The days are short and the temperatures are cool, but don’t hang up your green thumb now! Houseplants can completely transform and light up your interior spaces, especially in the winter. Come see our expanded collection of house plants in our greenhouses today.
A few tips for keeping your house plants healthy this season…
1. Avoid over watering
A common problem in house plant care is over-watering, particularly in the winter months when less water is required. In winter, when many plants are resting, it’s important to use less fertilizer, because in winter many plants grow more slowly – as a result they need fewer nutrients to keep them fed. This applies to both indoor and outdoor plants, so as a rule of thumb reduce the frequency of feeding by half during winter.
2. Watch out for pesky insects
Pay particular attention to the undersides of leaves, where pests are most often found. Use a magnifying glass to see small pests and larvae. A plant that has been outside for the summer, especially one sitting on the ground, may have pests that have crawled in through the drainage holes. Take the plant out of the pot to examine the soil. Most pests are found on the exterior of the root ball. Stressed plants tend to be more susceptible to pests–do your best to keep them healthy!
3. Re-potting your plant will be necessary from time to time
Since the plant is indoors and not growing in the ground, it will require a pot of some kind. If there are more roots than soil or the roots are poking out of the pot, then you will want to re-pot your houseplant as soon as possible. Typically, houseplants should be repotted every 12 to 18 months.
4. Know how much sunlight the plant needs
Not all indoor plants need sunlight, some need direct sunlight and some need very little light. Make sure you double check where you are keeping your houseplants. Orchids and succulents are plants that need indirect sunlight and will thrive in an area such as behind a curtain. A spider plant needs direct sunlight so keeping that on a window sill or next to a glass door will do the trick.
5. Deadhead and prune to keep a clean look in your home
This keeps you plant healthy and continuing to thrive indoors, but it will also maintain a nice clean look as a centerpiece or décor.