, the plant can become pretty bare, dropping leaves, until there is new regrowth in the summer months.
When does jasmine bloom?
Jasmine typically blooms in the spring through fall, but it also can bloom in winter, and is often sold in stores during the winter months in bloom. If you want to produce winter blossoms in your home, you will need to give your jasmine a period of rest in the fall.
Do cactuses bloom on Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses ( Schlumbergera truncata) are, as their names suggest, programmed to bloom no-fail around their respective holidays. While they are blooming, it's important to keep them moist, as they are one of those rare cacti that prefer more of a moist environment.
Is Crown of Thorns a bloomer?
Crown-of-thorns ( Euphorbia milii), aptly named for its thorny stems, is an ever-bloomer that is highly recommended. Just don't get the milky sap on you! Also in the Euphorbia genus, Poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima) is bred for its showy bracts, which are modified leaves which are often mistaken for flowers.
