Advice

RHS Help & Advice

Houseplant winter care

A little care will keep your indoor plants healthy during winter months

Watering and feeding

Many houseplants need a rest over winter. These plants require little or no feeding and a reduction in watering to allow this rest to occur. Gradually reduce watering until the compost is almost dry between watering and stop feeding entirely, except where plants are growing vigorously or flowering.

Plants which are actively growing and flowering will continue to benefit from watering and feeding.

Temperature and humidity

Winter temperatures often fluctuate greatly as central heating is used during the day and switched off at night causing temperatures to plummet. Keep temperatures as even as possible with only a slight drop in temperature at night. Otherwise move plants to little-used rooms, which are not overheated during the day, but maintain the required minimum night temperature.

Central heating causes water to evaporate from the foliage. Humidity levels can be extremely low in a centrally-heated home. Avoid placing plants near to radiators or heaters when they are on. Grouping plants together may help increase humidity, as can standing on a tray of damp gravel &/or daily misting of the foliage.

Light

Light levels are lower in the winter due to the shorter day length. Plants requiring good levels of light may benefit from moving to a lighter position for the winter - such as nearer a window, as long as the minimum temperatures are provided. Just make sure they are not in a draughty spot and are not chilled on frosty nights.

Supplementary lighting may help to avoid pale spindly growth.