The past year brought on a whole new level of stress for everyone. A lot of folks turned to houseplants to freshen up their space and offer relief to that stress. But for both experienced and new plant parents, stress can return as winter brings on a whole new set of challenges for the indoor gardener. We've compiled a short list of winter care recommendations based on what has worked - and not worked - for the houseplants that live at home with members of the Garden*Hood team.
LIGHT
As the days get shorter and the sun tracks lower in the sky, it’s increasingly difficult to make sure your plants are getting the light they need. We all know what it’s like to have ALL of your plants crammed in the one window that gets the most light!
During the winter, it’s true that your plants will be getting significantly less light, but just like their outdoor cousins, even houseplants experience a period of dormancy that is triggered by the shortening days. If your goal is to merely get your houseplants through the winter, you may not need supplemental light. But if you want your plants to thrive during the winter, supplemental lighting from full spectrum bulbs can keep them looking closer to their best. “I use a couple plant lights for eight hours a day to keep some plants content during the winter,” says G*Hoodie Patton. “I feel the plant lights help my plants survive well enough through the winter’s decreased sunlight.”
water
Water requirements will also change throughout the year. Pulling back on watering in the winter, and really letting plants get dry in between soaks is important to avoid overwatering.
We are a fan of the “chopstick trick” to test soil moisture in her plants. With this, we slide a wooden to-go chopstick in the soil and let it sit for a minute. When you pull it out, you can tell if there is moisture on the stick (think testing a cake when it comes out of the oven!). It’s especially useful for plants like dracaenas and sanseverias that like dry completely between waterings. Be especially mindful of plants staged in a larger pots without drain holes. When you are not able to see the drainage you can easily find your plant in a situation where it is sitting in water causing root rot and annoying thrip infestations.
For plants that need a more consistent moisture level in the soil, we recommend a pebble tray. You'll need a plate/saucer and some small rocks. Fill the tray with the rocks and add water to just below the top of the rocks. This method helps regulate soil moisture for plants like ferns that have more sensitive leaves and need more even moisture but don't like to be soaking wet from frequent waterings.
humidity
One of the hardest things to regulate in the winter is humidity. By design, our homes do not hold a lot of moisture, especially in the winter when we have hot dry air blowing out of every vent. These conditions will weaken your plant by sucking moisture out through the leaves, making them more susceptible to infestations from the dreaded spider mite. Humidifiers are easy to find, but you can also use a pebble tray or try clustering your plants together to create a microclimate for those plants that need a little more humidity.
planning
As the temperature drops in fall, it’s good to have an action plan when it comes to moving plants inside. G*H owner, Kacey, stresses the importance of bringing plants in BEFORE it gets cold. “It eases the transition significantly to bring them in when outdoor temps aren't too much lower than the temp you keep your house during the winter.” she says, “Going from 35 degrees to 68 degrees can be a bit shocking.”
It’s also a good idea to have a plan for where everything goes before having to move them into the house. Nothing is more frustrating for you (not to mention, stressful for your plants!) than having plants sitting in strange places for weeks until you can finally puzzle them in under your sunny window!
outside time
Our nursery manager, Halley, swears by giving her houseplants “outside time” during the warmer months. “Most of my plants go outside in April and stay there until October. I have found it makes them more hardy when they come inside for winter. Allowing for a natural growing season outside where they are exposed to the heat, humidity, and rainwater has really changed the game for my tropicals!” Once the temperature warms up this coming spring, find a bright but protected spot where they will get no more than an hour or two of direct morning sun but bright, filtered light the rest of the day. Remember that most houseplants are tropical understory plants, meaning they are native to jungle/forest floors where protection from the lush tree canopy keeps them sheltered from exposure to full, direct sun.