Keeping Houseplants Alive During the Winter
Houseplant Care in Cold Climates-Less Sometimes Means More
Sep 4, 2009
During the spring and summer months, houseplants will grow and thrive. As the days get shorter, the houseplants will slow down and begin their winter's rest. So the closer it is to that first freezing temperature, the more people begin to think about moving their plants indoors. This presents a challenge for those plants and this is where people can lose many of them if they are not careful. Plants not only beautify everyone's home, but they also clean the air and produce oxygen. A home feels empty during the winter without houseplants.
Don't Over-water
When some people first start raising houseplants, they kill them with kindness. Their kindness is giving them too much water. This is a no-no. Winter is the time when all plants go dormant or take a period of rest. They do not need that much water because they aren't growing. This is a tricky part of knowing when to water and how much is too much. At least 95 percent of all houseplants need to their soil to dry out completely between watering. By dry, that doesn't mean just surface dry. Water when all the soil has almost no moisture left. If the home is very low on humidity, then water a little more often. A good way to tell if the plant is dry is to pick up the pot. If it is light, then they are probably dry enough to water. Some people stick their finger in the soil going down about two inches. If their finger remains dry, then they know it is time to water.
How to Water Houseplants
Some people take a watering can and pour water over the top of the soil. This will work,and although many people do it this way, there is a better alternative. Take a big five-gallon bucket and add tepid water. Do not use cold or hot. Too cold is like taking a cold shower. Too hot can burn their roots and kill them. Next, put either one pot or several pots into the bucket. It depends on how many will fit without placing one pot on top of the other. If the plants are really dry and in plastic pots, they will float for a little while. Try to keep them upright until enough water comes up through the drainage holes to keep them from falling over.
Allow them to soak until the soil on top is wet. Take them out of the water and allow them to drain on a draining rack. This way the plants will not be sitting in water when the pot is put back in the saucer. Don't water until the pot feels light again and sometimes this can be several weeks to a month. It varies from plant to plant and the humidity conditions of the house on how often to water.
There are exceptions to the rule of keeping plants on the dry side. These exceptions are orange, lemon, and grapefruit trees. Actually, any citrus tree needs moisture. This holds true for hibiscus plants as they require regular watering all through the year.
Provide Humidity in Your House
Indoor plants need humidity. An ideal way to do this is to mist them at least once a day. Use humidifiers throughout your home. Not only is it good for the plants, but people also benefit from using one.
Try to keep the plant's leaves free from dust. Dust clogs up their pores, making it hard for them to breathe. Simply wipe them down with a damp cloth. If the plant is large or has many leaves, gently use the sprayer hose on them before bringing them inside. Some people will even give their plants a shower if they get dusty indoors during the winter.
Sunny Window Provides Light
Put your plants in a sunny window. A good place to put plants is in the south facing windows so they would get enough light. Some people buy a growing light to compensate for the shorter days. This is especially useful when people don't have the windows with adequate light.
Finally, do not fertilize. Since this is the plant's rest period, they don't need any fertilizer until next spring.
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