We love our plants. Not only do they function as wonderful decorations, but they also clean and purify the air in our homes and apartments. But winter is coming, and chances are your plants weren’t designed to withstand freezing temperatures. If you want your precious green friends to survive until spring, follow our nine steps for keeping your plants alive during the winter season.
Move Plants Closer to Windows, but not too Close
As the days gradually shorten, your plants are going to receive less natural sunlight, and so to make use of the sunlight that is available, move your plants closer to a window. But don’t move them too close. If your windows freeze over, make sure that your plants have enough distance from the glass, so they don’t freeze too.
Clean Your Windows
And once your plants are closer to windows, make sure to keep the windows clean, to let in as much light as possible. The extra light will help you and your plants stay healthy and happy until the weather gets warmer.
Dust your Plants off
Show your plants a little TLC and wash off their dirty leaves with a damp washcloth. Not only will they look better, but they’ll be able to absorb light more efficiently, which is particularly important during this time of year.
Add Artificial Light
If things start to get really dark, try placing an artificial bulb above any houseplants that are starting to show signs of winter wear. It’ll keep them alive longer, and hopefully brighten your day too.
Keep Your Home Warm
If you need one more reason to turn up the heat, your plants will stay alive longer in warmer weather. Most plants prefer a daytime temperature between 65°F and 75°F, and a nighttime temperature between 60°F and 65°F. Anything below 50°F, and your plants will start to suffer.
Maintain humidity
The ideal humidity for plants is between 40% and 50%. If you live in a colder climate, the winter humidity will probably be around 10%, which means that you’re going to have to compensate. Although it’s often said that misting a plant can compensate for a lack of humidity, the best way to keep your plants humid is to use a humidifier. Leave a humidifier on while you’re out of the house, so you can come home to a space filled with healthy and beautiful plants.
Keep Plants Away from Drafts or Heating Vents
In addition to keeping plants at the correct temperature, you’ll also want to make sure that they aren’t getting blasted by inconsistent or extreme temperatures. It’s important to keep your plants away from any cold drafts or heating vents, especially during the winter time.
Get New Planters
Okay, so maybe this one won’t actually help your green little friends. But if you bought your plants back in the warmer months, you might have put them in pots that reflected warmer times. As winter approaches, consider upgrading your planters to something more seasonally appropriate. Concrete planters are a personal favorite of ours.
Water Your Plants Less
A common misconception about plants is that additional watering can compensate for less sunlight and lower humidity levels. But don’t make this mistake. While you should still be diligent about other aspects of plant life, you can rest easy knowing that they’ll be fine if you skip a watering or two.
