Temperatures have dropped and the bright colored fall leaves are nearly gone in NYC. I can officially say winter has arrived! Here are 8 ways to prep your urban jungle for winter and keep your houseplants looking their best through these colder months…
1. Take plants off drafty window sills & move away from heating vents
Fluctuating temperatures can kill houseplants so it’s best to remove plants from cold, drafty window sills and heating vents.
2. Reduce your watering schedule
Plants experience a slower rate of growth during cold weather and, therefore, need less water to stay hydrated. Most house plants prefer soil to dry completely before watering. Overwatering is the most common problem for houseplants!
Use your finger to determine the moisture level in your plant by sticking it in a few inches below the surface. If it comes out with dirt stuck to it, your plant is moist. If it comes out clean, if may be time to water. You can also use a moisture meter for a more accurate measure! (LINK)
Note: Some plants require moist soil at all times. Be sure to check the individual needs of your plant before making a change to their watering schedule.
3. Stop fertilizing
Winter is offseason for houseplants so let them rest! Plants will grow at a very slow rate (if at all) during winter months and some can even go completely dormant. There is no need to fertilize plants until early spring when new growth begins to form.
4. Avoid repotting until Spring
Similar to the above tip, your plants are taking it easy through the winter and repotting can cause the plant to go into shock and not easily recover. New growth works in both directions, through the leaves and the roots. When repotting, we want the roots to grow into their new home, but during these cooler months the roots are not growing as quickly and therefore may not adjust to their new pot.
At the end of the day, your plant will likely be fine if repotted in the winter, but it’s generally advised to hold off until spring when new growth begins to form!
5. Add a humidity
Forced hot air in most homes causes a large drop in humidity. Some plants tolerate this change with ease (e.g. Pothos and Snake plants), but others, like Calatheas, will need moisture added to the air.
You can do this by clustering plants together and adding a small humidifier (like this one) near the cluster. Relocating plants to the bathroom is another way to give them an extra dose of moisture! Some other tried & true methods here – How To Add Humidity to Houseplants
6. Clean leaves
Start by removing any yellow or brown leaves. These unfortunately will not turn green again so it’s best to simply take them off your plant. Most will just pop off with a gentle pull!
Removing dust from your plants should be a priority all year long, but is especially important in the winter months! Removing dust from their leaves will allow your houseplants to make the most out of the light they are receiving.
7. Move plants closer to a light source or add artificial light
Ideally, we’d all like to have a south facing window for our plants live in and soak up sun for most of the day, but unfortunately, that isn’t always the way it goes. With reduced sunlight hours through the winter, you may need to relocate your plants to brighter spots in your home!
If natural light isn’t cutting it, try a grow light to keep your houseplants happy through the winter.
8. Gradually bring outdoor plants in for winter
Plants that thrived outside all summer are acclimated to a certain amount of natural light. Over a week, reduce the amount of light your plant receives before bringing it inside. This will help to prevent shock. Note, some plants will drop leaves, but will readjust to the new conditions.
I hope these tips will keep your houseplants thriving through the winter! Follow me on TikTok for regular plant tips and tricks!
*Melissa
