As winter approaches, plant parents and indoor gardeners often face the challenge of keeping houseplants warm enough to survive and thrive. Most houseplants are tropical in origin, and they can struggle with colder indoor temperatures, drafts, and lower humidity levels in winter. Luckily, there are several ways to create a cozy environment for your plants without overhauling your indoor setup. So, if you are looking for ideas on how to keep houseplants warm in winter, here’s a guide with some of our tried and true top recommendations.
1. Choose the Right Spot
Place your houseplants in areas that naturally stay warmer in your home, away from drafty windows, exterior doors, and unheated rooms. Even the cold air from opening and closing doors can stress plants, so areas like living rooms or kitchens, which generally maintain stable warmth, are good choices. Keep them close to windows for light, but make sure they're not touching cold windowpanes.
2. Raise Pots and Containers
Ceramic and terracotta pots can lose heat quickly, especially if they're on a cold surface. Try placing pots on cork trivets or plant stands to lift them off cold floors or window sills. This can help greatly in maintaining the warmer soil temperatures that your tropical houseplants prefer.
3. Maintain Humidity Levels
Indoor heating systems often dry out the air, creating a low-humidity environment that most houseplants find challenging. Use a humidifier near your plants or place water trays filled with pebbles beneath pots to raise humidity. Grouping plants together can also create a more humid microenvironment that helps them retain moisture.
4. Adjust Watering and Feeding
Since growth slows in winter, houseplants need less water and nutrients. Overwatering in cooler months can cause root rot, especially in chillier soil. Test the soil before watering by sticking your finger about an inch into the soil. Only water if the soil feels dry to the touch. Additionally, hold off on fertilizing until spring, as plants won’t need extra nutrients during their dormant period. In fact, fertilizing in the winter can do more harm than good, as excess fertilizer that the plant doesn't use can cause significant burn damage to your plant's roots, which it may not be able to recover from while it is in its dormant winter state.
5. Watch Out for Drafts and Temperature Swings
Avoid placing plants near heat vents, radiators, drafty windows, or doors that are opened regularly. Frequent temperature changes can stress plants, causing leaf drop or slowing growth. Ensure consistent warmth by positioning plants where temperature swings are minimal. If the majority of your plants are clustered around windows in your home, but your windows are cold and drafty, consider covering your windows with insulating plastic throughout the winter months. This will not only dramatically help your plants, but it will also have quite an effect on your energy bill.
6. Utilize Grow Lights
With shorter days, many plants may not get enough natural light. Adding grow lights can supplement daylight and keep plants warm. Make sure lights are placed around 6-12 inches above the plants for optimal benefit. Purchasing plant lights with timers, or acquiring some wall plugs that are capable of being set to a schedule, makes this one of the easiest ways to help your houseplants during the winter.
7. Use a Heated Mat
While the foliage of a plant can most definitely be affected by cooler temperatures, the main reason for your plant's slowed growth during the winter is its root systems sensing the decrease in temperature and moving into a phase of dormancy. This allows the plant to conserve the energy needed to outlast the cold. Placing your plants on a seedling heat mat can help keep the soil, and thereby the roots of your plant, at the optimal temperature for healthy growth.
8. Rotate Plants Regularly
Rotate your plants every week or so to ensure even exposure to light and warmth. This also helps prevent one side of the plant from getting too cold if it’s near a window or chilly wall. While this is recommended for houseplants regardless of the time of year, it can be especially helpful throughout the winter months.
How To Keep Houseplants Warm in Winter
Caring for houseplants in winter may require a few adjustments, but a bit of preparation can go a long way. With attention to warmth, humidity, and light, your houseplants will be better equipped to handle the colder months and emerge in spring ready for new growth. If you have additional questions or need help with any of your houseplants this season, let us know! We are happy to help diagnose any plant issues you may be experiencing, make suggestions for changes in your care routines, and aid in the recovery and healthy growth of your houseplants throughout every season. Reach out to us today, shop houseplants, houseplant supplies, and more in our online store, or visit us in-store for full access to our plantiful inventory and knowledgeable staff. We can't wait to serve you!