The post 8 Houseplant Care Changes to Make as Winter Days Get Shorter first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
Houseplants don’t stop needing care in winter, but they do need different care.
Shorter days, lower light, and dry heated air change what a plant needs, and many of the problems owners see in January come from treating plants the way they did in July. The most common one is too much water.
Extension programs at universities in Nebraska, North Dakota, and elsewhere give the same basic advice.
Water less, stop feeding, give plants as much light as you can, and protect them from cold glass and hot air. Here are eight changes to make now.
Water and Food
Water less often
A plant that needed water daily in July or August may need it once a week or less in winter, according to Nebraska Extension. Reducing how often you water is the best way to limit what the plant receives, and it recommends testing soil moisture before watering.
A plant guide from Proven Winners suggests poking a finger 1 to 2 inches into the soil and watering only if it is dry.
It also recommends using room-temperature water to avoid shock. One plant guide says overwatering is the top reason houseplants die in winter.
Related: 10 Simple Ways to Help Your House-Plants Survive Winter
Stop fertilizing
With less light and cooler temperatures, growth slows, and plants can’t use extra nutrients. North Dakota State and Kentucky extension programs both recommend stopping fertilizer in winter, as one guide summarizes.
Proven Winners says winter fertilizer is wasted, can cause salt buildup, and may stress plants. Resume feeding in spring when you see new growth. Nebraska Extension adds that thorough watering now and then helps flush out built-up fertilizer salts.
Light and Temperature
Move plants to your brightest window
Nebraska Extension says indoor light is much lower in winter than in summer, and almost every indoor location is effectively low light in winter.
Proven Winners suggests moving plants to a south- or west-facing window. Succulents, cacti, and citrus trees may need more than a window can offer, and a grow light can help.
A plant guide suggests cleaning windows, since clean glass lets in more light.
Related: 7 Gardening Myths That Might Be Hurting Your Plants (And What to Do Instead)
Keep leaves off cold glass
A plant pressed against a cold window can damage its foliage. Proven Winners says to avoid placing plants against cold glass, and a gardening brand advises keeping plants several inches from exterior windows.
In cold regions, if windows frost overnight, move plants away from the glass at dusk or slip a heavy shade between the plants and the window.
Keep plants away from radiators, vents, and drafts
Hot, dry air from a heating vent can dry out foliage, and cold drafts from doors can stress it. North Dakota State, Kentucky, and Nebraska extension programs all advise keeping plants away from cold drafts and heat vents, according to a plant care guide. The goal is a stable spot that’s bright but away from both extremes.
Air and Patience
Raise the humidity
North Dakota State Extension says homes can have a relative humidity as low as 10 to 20 percent in winter, while houseplants generally prefer 40 to 50 percent, as one guide summarizes.
Nebraska Extension notes that with furnaces running, indoor air can be as dry as desert air. Brown leaf tips are a common sign.
Grouping plants, using a pebble tray, or running a humidifier can help, and one gardening brand notes that humidifying a room also means plants won’t need water as often.
Watch for pests
Dry air can bring problems. A plant care brand lists spider mites among the pests that appear when humidity is low, and a plant guide advises checking any plants you bring in from outdoors for pests.
Look under leaves and along stems every couple of weeks, and isolate any plant that looks infested.
Related: 13 Worst Garden Pests and How to Get Rid of Them
Don’t panic over slow growth, and hold off on repotting
A plant guide notes that a houseplant that stops pushing out new leaves in January usually isn’t unwell; it is resting.
A beginner’s guide advises maintaining stable conditions, skipping fertilizer, and avoiding repotting during this time. The urge to fix a plant that looks quiet is usually a mistake, and what feels like neglect is often proper winter care.
Conclusion
Winter houseplant care can be summed up as less water, no fertilizer, and as much light as you can give.
The changes are small, but they match what plants actually do in winter: slow down and wait for spring.