The growth of green plants slows down in fall and winter. To keep them in great shape during the cold season, here are the right actions to adopt.
With the arrival of fall and winter, our houseplants enter a resting period, which means they have different care and location needs. British nurseryman and florist Morag Hill, co-founder of online plant store The Little Botanical, has shared her tips for helping your plants get through the colder months of the year. Here’s how to prepare them to face winter according to this expert. Everything is actually based on a fairly simple routine to follow with 5 little tips to take into account.
- Limit fertilizer application during the rest period in winter. Give your houseplants one last meal before winter. It is an important step in the care routine. Then it is not recommended to feed them throughout the winter. Our specialist explains that green plants “will not benefit from additional feeding. They need this rest time.” She continues, “Encouraging them to grow will put too much pressure on your plants, causing poor growth when they wake up in spring.”
- Check that there are no pests on your plants. The expert adds that “warm, comfortable homes attract common household pests, putting your plants at risk of irreversible damage.” The most common pests are whiteflies, spider mites and mealybugs, all visible on leaves or in the soil. Before winter, we must “treat all parasites as far as possible”. She even goes further by saying that the plant must be thrown away or composted if its health does not improve, so as not to risk contaminating other plants.
- Choose the brightest place. The days are getting shorter and your plants will be less exposed to light. It is sometimes necessary to move them to bring them closer to a light source, such as a window sill.
- Adapt watering. In fall and winter, houseplants require less water. Reduce and space out watering. If you give them too much water, it can cause the roots to rot. As a general rule, only water your plants once a fortnight at most during the colder seasons. For succulents, one glass every four to six weeks is sufficient, while cacti can do without it until spring.
- Pay attention to heating. Avoid putting your plants near your radiators.
By following these simple but effective tips, you can help your houseplants get through the winter in good health, and put the odds on your side so that they resume growth when spring returns.