Tips on Caring for Houseplants
While our outdoor gardens are dormant (and possibly buried under snow), this is the time of year to give extra attention to our indoor plants. This article gives you some tips on how to keep your indoor plants looking their best throughout the winter months.
Sunlight
Make certain your plants are receiving the correct amount of light. Southern windows provide high light, east and west provide medium light and north facing windows are low light. If your plant’s leaves are looking a little brown and dry on the edges, try moving it to a spot with less light. If the growth is spindly, try moving it to a spot with more light.
Plants use sunlight to produce food and since there is less sunlight available in the winter months, the plants need to be use the available light as efficiently as possible. To help them, it is important to keep their leaves clean. Dust and grease may accumulate on the leaves, slowing growth. Cleaning the leaves helps keep the leaf pores open. Plants with large, smooth leaves may be cleaned with a moist, soft sponge or cloth. Alternatively, they can be placed in the shower and the leaves gently washed. For plants with fuzzy leaves, a small paintbrush can be used to gently brush the leaves and remove dust.
Temperature
Most houseplants grow well with daytime temperatures between 65 to 75ºF and nighttime temperatures between 60 to 65ºF. Fluctuating temperatures may damage some plants as well as temperature below 50ºF so keep plants away from cold drafts and hot air vents. Make sure the plant’s foliage doesn’t touch any cold windows. Also, don’t place plants on top of the television. This location is too warm and generally too far from windows to provide proper light.
Water
Houseplants will require less water in the winter than in the summer when they are actively growing. The frequency of watering also depends on the type of plant. Some, like ferns, prefer to be evenly moist while cacti prefer to be completely dry before watering. Most houseplants should be watered when the soil is barely moist or is dry to the touch. Water the plants thoroughly until water begins to drain out the bottom of the pot. If a saucer is used, discard the excess water it has collected.
Humidity (the amount of water in the air) is also very important for healthy houseplants. Most houseplants prefer a humidity level of 40 to 50% but most houses have a humidity level of only 10 to 20% during the winter months. To help increase the humidity of the air around the plants, try grouping them together. The water lost from the soil as well as the water lost through the plant foliage will help to increase the humidity in that immediate vicinity. Another option is to place the plants on trays or saucers filled with gravel or pebbles and water. Just be certain that the bottom of the pot is above the level of the water. Misting is not a practical way to increase the humidity level as it would need to be done several times a day to help increase the humidity.
Additional Care
Be sure to regularly turn and prune your plants to keep them shapely. Pinch back new growth to keep your plants bushy. Plants need to be fertilized regularly during their active growth period in the spring and summer. However, since the plants generally are not growing much during the winter months, fertilization is not required. Begin to fertilize houseplants again in March or April as the growing conditions improve and the plants resume growth.
By giving your houseplants some extra care during the winter months, you will be rewarded with healthy and beautiful plants.
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