Plants make everything happier, and there are a few times when they’re needed more than when it’s cold and gray outside.
Not only do plants help make a space cozier and feel more like home, but they are also great for purifying the air. We spend much more time inside during the winter than we do during the warmer seasons, so having plants is a great way to clean the air and create a healthier environment.
With that being said, dry heat, low light, and occasional chilly drafts can all be stressors for plants. Here’s how to care for your houseplants during winter to ensure they stay healthy and happy.
1. Less is more when watering
This is, perhaps, the single most important thing to remember during winter. In the spring and summer, your plants are actively growing, using light and water to fuel new leaves and roots.
In the winter, reduced light and cooler temperatures signal a slowdown, so they don’t need as much water as they did during the spring and summer.
2. Plants shift to dormancy during winter
Just like many living creatures, plants shift to a period of hibernation during the colder winter months, known as “dormancy.”
If you notice your plants are growing slowly, losing leaves, and don’t appear as ‘alive’ as they did during the spring or summer months, don’t worry. They’re most likely guarding themselves during the winter and will come back in full bloom in the spring.
3. How to know when your plant needs water
Before watering your plants, press your fingers two inches into the soil. If the soil is still damp, the plant does not need water. Wait until the soil is arid and then replenish the water supply.
Soil will take longer to dry out during winter, so don’t worry if it’s taking the plant longer than usual. If you typically water plants once per week, you will most likely need to adjust to every two weeks or longer.
For most plants, wait until the top two inches are completely dry before watering again. For succulents and cacti, wait until the soil is completely dry.
Pro tip: Overwatering is the number one killer of houseplants, and this risk skyrockets in the winter. The soil takes much longer to dry out, leaving the roots sitting in soggy conditions, which starves them of oxygen and invites root rot.
4. Water your plant thoroughly, then let it drain
When you water a plant, water it fully until it runs out of the drainage holes. This ensures that all the roots receive moisture. Immediately empty the saucer; a plant shouldn’t sit in standing water. If your plant is in a planter that doesn’t have drainage holes, give it enough water to saturate the soil and then let it absorb the liquid.
5. Maintain humidity
The instant your central heating kicks on, the humidity level in your home plummets. Most houseplants thrive in 50-70% humidity. Winter air, especially with forced-air heating, can drop to around 10-20% humidity. This dry air leads to crispy leaf edges, brown tips, and makes your plants more susceptible to pests such as spider mites.
Here are some simple solutions:
- Install a humidifier: A dedicated cool-mist humidifier is the most effective solution. Place it near your humidity-loving plants and aim for a consistent level of 40-50%. A humidifier is also great for your skin and sinuses during the dry winter months.
- Pebble trays: Place a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water beneath your plant pots. Ensure the bottom of the pot is resting on the pebbles and not submerged in the water. As the water evaporates, the pebbles create a localized pocket of humidity around the foliage.
- Group your plants together: Grouping plants creates a microclimate. As water evaporates from the soil and is transpired through the leaves, it raises the humidity for the entire plant area.
6. Don’t worry about misting
Misting offers only a momentary boost in humidity that quickly dissipates. It’s not a reliable long-term solution and can sometimes encourage fungal issues on leaves.
7. Maximize winter sun
The sun is lower in the sky and days are shorter, meaning your plants are receiving significantly less light during the winter than they do in spring and summer. Even a south-facing window gets fewer hours of intense light.
Here’s how to help your plants:
- Relocate your plants: This is the season to move your plants to the brightest windows you have. A plant that thrived a few feet away from a window in summer may now need to be directly against the glass to get enough energy.
- Clean the glass and leaves: A surprising amount of light is blocked by dirty windows and dusty leaves. Give your windows a good washing and wipe down the leaves of your plants gently with a damp cloth or paper towel to allow maximum light absorption.
- Rotate regularly: Since the sun’s angle is low, light might only hit one side of your plant. Turn your pots a quarter turn every week or two to ensure even growth and prevent them from leaning toward the window.
- Supplemental lighting: If you have a dark home or if specific plants are struggling, consider a full-spectrum grow light. Even a few extra hours a day can make a difference in preventing stress.
8. Protect against temperature extremes
- Beware of drafts: Move sensitive plants away from external doors and drafty panes. A sudden blast of cold air from opening a door or a crack in a window can send a plant into shock.
- Avoid direct heat: Conversely, placing a plant directly above a radiator, heat vent, or next to a fireplace will also have a negative impact. Plants don’t respond well to intense, dry, direct heat, and it could provide an environment for pests. Maintain a safe distance of at least several feet from heaters/radiators/fireplaces and other direct sources of heat.
- Consistent temperature is key: Aim to keep the temperature in your plant’s area stable, ideally between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Don’t use fertilizer or repot plants during winter
During the dormant period, your plants don’t need excessive nutrients. This can actually harm them.
- Stop fertilizing: Plant food is meant to fuel active growth. Since growth has slowed or stopped, any unused fertilizer salts will build up in the soil, potentially burning the plant’s roots. Hold off entirely on feeding plants fertilizer from late fall until early spring when you see new growth emerging.
- Postpone repotting: Wait until spring or early summer to move a plant into a larger pot. Repotting causes stress to the root system, and a plant is not equipped to recover when it’s in a period of dormancy.
10. Don’t fuss over your plants
Caring for your houseplants through the winter is less about fussing over them and more about adapting to their seasonal needs. Think of winter as a rest period, a time for them to conserve energy and recharge.
By checking the soil before you water, creating a little humidity, maximizing winter light, and protecting them from high heat, you will provide the perfect environment for your plants to rest during their dormancy period.
With these mindful adjustments, your indoor garden will not only survive the winter but will also be primed and ready to burst with vigorous new growth when the warm, bright days of spring finally arrive. You’ll be amazed at how a little bit of winter care pays off with a stunning display of year-round life.
Final Thoughts
Draper and Kramer offers a wide range of luxurious apartments with large windows and plenty of space for a plant collection. Many apartments also offer spacious balconies and patios if you have a small garden or outdoor plants that can stay outside during winter, such as shrubs, perennials, and certain herbs.
If you are preparing to move and would like to schedule a tour of one of Draper and Kramer’s properties, explore our beautiful properties, or contact us today.
