How To Care For Your Plants In Winter

Winter is a tough season for most plants at your home and it could be difficult for many plants to thrive in cold conditions. This time of the year test your skills as to how you can care for your plants in winter. As it gets cold you can also feel changes with your own body as your skin would feel more dry. And you also feel the need to not shower every morning due to chilling conditions. Just like that your plants also don’t need regular watering in winter and need just a little extra care to survive in cold conditions and regain their vibrancy in spring.

Let’s have a look at some of the ways you can care for your plants in winter.

Tips To Care For Plants In Winter

Provide Less Water

You can not provide the same amount of water to your plants as in summer. Summer heat helps water evaporate and increases the water needs of each plant. But in winter this need drops very low. To check if your plant needs water dig 2 to 3 inches in soil and if it’s dry then only you need to water your plants. Also, keep the amount of water in check as you don’t need to thoroughly water the plants. Just moistening the soil would be enough.

Keep The Temperature In Check

Most plants can’t tolerate consistent changes in temperature and for that, you need to keep your plants away from windows, shafts, vents, and other temperature-affected areas. Too cold and too hot temperatures are dangerous for plants and can affect their health. The optimal for each plant varies based on its species but it is recommended to keep the temperature between 65 to 75℉.

Stop Fertilizing

Most plants go through a dormant period in winter and therefore, don’t need much feeding. So you should stop using fertilizers as continuing to do so would cause an excess in the number of chemicals and disrupt the plant's growth. You should stop feeding the plants in the fall and continue in spring.

Look Out For Pests

You need to check your plants for any pest infestation regularly in winter. Many sap-sucking pests such as aphids and scale insects can attack your plants. Spider mites can also affect your plant's health as they like warm and dry conditions. Check your plants thoroughly by turning over every leaf, checking stems, and manually removing any pests you can see. For severe infestations, you can use neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Provide Enough Sunlight

Due to cold weather plants need enough sunlight and heat to survive, especially, indoor plants. So you need to provide enough sunlight to the plants for that you can place the plants near a window or a location that receives a good amount of sunlight. Rotate the pot to ensure that the whole plant receives the light. But if you can’t provide enough sunlight don’t worry as most plants adjust themselves to the seasonal change.

Don’t Worry For Dormancy

In winter we feel much more sleepy and lazy due to the shorter days and so do the plants. Due to the lack of light plants also feel much dull and some can even go into a state of dormancy. But worry not as this also means that you don’t have to water the plants much or feed them. It is recommended to only water plants in winter when they show signs like crinkled leaves, dry soil, or droopy stems.

Keep Foliage Clean

You should keep your foliage clean in winter as less sunlight and watering can result in the accumulation of dust on the leaves and other parts of the plant. Using a clean and damp cloth, cotton, or sponge can help remove dust particles you can also add some lemon juice or household soap to avoid pest infestation. Also, remove any dead or decaying plant matter as it can also become a source of infections.

Conclusion

These are some of the important tips and tricks you can use to care for your plants in winter as the cold season can affect the health of the plant and cause many problems to the growth. However, by just following some care tips you can help your plants to survive through winter and get their glory back in spring.?

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