Winter is Coming: How to Prepare Your Plants
The growing season is ending, and many people worry about how their houseplants will fair in the winter. Caring for your plants in the cold season doesn’t have to be as scary as the internet leads you to believe!
This newsletter will explain what you should expect and how to switch up your care regime to keep your plants happy in the coming months.
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How to Prepare Your Plants for Winter
There are many tips and tricks on social media for what to do with your plants to prepare for winter and survive throughout the cold months. I have sifted through them and created a list of what I believe everyone SHOULD do and a list of things you COULD do to give your plants a little boost.
Starting with the “should do” list in no particular order:
Dust the leaves and clean the windows
Shorter days and the less intense sun is the main reason your houseplants struggle in the colder months. Cleaning the plants and your windows lets the maximum amount of light reach the leaves, allowing your plants to do more with less.
Spray with insecticide and monitor for pests throughout the winter
Pests seem to thrive on your struggling plants throughout the winter. Spraying with an insecticide and then continuing to monitor them will be your best bet at winning the battle.
Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew is the best insecticide I’ve found. It’s what I use.
Cut off any struggling leaves
Removing struggling leaves not only removes targets for pests but allows your plants to put all their energy into new growth.
Seal up drafty windows
Plants don’t like rapid temperature change or cold temps, both of which can come from drafty windows! If you have plants next to your windows, make sure to seal them if you suspect they might be drafty.
Keep the heat above 60 even if on vacation
If you wouldn’t want to stay in a freezing cold home, then neither will your plants. Most houseplants will not do well in temps below 60F for very long. Keeping your thermostat above 60F while you’re gone will ensure you don’t come home to dead plants.
Watering frequency
This can be a tricky topic. I often see people posting on the internet that you need to reduce the watering frequency during the winter, but I don’t think it’s quite that simple.
Differences in temperature, humidity, drafts in your home, and whether the furnace is blowing right on a plant significantly affect how much water they need.
You should ALWAYS check your soil with your finger before watering. Water it if it’s dry an inch or two down. If it is still damp, wait a few days and check again.
Finally, the “could do” list:
These are tips to keep your plants THRIVING throughout the cold season instead of simply surviving.
Fertilize one last time
Although a few varieties of plants will enjoy fertilizer all year long (Alocasias), MOST of your plants will not tolerate it. Winter is a time of rest for your plants. Fertilize one last time to squeeze that last inch of growth out, then let them rest.
Move the plant closer to the window
I was debating putting this one on the “should do” list instead, but I know that most people use their plants as decoration and do not want to rearrange their homes to accommodate their plants. If you have a spot closer to the window that works for your plant, I recommend moving it there until spring.
If your plant is in a dark corner, dusting the leaves and cleaning the windows might not be enough, and more drastic measures should be taken. Moving it closer to the light source is a simple way to keep your plant from wilting away.
Place a mirror behind your plants to increase the light they receive
Use Grow Lights
Grow lights are a great way to grow plants anywhere in your home all year long. Buy a few grow lights, and now the darkest corner of your home can host a beautiful plant collection!
Increase humidity with a humidifier
It’s no secret that the dry air caused by the cold weather and our furnaces can be uncomfortable… Sadly that discomfort extends to our plants as well. If your plants seem to be getting extra crispy in the next couple of months, you might want to start using a humidifier. No need to go crazy, 40-50% humidity should be plenty to keep MOST houseplants surviving through the winter.
Final Notes
Winter can be a confusing time for plant owners. Social media is filled with conflicting information, so I hope this clears it up.
If you follow these steps, I’m positive your plants will live to see another growing season!
To wrap up, I want to remind you to join my exclusive houseplant newsletter!
The benefits you’ll receive:
Access to the entire archive of newsletters I’ve sent out in the past
Receive updates on projects I’m working on and see what I’m doing with my own plants
Extra newsletters about various topics I want to cover in a more personal and less formal fashion
The ability to post comments and discuss topics with others in this community
Discounted pricing on all guides I have planned for the future and be the first to know about them
Support my writing so I can continue to provide you all with the best possible information :)
This Week’s Happy Planter Submission
This is my favourite plant, I named it Nia. Nia is my favourite because from the first time I saw it, I knew I wanted it to be mine. Nia has been promising, it grows so fast and beautifully. It has two healthy babies already. Nia also has a touch of my favourite color (yellow).
Thanks for the submission @Luhluh_xo! I’m glad to hear your plant is growing fast and healthy :)
That’s all for now!
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Talk soon! Feel free to enjoy my content on Twitter until the next newsletter :)
-Houseplant Hobbyist