Indoor Gardening Tips For Winter

Sent in by Joanne Jones

Indoor gardens are wonderful but they need a little extra help during the winter months because of the reduced sunlight and humidity. Indoor plants crave this humidity and sunlight and since nature can't provide it, you have to. However, be careful not to over nurture your plants at a time when their growth rates are naturally slower. Here are some tips on how to properly care for your indoor plants during the winter months.

Add humidity. Once the cooler weather of winter arrives, the heat is turned on and the humidity drops. Since most indoor plants are tropical, they need a high level of humidity. You can help your plants receive the humidity that they need in a couple of ways. One, you can mist your plants daily. Two, you could place the plants near an indoor water feature or fountain. Three, you can fill a container or watering can with water, leave it uncovered and place it near your plants. Both the water feature and the container filled with water will add extra moisture to the air around them.

Ensure your plants receive enough sunlight.

The arrival of winter can only mean one thing - fewer hours of sunshine. With this decrease of sunlight and the fact that the angle of the sun has changed, your plants are now receiving less sunlight. You may have to change the location of the plants to ensure that they receive the sun they need. Tip: Remember to rotate the plants every time you water them so that they receive light on all sides. This will also help the plants to grow more evenly and avoid leaning towards the side that is always in the sun.

Wait to repot. When you repot a plant, you are usually transferring it to a larger pot. This larger space actually encourages the plant to grow, but with the reduced sunlight and humidity, this can actually harm your plant. If you can, wait until spring. Your plants will thank you for it.

Water less and don't fertilize.

It may sound contradictory to water less but mist more often, but it really isn't. Plants enter a rest period during the winter months where they don't grow as much as in the summer. This rest period actually keeps the plant healthy and living longer. Encourage the rest period by watering less often and by not adding any fertilizers during the winter.

Over watering is the main reason that houseplants die. To tell if your plant needs to be watered, dig down in the soil about an inch or two. If the soil is dry, then your plant needs to be watered. When you do water your plant, be sure to use luke warm water - plants are sensitive and they don't like water that is too cold or too hot.

Occasionally dust your plants.

If you look closely, you will see dust build up on the leaves of your plants, especially if the leaves are smooth. This dust can prevent sunlight from reaching the leaves. As well, it makes it harder for the leaves to "breathe" in and remove harmful carbon dioxide from the air, while breathing out beneficial oxygen. To help you and your plant, simply wipe the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth. A few minutes a month is all it takes.

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