An Indie Cambridge article 14 January 2025
Houseplants are tremendously popular as people learn the health and wellbeing benefits of bringing nature inside. So how best to care for them during the colder months? Let Janet Fox from indoor plant specialists Small and Green give you some tips.
When to water All plants will slow down their growth through the winter months due to the colder weather and reduction in light. Because of this they will need less water so start to gradually reduce the amount of water that you give your plants at this time of year.
Let there be light
Shorter days mean less light for your plants. Move them nearer to a window, just for the darker days, you can move them back to their original spot when the days lengthen again.
Create a micro-climate
Because we all have our central heating on in the winter, the air can become too dry for a lot of plants. To rectify this try grouping them together so that they can create their own mini micro-climate, increasing the humidity around them.
Pest patrol
Keep an eye out for pests during the winter. Red spider mites love warm dry conditions so misting can help keep them away. Regularly dust the leaves of all your plants which helps to dislodge any possible pests, and also allows more light to reach the leaves.
Cactus and succulent success
Remember that most of these plants will go dormant over winter and may not need watering at all. Check them regularly and if the leaves are starting to shrivel then give them a water otherwise leave well alone!
Repotting and feeding
As a general rule, do not repot or feed your plants after the end of October through to mid-March. I do still feed some of my plants if they are still actively growing but I will dilute the feed much more than the recommended amount during this time.