12 Easy Tips To Keep Your Houseplants Alive (And Out Of The Compost Bin)
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If you’re anything like me, you love turning your house into a miniature jungle in the spring and summer. There’s nothing better than going on a fun weekend trip to the nursery to explore different plants as an extra dose of serotonin. But when the temperatures start to drop, I start to panic that I’ve bit off a few too many green things that I can chew.
Luckily, over the years, I’ve learned a few tips that have turned me into a year-long plant parent so that I don’t have to start over from square one when things thaw out. If you have some plant babies that need some care this winter, here are a few tips to help them survive to next spring.
Change Your Watering Routine
One of the most important things about winter plant care is avoiding over-watering. Because the temperatures are cooling off, your plants are likely to dry out a little slower. If you are watering before your plants are dried out, they are more prone to root-rot and will overall start to turn yellow or drop a bunch of leaves. It might take some getting used to so don’t worry if there is a little transition period. Your plants are resilient and can handle it!
When in Doubt, Bottom-water Your Plant
If you’re really scared of over-watering your plant, bottom watering is a great way to make sure your plant is only sucking up the amount of water it needs. Get yourself a bowl or another shallow dish, fill it up with water, and place your pot in it. This technique will only work if your pot has holes at the bottom, so keep that in mind!
Pause (or Go Light) On The Fertilizer If You Live in a Colder Climate
Many plants go dormant in the winter or slow their growth significantly. For this reason, they don’t need extra fertilizer, especially if they are healthy. If you really think your plant needs a little extra food, make sure you dilute whatever you use by 50% in the fall.
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Follow the Sun
As the seasons change, the light in your house is likely to change. This might call for a rearranging of your space. Move your plants to where the sun is hitting the most.
Clean Your Plant’s Leaves
The days are shorter, so your plants are going to be yearning for as much sunlight as possible. Check to see if dust has accumulated on your leaves and give them a wipe with a wet rag. This way, there won’t be any barrier between the sunlight and the leaves.
Avoid Cold Drafts and Heaters
I know, easier said than done, but it’s a crucial part in winter plant care. Avoid putting your plants on your window sill when it’s really cold out and make sure they aren’t close to any space heaters or radiators. It can be hard to find that happy middle, but just being mindful of the extremes will keep them nice and happy.
Avoid Repotting Plants
If you need to change pots, do it in the spring or summer! It’s much harder for plants to adjust in their new pot homes if it’s cold outside. The last thing you want to do is shock your little babies, so just keep them in their home until things start to thaw out. After that, you can give them more room to grow.
Prune Your Plants
You might notice that your plants, especially any trailing ones, might be getting lengthy but aren’t putting out any new leaves. Go ahead and trim those leggy guys. You can also cut away any dead or dying leaves to keep them nice and healthy. Any dying or sparse leaf left on your plant is only going to suck away energy and it needs as much as it can to make it through the next few months. Remember to keep in mind that your plants dropping leaves is totally normal as well.
Pick Beginner-friendly and Low Light Plants
If you are finding yourself struggling to keep some of your plants alive, opt for some plants that need a little less attention. You can choose something like a snake plant, a ZZ plant, or even a pothos is pretty resilient. These plants can withstand a variety of conditions and can jump back a little easier than your more finicky plants (I’m lookin’ at you Mr. Fiddle Leaf).
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Snake Plant
Costa Farms
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ZZ Plant
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Fiddle Leaf Fig
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Keep An Eye Out For Pests
A big part of winter plant care is keeping an eye out for pests. Like us, these little bugs like to get all cozy when it gets colder and plants are a great home for them. But, we don’t want them there! Just keep an eye out for webs, small dots on your leaves, or a plant dying really quickly out of nowhere. If you do get some pests, get some neem oil and you will be good to go.
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Consider a Grow Light
Sometimes, we just can’t give our plants the light that they need. Luckily, there are grow lights that can help supplement what they aren’t getting from outside. Look into getting a LED light or CFL bulb and keep your plant 1-3 feet away from it. This especially comes in handy when we are in the depths of those low-light days in February. This may help your mood as well!
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13 Watt CFL Grow Light
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When All Else Fails, Re-home Your Plant
Now listen, I am not above giving a plant to a caretaker that has a brighter home than me. Or, a less drafty home. Sometimes, you might have to re-home a plant for the season. A fun and silly idea could be to consider co-parenting a plant with a friend and let them have it for the winter and you for the summer. Either way, if you are fearful that your plant has only a few days left before it turns brown, see if a pal can bring it back to life. Don’t worry, there’s always next year!
As a final thing to keep in mind, remember that all of these tips work in tandem with one another. If your plant has more sun, it may need more water or humidity or if there’s more humidity, you may need to keep an eye out for pests. Just keep an eye on your plants and don’t be afraid of some trial and error. You’ve got this! Happy plant-parenting!