With the cooler weather really starting to make itself felt, we’ve had a few plant start to look less than their best instore & at home these past few weeks - yep, it happens to us too! We’ve found the difference between night and day temperatures a real challenge for keeping plants healthy at this time of year. This is always a hazard during autumn and winter with heaters going on and off and warm rooms becoming really cold overnight or visa versa. So I've popped together a little care guide for during the cooler months and a video for you all about cold weather plant care, so you can avoid those dreaded wilted winter leaves or rotting stems. We want your plants to thrive and keep looking green and lush through all the months of the year so hope our tips and tricks help. Let us know how you go with them & if you have any questions we can answer for you!
🍃Our number one tip is, remember to check how wet the soil is before you water! Usually sulky or dying plants are underwatered or overwatered, but cold rooms or overly warm rooms from heaters running continually, can make it a little more challenging to keep track of when plants need to be watered. We always recommend popping your finger into the soil (up to about the second knuckle) to check if the soil is damp or dry. If it's damp, it's best to leave the plant for a bit longer before you water, but if it feels dry then it's time for a soak. Try not to let you plants get bone-dry before you water, though. Alternating periods of very dry and very wet can stress plants out, so it's all about finding that balance!
If you aren't keen on popping your finger in the dirt - then this is the perfect solution. A indoor plant water or moisture meter. They even come in great colours! They'll read the 'wetness' of your plant's soil for you.
🍃If you have cool rooms in winter it’s good to make sure you don’t overwater. Keep an eye out for fungus and moulds in the roots and lower stems in the colder weather. The soil won't be drying out as quickly, which can make your plants prone to some root rot - which is absolutely not what you want! When it’s time to water try & water thoroughly so the soil profile is fully wet, drain well and pop back into place. You may find you can water less often during the winter months.
🍃If you have a warm/hot room with a heater going all the time then your plants may need watering more regularly since the air will be drying out with constant heating and this will make your plants drink more. Not only does the soil dry out faster, but plants lose water in a dry room via their leaves also. Keep an eye on the soil, and just as with the plants in a cool room, try and give the plants a thorough water, wetting up the full soil profile when you water them, let them have a good drain in the sink, and then pop them back into their spots.
🍃 Autumn & Winter can be the perfect time to give your plants a gently fertilise to boost their growth and keep them happy & thriving over winter. It's important to make sure it's only a very gentle fertilise at this time of the year, though - too much and you can burn your plants, leaving them stressed and likely killing them. We recommend these fertilisers which we keep instore.
If you're plants are already well fertilised from early Autumn, try giving them a gentle tonic over winter. We recommend using a tonic like these ones:
Munash Seawead Tonic or
The Soil & Microbe booster from Plant Runner, both of which both of we keep instore and use often. Tonics help to boost cell growth and keep healthy on the inside.
For your autumn/winter fertilising, just use around half of what the instructions recommend to give your plants a little bit of nutritious goodness without overwhelming them!
Your plants are almost as sensitive to hot and cold as we are, they just don’t have a puffer jacket to pop on when they get cold, so we have to keep an extra eye on them! It’s normal to have a few minor issues with your indoor plants in winter or find they aren't thriving quite as well, but with a little care & attention, most of it is easily fixable. Check out our video, where I run you through all the steps above. Good luck, and enjoy! 🍃🍃🍃
#plantsofinstagram #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantcare #indoorplants #wintercare #loveyourplants
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.