Winter can be quite challenging when looking after healthy plants. When the temperature drops and there is little sunlight and drier indoor air, your plants will struggle to survive through the winter months. Don't worry; some winter plant care tips are all you need to help them make it healthy and grow. Here's a breakdown of what you need to do to winterize your plants, ensuring they survive the harsh cold weather.
1. Understand the Needs of Each Plant
The needs of different plants vary, especially in winter. For instance, some plants are more sensitive to the cold than hardy houseplants or succulents. First, pinpoint their specific needs, especially temperature, light, and water. Some plants that go dormant during winter require very little care, while others need a little extra.
Quick Tips:
Learn about specific plant varieties: Discover if your plant tolerates cold or goes dormant with the lower temperatures.
Check for signs of dormancy: Many plants tend to slow their growth during winter months, so adapt care activities to the condition.
2. Provide the Right Light
You may be harder-pressed to provide your plants with the right amount of light during winter because the days are shorter and sunlight not as intense. Sometimes, pale, spindly growth and very fragile plants are the consequences of a lack of light. Here are some tips to modify your lighting plan when nights get long.
Light Management Techniques
Move the plants closer to the windows: South-facing windows receive the most sunlight during winter. Place your plants there if you can.
Rotate your plants weekly: Rotating the plants every few days ensures that all sides get equal sunlight distribution.
Grow lights: If natural sunlight is deemed inadequate, use full-spectrum grow lights instead. These include LED grow lights that are energy-efficient and ideal for indoor winter plant care.
3. Maintain Proper Temperature and Humidity
Cold drafts and extremely dry air stress plants. Most houseplants prefer temperatures between 60 to 75 degrees F (15 to 24 degrees C). However, the key to keeping plants happy during the cold is maintaining a consistent temperature and humidity.
Temperature and Humidity Tips:
Keep away from drafts: Away from doors, windows, and areas of possible drafts.
Place near a humidifier: Winter drying tends to strip moisture off plants in an instant. A humidifier can maintain a higher humidity level throughout the space.
Cluster plants: Planting near one another helps create a higher level of humidity within and around them.
4. Adjust Watering Routine
Watering Needs in winter are significantly less because the plants grow much less actively. The most common issue when it comes to winter watering is overwatering since the roots are more likely to rot than otherwise.
Tips on Watering
Water sparingly: Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch, and allow it to dry again before watering again.
Use room-temperature water: Cold water may shock the roots. Continue with your winter care strategies using lukewarm or room-temperature water.
Check drainage: Water should not collect at the bottom of pots. Good drainage prevents soggy roots from getting wet, which can cause rot.
5. Fertilize Less Often
It is also a time when plants' growth rate is slower, and their nutrition requirements are minimal. A surplus of fertilizers applied may build up chemicals in the soil that can be damaging to the plant.
Fertilization Tips
Cut fertilization: Do not fertilize or minimize fertilization during winter months unless your plant flourishes during winter.
Dilute fertilization: If fertilization is essential, apply half-strength or quarter-strength fertilizer.
6. Keep an Eye on Pests
Indoor plants are not free of pests; they can still attract pests, especially if they transition from outdoor conditions to indoor conditions. Warmth indoors is an advantage for spider mites, aphids, and fungus gnats in general.
Pest Control Tips:
Check plants regularly: Above all, observe the underside of leaves, stems, and soil surfaces for the presence of pests.
Soap solution on the leaves: Clean the pests off the leaves with a mild soapy water solution.
Set apart infected plants: Keep infected plants separate until the issue is resolved to prevent the multiplication of pests to other plants from infected plants.
7. Prune and Clean the Leaves
Pruning also removes dead leaves or damages that take the plant's energy from healthy growth. Dust cleaning on leaves will improve photosynthesis and get more light for the plant.
How to Prune and Clean:
Prune minimally: Remove dead leaves and stems but do not do major pruning as plants are not very active in winter.
Wipe leaves with a damp cloth: This removes dust and improves air circulation.
Use sharp pruning scissors: Sharp scissors are clean and help you cut plants without accidentally harming them.
8. Repot Only If Necessary
Winter is not a good time to pot because most plants have gone dormant, and potting can shock the plant and break up its already-established root system.
Repotting Tips
Wait for spring: Unless your plant is severely root-bound or shows that it needs to be repotted, wait until at least the warmer months.
Use a pot of the right size: In case there is a need to repot, then pick one that is a little more substantial than what it is currently in so that watering it so much will not be an issue.
9. Protect Outdoor Plants
If you have plants outside that are sensitive to the cold, you should prepare them for the winter. They may be brought indoors, while others require just a little bit of insulation to survive through the chills.
Some Winter Tips for Outdoor Plants
Mulch around the base: Provide a layer of mulch around outdoor plants at the base level to retain moisture and insulate roots.
Cover plants with frost cloths: Cover sensitive plants with frost cloths or burlap to protect them from frosty nights.
Bring pots indoors: If you have potted plants that are not hardy for winter, bring them indoors to protect them from freezing.
10. Practice Patience
Plant growth slows down in winter, so if your plants appear less vibrant or seem like they've stopped growing, relax. The right plant care for winter will ensure that your plants bloom once warmer months are in view.
Seasonal Patience Tips:
Don't change light, temperature, and watering too often: Plants feel secure if these factors are stable in winter.
Wait for spring growth: Ensure your plants will ideally respond to care routines once they enter their active growing season.
Key Takeaways for Keeping Plants Healthy During Winter
The winter months are unlike any other season since the whole change in the routines of care for plants should be considered. So, if you know how plants work and what they need, you can keep your indoor and outdoor plants healthy even during the coldest of months. Here's a recap of the essential tips:
Understand each plant's needs on the amount of light, temperature, and water.
Adjust lighting by using grow lights or placing plants near sunny windows.
Keep temperatures and humidity steady by keeping your plants out of drafts and using humidifiers.
Water lightly so rotting roots aren't drowned. Allow the top inch of soil to dry entirely in winter between waterings.
Reduce fertilization since your plants require fewer nutrients in winter.
Conclusion
Care for plants during the winter seems daunting, but it can be simple and rewarding if approached in the right way. Knowing your plants and adjusting some aspects of light, temperature, humidity, or water will keep them healthy and thriving through the coldest part of the year. That is to say, your adjustments might include changing the source lighting and humidifiers or keeping watch for pests. Be very patient, as most plants are in the natural dormancy phase during winter, so they will once again be in bloom with the return of spring. This guaranteed care of winter plants will keep your indoor and outdoor plants healthy and refreshed for the new growing season.
