As we bid farewell to fall and welcome the winter months in, you may be wondering how your houseplants might react to the cooler changes of the outside world. On the topic of winter plants and winter preparation, many questions come to mind. To help you navigate the challenges of winter plant care, we've created a simple guide to ensure your houseplants not only survive but thrive during the colder months ahead.

How do seasonal changes affect indoor plants?

Although the seasons change more dramatically outside, indoor plant growth tends to follow seasonal patterns as well, like naturally dropping leaves in the autumn and winter months. With temperature and light changes, plants can also be susceptible to more harmful effects such as frost, overwatering, pests, and drying out.

Preparing plants for winter

Plants will naturally receive less sunlight than usual in the colder months, so think about placement. Moving plants closer to light sources like windows or even supplementing with indoor plant lights can be a big help. Winter frost on plants can be deadly so make sure plants placed closer to windows aren’t coming into contact with glass.

In the winter, heated living space can mean less moisture in the air and therefore less humidity for your plants. One way to combat this is to increase humidity by placing plants on trays of pebbles with water. You can also consider getting a small humidifier.

Winter plant care

Overwatering during the winter is a common mistake as plants tend to take in less water due to decreased light exposure. Think about adjusting your watering schedule and always check soil moisture levels with your finger before watering.

Seasonal growth impacts fertilization needs. Reduce feeding during winter and fall, and resume when spring arrives to align with natural growth cycles.

Bugs and pests, such as spider mites, may try to keep warm and dry in your plants, so keep a watchful eye.

Finally, though you may want to change things up with a new pot or propagate some new friends, it’s best to avoid repotting and propagating during winter months when growth tends to slow down. This gives us all something to look forward to when springtime comes around!