If you’ve been feeling a little listless, perhaps a little pale and dried out, imagine how your houseplants feel this time of year. While the sun streams in through windows all summer long, and room temperatures are a balmy 70ish degrees, during winter it’s all shadows and drafts. As a result, your plants may be looking a little dull. Here are the four ways you can make them happier.
Adjust the light
It’s not only that the sunlight is lower in the sky—it’s also available for fewer hours in the day. To ensure your plants are getting enough vitamin D, you can try moving them closer to southern-facing windows, but ultimately, you may need some man-made assistance. Grow lights can ensure that your plant gets sunlight where it needs it, for as many hours as it needs (eight to 12 hours is a fantastic amount for sun-loving plants). If you can get away with a window, rotate the plant from time to time to expose different sides to the light.
Slow down the watering
I know that watering feels like the way in which we give plants love, but it is also the way in which we drown them. Plants have slowed down their growth for the winter, so they simply don’t have the same hydration needs. Too much water results in root rot, and having moist soil around all the time gives gnats a target. Ideally you want to water only so much that the soil is moist, but not wet, when you stick your finger in a few inches down. The soil should have time to dry out in between watering. Watering should only be done with lukewarm water, and if you watch, your thirsty plants will perk up after watering.
Dust your leaves
If you love your plants, you’ll tend to their leaves by dusting them. Plants absorb nutrients from the air through their leaves, and their “pores” can get clogged with dust. To clean them, spray them with water and wipe them with a cloth.
If you’re seeing leaf issues—such as all the leaves dropping—that can be a sign of over or underwatering. If the leaves get burnt, that can be a sign of too much sunlight, too close.
Create a welcoming environment
Your plants enjoy the same conditions you do—a comfy 55 to 75 degree temperature range. They don’t enjoy hot or cold air being blown on them, as either will dry them out. They do enjoy humidity, so adding a humidifier isn’t a bad idea. Each houseplant has specific needs, whether full sun, partial sun, partial shade or full shade, and you should keep needs in mind when providing sun exposure through the day.
Fine-tuning these inputs results in happier plants. You can try tweaking each input— water, sun, cleanliness and humidity—to see the results, and dial in which each plant needs.
