Tag: indoor garden

The houseplant surge continues to climb, and I couldn’t be happier to see it. Houseplants are a wonderful way for people to get a little bit of gardening therapy no matter where they live and what time of year it is. They’re an incredible tool to foster your well-being, so let’s keep your houseplants alive this winter, shall we? Read on for all my winter houseplant care hacks you need to know.

I don’t know about you, but I’m really starting to feel the toll of the shorter days and the colder weather. Because of my back issues, I’ve been feeling it pretty severely this year. I haven’t been out walking outside every day, and I’m missing my daily dose of nature.

Instead, I’ve been focusing on my houseplants. I went through and changed up all their soil and bought a bunch of new plants to replace the ones that weren’t growing. Any excuse to go to the garden centre, right??

I know many people love getting specialized plants and ones that require a lot of care. Right now, I want some easier plants that won’t require too much attention from me. And ones that can handle the lack of watering and sunlight that comes from the winter months.

Luckily, my houseplants are willing to provide me plenty of company in the house, all while being beautiful décor.

Let’s talk a little bit about how nurturing houseplants can actually help you and provide you with plenty of winter houseplant care tips so you can enjoy their company all winter long…and then some!

This post will cover…

The Emotional Benefits of Houseplants

I’m a firm believer that everyone should have at least one indoor plant in their home. Having a little piece of greenery around connects us to nature. And nature is a powerful tool for maintaining our overall well-being.

In the winter, finding the green connection we need can be more challenging, which can lead to nature deficit disorder. I find a home without greenery a little lifeless, and I think people notice the difference immediately once they add a plant.

The design of my new house includes plants in every corner. And not just plants but little plant projects. You might see the herbs I’m drying or the orange slice garland I still have up from Christmas. Over the holidays, I had Chinese chestnuts that I collected from my tree on display.

You’ll find artwork on the walls featuring flowers, plants, and nature. Being surrounded by this kind of greenery and interacting with plants can make us feel more comfortable and soothed. It lowers your stress levels, which, in turn, actually helps your physical and mental health.

Plants and greenery are also proven to help with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Just having houseplants around you in the winter can act as horticultural therapy.

So, when we feel the seasonal depression creeping in, houseplants can be a useful tool to help you foster some emotional resilience during the winter.

Choose Your Plants

When it comes to my indoor plants, I’m going for simple. I have a dog, a cat, a garden, a house, and a kid to take care of, and I’ve already got enough tasks on my plate to deal with some finicky plants.

But I know how much these plants give us a sense of calm, so for me, the best thing to hold onto that calm is to ensure the plants are simple and easy to care for.

There are many people out there who like that sort of commitment. People who may not have things that require a lot of nurturing will enjoy their routine and connection to some very special plants. Helping take care of them can help us take care of ourselves.

Here are a few easy-to-care-for houseplants that you can grow during the winter:

Plants that do well in low light translate as plants that tolerate neglect. They’re very high reward, as they keep growing and look amazing without you having to do much besides placing it in the right spot and water it.

My personal favourites? I currently love my two monsteras because they’re so big and beefy. They make a very large impact in any room they’re in (just remember that they like it humid!).

I also love anything with interesting colour. Many pothos and philodendrons come with nice variegation and are quite easy to care for. Some plants also have dark leaves or even fuzzy ones, like the African violet.

Anything that trails also is fun to include. I put them high on cabinets or along a mantle and let them trail down.

Get Some Gorgeous Pots

While you’re at it, why not get some really gorgeous pots for your houseplants? I treat my houseplants as décor as well as friends, and dressing them up is a fun way to incorporate your style into your home.

Most recently, I got these beautiful concrete pots with lavender sprigs on them. They’re adding to my already plentiful collection of pots, but a few more won’t hurt.

Potting up your houseplants is a small project, but it’s an easy way to get some garden therapy, even in the winter.

Need to Know Winter Houseplant Care

Your routine should switch up a bit for the winter. Don’t worry; your plants will actually require less TLC in the winter!

Sunlight Needs for Houseplants in Winter

The days are much shorter in winter than they are in summer. Plants that are already struggling to get enough sunlight inside the house will have a really hard time in the winter. I mean, 4 PM feels like midnight here in Vancouver!

Your houseplants may need to be moved somewhere where they can get more light. Ideally, you’ll want a south or west-facing window since they get the most light throughout the day.

That being said, you want to keep your plants away from frosty windows, as the cold temperatures can affect your plants. So, be mindful of your window placement depending on where you live.

You may also need to add some supplemental light. You can set up some grow lights and put them on a timer so they give your plants plenty of light. Just keep in mind that one hour of grow light time isn’t as good as one hour of sunlight, so plants will need longer under the grow light to get their fill.

Finally, dust can affect your plant’s ability to absorb sunlight. While it won’t make a huge difference, it’s still a good idea to wipe down the leaves and clean them off occasionally.

Watering and Humidity in Winter

In the winter, our houseplants enter a period of dormancy—much like the plants outside. While they may not be losing their leaves like the trees, they are slowing down their growth this time of year. This means they require fewer resources than they normally do, water included.

Watering the plants will stimulate them to need more. When we alter the watering routine and water the plants less, it slows down the plants, and in turn, it helps to slow us down, too.

Humidity is something you want to keep an eye on in the winter. Indoor furnaces pump out really dry air, and it affects us all. Our skin dries up, and we need to hydrate more. Plants also dry out.

Here are a few ways you can increase the humidity in your home:

• Add a humidifier near your plants. Already have one running? Consider moving your plants closer to it.
• Add a humidity tray. These are a low-cost and simple way to add extra water to your plant but also keep the roots from sitting in water.
• Move your plants to an area of the house with more natural humidity. Bathrooms and kitchens have more moisture and can be a great place for plants if they have enough light.
• Keep your plants away from drafts and heat sources.
• Spritz your plants more regularly with a plant mister.

I have always found that my terrariums do well this time of year, as they get that trapped humidity while other plants look a little dry. Some people even mimic these conditions by grouping their plans in a glass cabinet to hold onto the humidity inside.

Soil and Fertilizing

As I mentioned above, houseplants in winter are in a state of dormancy, so we don’t have to worry much about their soil or fertilizing. I wait to refresh my soil and do any repotting in the spring. If you notice the soil is getting dry and crusty, you can revive it in the spring. Your plant should be fine until then!

Once spring begins, the temperature and amount of sunlight naturally begin to rise. Your plant will notice and slowly begin to push out more growth again. Follow its lead and start fertilizing when it does.

Do you have any more questions about winter houseplant care? Let me know in the comments below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m able. Happy growing!

More Tips for Taking Care of Your Houseplants