Houseplant care
Check that light levels are sufficient for houseplants. They will need light to carry on over the winter, and can easily be forgotten in a back or spare room that receives little natural light, or with the curtains left drawn. They are best moved to sunny windowsill until March.
Don't leave houseplants on windowsills behind the curtains on frosty nights, especially if your windows are not double glazed.
Indoor forced bulbs that were in the house for Christmas displays, but which have now finished flowering, can be left outside in a sheltered spot in the garden, to finish dying down.
Support bulb flower spikes with canes (if necessary).
Water houseplants sparingly. Most should be barely moist in winter.
Cut back leggy Hypoestes (polka dot plant), Pilea (aluminium plant), Coleus and Tradescantia to encourage new growth.
If your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata and S. x buckleyi) failed to set flower buds, it may be that the temperature is too high (above 18°C/65°F, or that the plant is receiving light from an artificial light source after dark. Try moving the cactus into cooler conditions or away from night lighting.
Encourage bushy growth on Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera truncata and S. x buckleyi) by twisting off outer segments from the most vigorous shoots after flowering. These can be used as cuttings if dried and kept warm for a week before potting up.
Maintain a minimum of 5°C (41°F) to prevent Fuchsia, Pelargonium and other tender plants being killed by the cold. Higher temperatures will be needed for tropical plants.
Fuchsias can be started into active growth by re-potting, increasing watering, feeding (with a slow-release fertiliser such as fish blood and bone), and putting them in a sunny place.
Remember that cacti need very little water, and no feeding, over the winter. Keep them barely moist until the spring, when they will be coming up to flowering and will therefore appreciate extra water and feed.
Clivia benefit similarly from a dormant period over winter, with less watering, feeding, and lower light levels.
Pot up Hippeastrum (amaryllis) bulbs, and bring them into active growth with regular watering and feeding. They should give you beautiful flowers for the late winter/early spring.
Cyclamen persicum appreciates a cool room with good light. It is best watered from below (i.e. into the saucer, not the pot), as wetting the leaves can easily result in fungal infections and rotting off.
Cool conditions and regular watering will help keep potted indoor azaleas looking good for longer. Remember to water azaleas with rainwater collected in a rain butt, not with tap water.
Avoid buying poinsettias that have been accidentally chilled, particularly those sold from street stalls on cold days. Once home, place poinsettias in a warm, light place, away from draughts, to ensure they last for as long as possible.
Place hyacinths in a cool, bright place in the home. If it's too warm, the leaves will elongate and the flowers will fade quickly.
In the greenhouse
Check that greenhouse heaters are functioning properly, by investing in a maximum-minimum thermometer to enable accurate monitoring of greenhouse temperatures.
Check your greenhouse insulation to make sure it is still secure.
Remove snow from greenhouse and conservatory roofs, to prevent damage and to allow good light penetration.
Clear leaves and twigs from guttering on greenhouses and sheds.
Pest and disease watch
Regularly pick over plants and sweep up fallen debris, to prevent disease appearing and spreading.
Keep an eye out for overwintering pests such as whitefly or red spider mite, and treat accordingly. Nooks and crannies, and the bark of woody houseplants and vines, can harbour mealybugs and scale insect nymphs.
Ventilating the greenhouse on mild sunny days will help to reduce fungal infections.
This is a good time to clean all your old pots and seed trays, so that they are ready for next spring’s flurry of activity. Thorough cleaning will reduce pest and disease problems, and will reduce your propagation and sowing problems. A Citrox solution will clean well, without unpleasant odour or toxicity to plants.
If leaves on Cyclamen start to turn yellow, this may be a sign of overwatering. Keep them in a cool, well-lit place. Water from below (into the saucer), and allow the plant to drink for up to half an hour before pouring away the excess water left in the saucer.
Look out for cyclamen grey mould.