Houseplants In the Winter
Watch your water
During the winter months many people overwater their plants. They keep the soil wet constantly, which contributes to root loss and plant decline. The regular addition of water settles the soil and reduces much needed air space.
From October to February, plants are in their slowest growth period. Let them take a breather by reducing watering and fertilizing. The soil should dry out thoroughly between waterings, but don't let your plants start to wither or turn yellow.
Take an inventory of your houseplants right now. If there's a white crust on top of their soil, they need to be repotted. That crust is the remains of soluable salts from the water, which aren't useable by the plant. This develops more rapidly with alkaline water supplies, and can be toxic.
As daily light increases, plant growth should improve. However, several factors prevent growth potential. Plants can be out of balance with root loss leaving more than can be supported by the existing root system. Also the entire root system may be pot-bellied, limiting top development.
The best thing you can do for your houseplants right now is to repot if needed. Then, move them to the sunniest window away from cold or hot drafts, water thoroughly and let them dry out in between, and feed them every once in awhile.
We're all settling in for the long winter. Let your houseplants take some downtime, too.
Feel free to email us at beiersgreenhouse@beiersgreenhouse.com and we'll look into whatever questions you have. Thanks for reading!
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