caring for housplants

During The Winter

By Nick Boulton

over a large area, minimizing the heat and energy from the sun, giving us long nights and shorter days. This affects plants in a big way! But what are some of the major things plants need? Let’s look at some of the major needs and consider how winter might affect these:

• Light

This time of year it can be hard to help some of the plants that you truly care about. Some plants are hardly affected by cold weather at all, but there are others, such as more of our tropical plants or some house plants that really struggle or ultimately will die in cold weather. Because the sun comes up later and goes down sooner and tends to hide behind clouds more often in winter, temperatures drop, and in turn we get less sunlight and warmth. This happens during the winter because of the earth’s axis. The sun’s rays are hitting the earth from a shallow angle, allowing a lot of the sun’s heat to be spread out

• Air

• Water

• Source of Nutrients

• Space to live and grow

• Optimal temperatures to grow in

During the winter months, these 6 items can all be affected. The plants use the energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide, soil nutrients, and water into food. Water can either be overabundant because of snow and more rain, but can be harmful if it freezes around, or in, the delicate roots and fleshy parts of the plant. Plants can go dormant during these times, not allowing them to take in nutrients from the sun or the soil. What’s more, the air temperatures drop, not allowing plants to have the warmth that they need.

So, what can you do about those more delicate outdoor plants that need more sunlight and warmth and indoor plants that are already indoors for the winter months ahead? Here are a few tips for bringing in plants from outside and helping with existing plants already inside.

1. Wash and trim plants before bringing them inside

Washing and trimming your plants before bringing them inside is a must. This way, you make sure they are all ready for their temporary home.

2. Watch out for insects or pests

Look for possible pests such as aphids or spider mites that will cause harm to your plant, and ultimately, may even spread to other plants throughout your home.

3. Clean the leaves

If the leaves of your plant are dusty, they will not be able to absorb sunlight to create food. Dusty leaves can also encourage disease. Lightly brush dust off the leaves of plants every month or when needed. The majority of plants will benefit from this, but keep in mind that plant leaves have pores and they can become clogged. To help avoid this, you can also use a cleaner for your plant leaves (Miracle Grow makes one called Leaf Shine).

4. Cut down on watering

Plants will go dormant or into a hibernation state during the winter. During this time their uptake in water will be decreased. If you were to continue to water your plants at the same rate as during the summer, it could develop rot or disease. During the winter, water lightly, allowing moisture roughly an inch below the surface. Citrus plants though, require more moisture even in the winter. For example, an Orange, Lemon, or Lime tree that you might wheel inside and outside, will still require more water.

5. Dilute or all together avoid fertilizing

Fertilize during the winter only if you feel your plant needs it and dilute fertilizer by 50% before applying it. If your plants are healthy, it’s best to skip fertilizing all together.

6. Don’t re-pot until Spring if possible

Let’s face it, repotting is good for plants, but it can also be very stressful for them. Repotting during the winter, when the plant is already experiencing changing temps and other stressful situations, is not best. It’s best to wait till spring to do this, if it can be avoided.

7. Have a place for your plants to be for maximum sunlight

Find a nice window where the maximum amount of sunlight is let in to help the plant with photosynthesis, so it can continue to create food.

8. Move plants away from windows on cold freezing cold nights

Although it is good for plants to be near the window for Sunlight, cold nights can harm your plants. So, on those cold nights, move them into a warmer part of your home.

9. Avoid drafts and breezes that could stress the plant out

Drafts and breezes throughout your home can harm or stress out your plant. Look for areas of your home away from drafty windows, doors or A/C or heating ducts.

10. Use a humidifier

Using a humidifier can add extra moisture to the dry winter air and help plant leaves from browning.

11. Avoid too much heat

Although we are worried about plants freezing in the winter, we still need to remember to avoid too much heat. Space heaters, for example, that are used in homes during winter months to help warm up can also be harmful because of too much heat. Try finding a place for your plants away from fireplaces, heaters, or vents.

12. consider a growing light

Having a LED growing light for those days with short sunlight can help provide extra energy. There are different types of lights that will affect plants in different ways, so make sure you’re getting the right ones for your plants.

Coming out of Winter into Spring

As we come out of the colder weather and into the warmer weather it can be tempting to want to stick your plants back outside, but make sure that you are looking at your upcoming weather. If you’re not watching the weather closely, you may have some cold snaps still ahead and you want to avoid putting your plant outside, possibly forgetting about them and, in turn, causing them harm.

Consider pruning, fertilizing, and repotting during the spring. It is a good time to do it with there not being extremely cold weather from the winter and you don’t have the excessive heat from the summer months yet. These optimal weather conditions will help with not putting extra stress on your plant.

Pruning could be considered hard on a plant, but keep in mind that pruning can actually be beneficial and helpful. Pruning promotes new, healthy leaf and root growth. Just remember to not do an excessive amount of pruning, that could be harmful. Along with pruning, repotting and cutting back on some of those roots will also help with new growth and the overall health of the plant.

Fertilizing should be carefully done around the right season times. Early spring and early fall are great times to fertilize to help prepare plants for the upcoming seasons whether it is headed into summer or winter. Just be aware that fertilizing applications should be followed closely from the application rates provided with the fertilizer.

I hope that all your plants continue to thrive and that you enjoy them as much as I enjoy mine.