How to Prepare Your Houseplants For Winter
Care, Feeding and Problem Solving
As winter approaches and the days grow shorter, houseplants begin to slow down their growth and go into dormancy. Here are some tips and tricks to prepare them for the long winter months and keep them happy and healthy.
Watering: Cut back on watering. Some plants, such as some succulents and the tuberous begonias, can go without being watered for several months, while most others just need enough water to keep the soil from completely drying out.
Pruning: Prune back any spindly growth and pinch back plants regularly to keep them bushy. Since growth slows down dramatically for most plants and watering will be cut back, this will preserve precious food for the plant.
Light: Some plants may need to be moved to meet their light requirements. It’s important to remember that the lighting in homes changes once the trees outside lose their leaves. A plant that did well all summer in a room with bright indirect light may suddenly find itself in direct sunlight once the foliage disappears. Others who did well in a room with a northern or eastern exposure may now find it too dark and need to be moved to a room with a southern or western exposure.
Fertilizing: All feeding should stop once fall arrives. Plant growth slows down too much to make it useful.
Dormancy: Some plants, such as caladiums and the tuberous begonias mentioned above, will drop their leaves and go completely dormant for the winter. They should be moved to a cool dark location and kept dry. When spring arrives, transplant into fresh soil and begin feeding once new leaves appear. Geraniums can be left to go dormant or kept on a sunny windowsill to add a splash of color throughout the winter.
Problems and Pests: Pests are generally not a problem in the cold winter months, but there are some problems to be aware of. Plants kept between a curtain and a cold window can sometimes become frostbitten. Signs of this include wilting and blackened leaves. On the other hand plants left too close to a heating source can also experience damage, so be sure never to leave them on or near a radiator or heater.
Humidity levels can be a problem as well. The heating systems in homes can cause the air to become extremely dry and plants suffer. If a humidifier is not an option, group plants together on humidity trays and/or mist regularly.
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