A houseplant’s care changes over the winter months.

During the spring and summer, the days are longer, with lots of sun and bright light which makes plants grow quickly. Over the winter months the days are shorter, with less natural daylight; and plants grow less and go into a semi-dormant state as they take a bit of rest.

When plants do not grow as quickly, they will need less water and nutrients. Only water plants as they need it. Touch the top layer of soil and if it feels dry to the touch give it a thorough watering, draining any excess water after a few minutes.

Desert plants such as cacti and succulents require very little water over the winter months. They may only need to be watered once or twice over the entire winter.

More plants are killed by overwatering rather than underwater. Overwatering a plant can cause the roots to rot and eventually kill the plant.

Fertilizing plants is also cut down. In the summer, plants are fertilized monthly but over the winter, plants are fertilized every 8-10 weeks. When fertilizing use an all purpose 20-20-20.

Over the winter months the air in many homes becomes drier. This can be a problem as houseplants prefer a high humidity. The humidity can be raised around plants by creating a micro climate. Place the plant on a saucer that is larger than the pot size of the plant. Place a layer of rock in the saucer and then fill the saucer with water so that the level of the water is just below the top layer of rocks. Place the potted plant on top of the rock filled saucer, making sure that the water level in the saucer is not in contact with the plants roots. As the water evaporates up it creates humidity around the plant.

Low humidity in the home can result in a higher risk of red spider mites, which thrive in low humidity. Red spiders are very small and are found on the undersides of leaves. Check plants regularly as you want to catch the problem early. When a plant is badly infected you will notice tiny webs in the leaf joints and under the foliage.

Some people like to save their poinsettias from one year to the next. To get them back into bloom the poinsettia needs to be placed in 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness every night and 10 hours of daylight. The poinsettia can be placed in an unused room or have a box or dark bag placed over it. Start doing this in late October/early November. This is done until the top bracts of the plant change to their colour. When the bracts have changed colour the poinsettia is placed in a well-lit area of the home. Fertilize it every 2 weeks with a flowering plant fertilizer such as 12-36-12.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates  two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George

• Highway 16 west at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road ( closed for the season)