| Thursday Tips: Houseplants in Winter |
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| Written by Heleigh Bostwick Thursday, 08 December 2011 | |||
 Even though most traditional houseplants hail from places like South America, South Africa, or Asia they are hardy enough to keep outside during the warmer summer months, but when colder weather looms it’s time to bring them in the house. Here are a couple of pointers on taking care of them. Many houseplants need high humidity and unfortunately humidity levels inside the home in winter are usually pretty low. Some houseplants should be misted daily to maintain humidity levels. Draughts from doors and windows can also be a problem for houseplants that are brought indoors for the winter so protect them by moving them away from these locations. Likewise for heat vents, which can really dry plants out. When they are brought indoors for the winter, many houseplants will go through a period of dormancy where the leaves may start to drop. This is due to lower ambient temperatures as well as shorter daylight hours. Not to worry, they should recover. You will probably also find that you don’t need to water your houseplants as often. In fact, most houseplants only need to be watered when the soil is completely dry (but not so dry that the leaves are wilting!). Exceptions to this include ferns and a few others that need consistently moist soil. If you keep your plants all together on a wire shelf or rack like I do, these boot trays do double duty and come in handy when it’s time to water. Alternatively you can soak plants in a sink filled with a few inches of water. Keep them there until the top layer of soil is moist. Don’t leave them in standing water. Buy the Large Boot Tray Recommended reading: 37 Houseplants Even You Can't Kill 
Book of Houseplants: The Green Thumb Guide to Easy Indoor Gardening 
The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Indoor Plants 
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