Caring for Indoor Plants During the Winter Months
By the time you read this article, we’ll have seen our first bit of snow, and the mercury will be taking a dive below zero on a more regular basis. Our outdoor gardening season has come to an end, but we still have our indoor plants to keep happy (and them, us).
One of the big mistakes plant owners make during the winter months is that they continue with the same routine of care that they did during the summer months. This is an easy mistake to make; since we spend more time indoors, it is easy to “over-love” our plants. Just remember, like outdoor plants, indoor plants need some downtime too.
Dormancy
Do plants always go dormant in winter? It really depends on the plant. Some will always go dormant in the winter. Still, usually for tropicals, as long as you can maintain the conditions they like, they will continue to grow and even flower throughout winter. Some cacti and orchids are actually winter bloomers.
It’s not unusual for most indoor plants to be a little lacklustre during the winter months. Don’t be surprised if growth slows considerably during this time.
A sign that your plant has gone dormant –The leaves drop. This can be alarming, but this is where it’s key to know your plant and its lifecycle! Some plants such as Oxalis and Alocasia can regrow from their tubers in the spring, so keep your plant in whatever conditions it normally likes (keeping in mind to adjust watering routines for the winter months) and come spring, you should see new signs of life!
Watering/Feeding
During the winter months, it’s a good idea to take it easy with the watering. During winter months, most plants do not require the same level of moisture that they would during the summer months. It should also be mentioned that you should hold off with fertilizing too. During winter months, plants are in a resting phase, and fertilizing can upset the plant's natural growth cycle, which includes a period of rest.
Conditions
Another aspect of indoor plant care that you may want to reassess during the winter is your indoor conditions. It’s typical during the winter months for the humidity to drop, along with temperatures. For some plants, this isn’t a big issue. Still, for some plants that require extra humidity and warmer temperatures, you may need to supplement by adding a humidifier and keeping an eye on the temperature in your house. I recommend purchasing a simple humidity and temperature reader (link below). Don’t forget to check your windows. Drafty locations may not serve your plant well. There are window insulation kits you can purchase that should help with this (link below). The film is easy to apply, and it makes a world of difference.
Links:
Happy Planting,
Jerri Rumbolt