Taking care of your houseplants is crucial, whether you’re just starting or already have many plants. Paying attention to the moisture in the soil is important when understanding how to care for your houseplants during winter.
In the colder months, your indoor plants don’t get as much sunlight. This means they grow slower and don’t need as much water.
Leslie F. Halleck, who knows a lot about plants and wrote the book Gardening Under Lights, explains this. She says when there’s less light, plants’ processes like photosynthesis slow down.
However, how much water your plants need also depends on other things like how warm your home is, and how humid it is.
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When you need to water your plants less in winter
Lisa Madz, who’s an expert on plants for Rosy Soil, says that in winter, days are shorter and there’s less natural light. This affects how much plants grow. So, they usually need less water because they’re not growing as fast. But unlike outdoor plants that go dormant in winter, indoor plants just grow slower. Halleck calls this a “quiet period.”
Sometimes, you might need to water your plants less in winter. For example, if you live in a place where it’s naturally humid, or if you keep your home cool and your plants are near a cold window. In these cases, you might need to water less.
“If you live in a climate with higher natural humidity and cool temperatures, you’re running humidifiers for your plants, or your plant sits next to a cold glass window, then you very well may need to reduce your watering in winter,” says Madz. One way to create more humidity in your home is to have several houseplants placed near each other. “Grouping plants together can create a more humid microenvironment, benefiting them in drier indoor winter conditions,” she says in an article for Southern Living.
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When your plants may need more water in winter
During winter, most people use heaters in their homes. This can make the air drier, causing your houseplants to lose water faster. As a result, they might need more water than usual.
Houseplants tend to droop more in winter compared to summer when people are using an air conditioner. Even though air conditioners also remove moisture from the air, the cooler temperatures reduce how much water plants lose.
Knowing the right amount to water your houseplants can be tricky because there are many factors to consider. To keep your plants healthy and thriving, Madz suggests adjusting how often you water them based on what each plant needs and the conditions in your home.
Compiled by: Meaghan-Leigh Jacobs
