Seven tips to avoid killing your houseplants in winter

Article for :Beginner and plant killer

Remember that summer morning when you bought your first plant, a baby Pilea peperomioides at the garden center? The salesman promised you that, in a few years' time, it would grow to a height of two meters. But to do that, you're going to have to keep it alive between November and March. Don't panic, we'll explain what you need to do to avoid killing your houseplants in winter.

Winter, the season of danger for our plants

Although plants don't suffer from seasonal depression, winter is far from being their favorite season - Photo by Syn Gor / Pexels

Taking care of your houseplants in winter means adapting your routine a little. Plants have special requirements at this time of year. Some varieties go into dormancy, while others take advantage of the shorter days to bloom.

What's more, the changing seasons modify growing conditions, even indoors. The days get shorter, there's less light and the mercury drops. Even with heating, it's probably colder in your house at Christmas than it is on July 14th. The drop in temperature at night is also a factor that can disturb plants.

Most of the plants we grow indoors don't appreciate these changes. If, in the wild, they manage to cope with them, in a pot, you need to give them a little help to keep them healthy through the winter.

#1 Reduce watering

Remember to check the condition of the substrate before watering - Photo by Marchenko Family

Most plants slow down their growth in winter, waiting for spring. This means they need less water. What's more, cooler temperatures mean their soil stays moist longer. These are two reasons to reduce the frequency of watering.

We generally recommend watering half as often. But the best thing to do is to observe your plants and give them water when they really need it. Before pulling out your watering can, always check the condition of the substrate. Depending on the variety, it may be dry on the surface or deep down. Don't know what your plant's habits are? Download the Monstera app. Our maintenance guides tell you when to water, and we'll send you a reminder when it's time to take action.

The rest is business as usual. The golden rules of watering apply in both summer and winter:

use water at room temperature, so as not to damage your plant's roots;
use non-calcareous water, preferably reclaimed rainwater;
drain off any excess water stagnating in the saucer or planter to prevent root rot.

#2 Stop fertilizing

Fertilization must be adapted to the plant's life cycle - Photo by Cody / Flickr

Nutrient requirements are also lower in winter. That's why you should stop fertilizing your houseplants. They won't be able to absorb the fertilizer, which accumulates in the soil. This excess of minerals could kill them. This is also why you shouldn't repot (except in emergencies) outside the growth phase.

But not all houseplants grow at the same rate! Some varieties are in full growth between November and March, and flower in winter. This is the case, for example, with poinsettias and Christmas cacti. You need to encourage their development with a suitable fertilizer. Choose a product for flowering plants and respect the doses prescribed by the manufacturer. Once flowering is complete, stop fertilizing.

#3 Choose the right location for your plant

Move your plants where they'll get enough light - Photo by Sasha Kim / Pexels

You may need to rethink your plant decor to care for your houseplant in winter. If you've set up your Dwarf palm or Calathea orbifolia in a dark corner, move it closer to the window. The light several meters away from a bay window is too weak to survive the dreary season in good conditions. This applies to species that like half-shade as well as sunny ones,

But don't stick your Pothos to the glass either! Even double-glazed windows can freeze when night falls. To protect your plant from the cold, make sure the foliage doesn't touch the glass. Set your pot back about ten centimetres from the window.

Worried about your Velvet plant catching a cold and tempted to put it in a warm spot above the radiator or fireplace? Not recommended. Constant heat dries out the substrate, leaves and roots. Even with daily watering, your plant will dehydrate and die.

Draughts are also to be avoided. Forget locations right next to a door you open frequently, or in a poorly insulated corridor. Variations in temperature and cold air are never to a tropical plant's liking.

#4 Bring in light

Horticultural lamps are like light therapy for plants

We're not all lucky enough to live in one of France's sunniest cities. Is your Croton Petra losing its color, even next to your bay window? Give it a little artificial light. But don't just leave it under a lit neon sign. Of all the nuances that make up the light spectrum, plants especially crave blue and red light. Choose bulbs that diffuse these wavelengths. Always prefer LEDs to incandescent bulbs. The latter emit heat, rather like radiators, and dry out plants.

Don't know what you're talking about? Don't panic! You'll find horticultural grow lights on the market, adapted to the needs of indoor plants. Place one over your protected plants and switch it on for 10 to 12 hours a day.

#5 Clean your plants

Clean, wipe, plants are always dapper - Photo by Cottonbro Studio / Pexels

At Monstera, we recommend cleaning the leaves of your plants. It's not because we're maniacs. The dust that accumulates on the leaf blades prevents plants from capturing light and slows down photosynthesis. And it's particularly annoying in winter.

But what can you do? First, put away the vacuum cleaner. It's out of the question to vacuum the foliage of your Alocasia 'Black Velvet with a Dyson. Instead, wipe the limbs with a soft, clean cloth. Both sides. For plants with small leaves, such as crassula ovata, you can use a brush.

If delicacy isn't your forte (or you're the head of a green army), head for the bathroom. Place your plants in the shower and rinse their foliage with lukewarm water. For them, this will have the same effect as a summer rain. For you, it will save precious minutes.

Finally, remember to remove spent flowers before they set seed. The process requires a lot of energy and exhausts the plant.

#6 Increase humidity indoors

Mist preferably during the day, so that the water evaporates before nightfall - Photo by Roungroat / Rawpixel

In winter, the air in our apartments is drier than the rest of the year. The heating is to blame. Your plants notice this, even if they're not placed directly next to a convector heater. Succulents, cacti and other desert plants don't mind. But for species native to tropical forests, it's a problem.

Fortunately, you can remedy the situation with a few simple gestures. For plants with smooth foliage, such as croton, hypoestes phyllostachya or ctenanthe burle-marxii, mist the leaves with room-temperature water. Use only non-calcareous water (rainwater or demineralized water) to avoid streaking the leaf blades.

Does your plant have hairy leaves? Forget misting. Place the pot of your begonia or coleus in a saucer filled with moist clay balls. As the water evaporates, it increases humidity.

Finally, some plant-addicts go the extra mile and invest in a humidifier. Others group their houseplants together to create a tropical microclimate, or place a water-filled dish on their radiator.

#7 Ventilate the room

Mealybugs don't hibernate - Photo by Steve McWilliam / iNaturalist

Dry air and short days aren't the only enemies of our plants in winter. Parasites such as red spiders and mealybugs, as well as fungal diseases, are also at play. The former love dry air, while the latter thrive in confined spaces.

To eradicate both, ventilate your home daily. By renewing the air, you increase the amount of oxygen available and prevent the build-up of moisture on pots and plants.

But remember, plants hate draughts! Before opening the windows, move the most exposed specimens. Move them to another room if the temperature outside turns out to be polar, so they don't suffer the same fate as my Peperomia Watermelon.

By Servane Nemetz
on 20-01-2024 at 08h11