Indoor Plant Winter Survival Tips

Saturday, November 03, 2007 03:43 AM

Houseplants over the winter months have different requirements than they do over the summer months. This is because in the spring/summer the days are longer with lots of light which makes the plants grow. Over the winter months days are shorter with less day light which is the time when plants go into a semi-dormant state meaning that they grow less and take a rest and so need less water and nutrients.

Water the plant only when it needs it and not on a schedule (this should be done year round). Feel the soil with your finger and when the top is slightly dry give it a good drink of room temperature water. Desert plants such as succulents and cacti only need to be watered once or twice during the entire winter season as they require very little water to begin with. You do not want to overwater any plant as this will cause the roots to rot and eventually kill the plant.

Fertilizing plants is done half as often over the winter months compared to the summer months. You should use a well balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20 and fertilize every 8-10 weeks.

The air humidity in the home over the winter can become dry which can cause problems also for houseplants. Plants enjoy a high humidity so you can create a mini micro climate by placing the plant on a saucer that is larger than the bottom of the pot that the plant is in. Place a layer of rock in the saucer then fill the saucer with water up to the top level of the rock... Place the potted plant on top of rock/water filled saucer making sure that the water level in the saucer is lower than the bottom of the pot so that the plants roots will not be sitting in water. As the water evaporates up it creates humidity around the plant.

A low humidity in the home can increase the risk of plants getting red spider which is a very tiny spider that lives on the underside of the leaf which will make tiny webs and slowly kill the plant. Check your plants periodically for insects so that you can correct the problem early.

A reminder for anyone that has saved their poinsettia from last year to start placing it in the dark every night for 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness and then during the day 10 hours of daylight. Do this until the top bracts of the plant change color and then you can place the plant in a well lit area of the home where it can be enjoyed. Fertilize it every
couple of weeks with 12-36-12 a flowering plant fertilizer and you will have a beautiful Christmas plant!

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Garden Centres in the Prince George area: