I love this time of year. The leaves on the trees fall softly to the ground creating an autumnal carpet of colour as we transition into the wildness of winter. The days are growing shorter causing us to retreat into the safe cosy haven of our homes to hibernate. During this time our plants, much like ourselves, respond to the changing climate becoming dormant in order to preserve themselves.
Preparing your plants for winter to enable them to blossom into spring is so important to keeping your plants at their healthiest. Through my own experience and research, I’ve come up with 6 easy steps for caring for your plants during the winter naturally.
1.Reduce water
Do not over water, this is usually the most common problem for plants during the winter months. Always check that your plant is dry enough, to test this simply push your finger into the soil about two inches, if dry it’s time to water.
The best way to water your plants is to run under a tap or use a watering can and allow the water to drain out before popping them back into your plant pot or saucer. Leave your plant for 15 minutes to allow the soil to hydrate before emptying the bottom of your container to ensure your plant is not sitting in a pool of water.
Treat yourself or your plant lover to our complete plant care set containing all your essential Supplies for making sure your plants stay hydrated and well fed.
2.Keep plants warm
The crisper, colder weather can cause your plants to wither, the atmosphere tends to become drier too as we start to heat our homes. A great way to counteract this is a humidifier putting the moisture back into the air. Most house plants need a temperature of around 12-18 degrees. They dislike fluctuations so it’s important to aim to regulate the temperature as much as possible.
Keep plants away from drafts or heaters and make sure you keep them several inches away from windows or doors. Leaving curtains open if you can will help to trap the heat during the colder nights.
3.Clean their leaves
Make sure to clean their leaves regularly. Many house plants accumulate household dust meaning that the amount of light reaching your plants is limited. This means your plants aren’t able to photosynthesize effectively and will start to lack the nutrients needed for healthy growth.
This was why I was inspired to create our natural leaf shine spray. Simply spray your leaves and wipe clean with a cloth to allow your plant to reach its full potential, ideally in the early morning. It’s also worth cleaning your windows inside and out to allow the light easier access.
4.Pest prevention
It’s so important to check your plants regularly, inspecting under the leaves for any pests or insects. Pests love a cosy home especially aphids, if you spot a pest isolate your plant and treat it immediately with a natural repellent. Pet safe, bee safe and organic try our range of repellents to deter unwanted visitors wreaking havoc on your beautiful plant life.
5.Let there be Light
With darker winter days and limited light plants often lack the life they need. Rays coming from the sun are actually lower making it more difficult for your plants to reach. Consider relocating your plants, a south or west facing window is ideal.
You could also consider a grow light, artificial light is better than no light! You can often choose different filaments depending on what your plant requires.
6.Prune your plants
Now is the time for pruning. Some plants will actually go into dormancy during winter, this means that your plant will conserve its energy which may cause its leaves to drop or slow down its growing. This is a natural process which is actually more common than you think, house plants include the Aloe Vera, Snake plant and the Monstera Deliciosa to name a few.
Make sure to have a winter care routine in place to give your plants the tender loving care they need. Pruning snips have become a life saver, allowing me to easily trim off any damaged leaves and allowing room for healthy regrowth.
Most plants have different needs so make sure to research your plants thoroughly to give them the specific care they require.
Do let me know how you get on with your winter plant care and if you have any tips of your own I would love to hear them. I think it’s wonderful to continue to learn and grow together as a community and love to hear your feedback.
Talk soon,
Bella x
