Root Prune
Another way to prepare your plants for winter is to root prune. This can be done in either the fall or spring, and will help in several ways. Pruning your plant’s roots will encourage it to grow new roots, which means that it will have a stronger root system and therefore better handle the shock of being brought into colder temperatures. It also reduces the size of the plant itself, so that when you move it indoors you won’t have to worry about it having roots that are too big for its new container. Finally, pruning the roots helps improve drainage in poorly-draining plants such as certain types of houseplants.
To get started with root pruning, use a shovel or digging fork (depending on how large your plant is) and dig around the outside of the plant until you have loosened all of its roots from its potting soil ball. You may find some pushback at first; this is normal—just keep going! Once you get all around your potting soil ball and are able to lift it out from its container in one piece, remove off any excess dirt by tapping the base against a hard surface such as cement or brickwork (be careful not to hit yourself with flying pieces of potting soil). With clean hands and gardening shears, start trimming away dead or damaged roots; if there are no immediately noticeable dead or damaged areas, cut off a few inches on each side anyway—it never hurts to give a little boost! When you’re finished trimming away all visible dead/damaged areas and any other parts that need cutting back more than they do now (such as leggy stems), replace what remains into its original container with fresh potting soil around each severed root tip–this will help stimulate new growth when spring comes back around again!
Bring in All Plants
Winter is coming, and it’s time to make some decisions about the plants in your garden. For those that can withstand the cold, it’s best to leave them be. Hardy plants can survive the snow and cold, so don’t worry about them too much. However, tender plants may lose their leaves or become damaged by frost or snow—if they’re worth saving, bring them inside before it gets too cold out. Finally, tropical plants will die if left outside during winter; if you want to save these beauties, find a place for them indoors right away!
Be Prepared for Short Days
As the days grow shorter and colder, you may start to notice that your plants don’t seem as vigorous as they were in the summer. In fact, many plants will stop growing altogether. You’re not alone if this happens to you—it happens to me every winter!
The reason for this is due to the amount of light a plant receives. The sun’s rays change in strength depending on how far away it is from the earth. As we get closer to the shortest day of the year (December 21st), our planet is at its furthest distance from the sun, and we receive less light than any other time of year. The same thing is true on December 22nd, and every day thereafter until we reach June 20th when we are at our closest point to the sun again and receive more light than any other time of year. All plants require some sunlight or supplemental lighting in order to grow, so during these short days most plants will have reduced growth rates or cease growing altogether until spring arrives and days become longer again.
Not all plants are affected by short days equally though—it depends how long it takes for a plant species to complete its life cycle. Plants that take long periods of time (like a year or more) to produce flowers such as apple trees, tulips, and daffodils are sensitive to seasonal changes in light levels because they flower at a specific time each year regardless of how much lighting they have received during its life cycle; whereas a plant like a crabapple tree only needs one season in order for its seeds inside of fruit to mature before falling off into its environment where they can germinate into new trees next spring—so it doesn’t need lengthy periods of sunlight in order for seeds within fruit on crabapple trees form properly unlike apple trees which do need adequate lighting throughout an entire year-long life cycle before fruiting occurs. Other species like vegetables also fall somewhere between these two extremes since sowing
Inspect Your Plants
The first thing you’ll want to do is inspect your plants for pests, disease, and damage. Gently remove any dead or dying leaves, stems, or flowers. Wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. If you have an indoor plant that has outgrown its container, repot it after inspecting the roots. Check for signs of pests such as mealybugs or spider mites.
Clean Your Tools
While you’re preparing for the long winter and dreaming of spring, it’s time to clean and store your gardening tools. Take this opportunity to sharpen blades and clean your shovels and pruners.
Cleaning Tools with Bleach
Dissolve 3 tablespoons of bleach in 1 gallon (3.78 L) of water for spot cleaning or use a mixture of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water for a more thorough cleaning.
After using the cleaning solution, rinse tools thoroughly with water, then dry them completely before storing.
Storing Tools Away from Freezing Temperatures
Store all tools in a sheltered place away from freezing temperatures. This will prolong the life of both sharpened blades and wooden handles.
Repot When Necessary
Your plants will thank you for repotting them if they need it! If the roots are growing out of the drainage hole, or if you can see them on top of the soil when you look through the sides of your plant’s container, it is time to repot.
Some common signs that your plant needs a larger pot:
- The container is overcrowded
- The plant isn’t thriving (i.e. yellowing leaves, uneven growth)
- Water doesn’t seem to last as long as it should (i.e. watering frequently but does not have enough time to absorb)
In addition to having its roots grow too big for its pot, a plant may also become root-bound if it hasn’t been watered regularly and has built up a lot of salt deposits in the soil that make it hard for water and nutrients to pass through! Some plants such as succulents do not like being over-watered so they do require different care than others like houseplants which thrive with frequent watering and regular fertilizer use during their growing season from April until late October each year! To ensure proper drainage after repotting your indoor plants, be sure there is at least one inch of space between the bottom edge of its new container or pot tray before adding fresh potting soil on top so water can easily drain out without pooling up against one side causing root rot or worse yet–too much salt buildup!
Groom Your Plants
It’s also important to groom your plants before bringing them inside for the winter. Remove any dead leaves and flowers, prune back plants that have grown out of proportion, check for insects and treat any infestation, wipe clean the leaves with a damp cloth or soft brush, re-pot if necessary so that your plant is not confined in a small pot, place plants in the right location where they can thrive (i.e., not in direct sunlight), and provide proper lighting as needed.
Reduce Water
During the winter, your houseplants need less water than they do in the summer. The amount of water they will need will depend on a few factors. If your plants are in pots that sit on saucers or drip plates, you should check those plates to see if there is standing water. If there is standing water, then your plants have enough moisture and you do not need to add any more yet. If there is no standing water, then it’s time to test whether or not your plant needs a drink by testing the soil. Sometimes watering from above works just fine all year long, but other times it’s important to start checking with a finger in the soil as well.
Winter is Coming: How to Prepare Your Indoor Plants for Winter
A common misconception among indoor plant owners is that plants are only susceptible to the elements when they’re in the garden. This is far from true! Plants kept indoors will still be affected by winter weather, and it’s important to keep them healthy through seasonal changes. We’ll discuss the different ways you can winterize your indoor plants—but before we do, let’s start with a couple of terms you might not have heard.
Transpirational pull: Plants lose water through openings on their leaves (called stomata) as part of the process of respiration; transpiration allows for evaporation of water from these openings, which pulls water up from the roots through a process called capillary action. This action also helps move nutrients up from roots to leaves. There’s less sunlight in winter months, which means there’s less moisture available for transpiration and capillary action…which leads us to our next term!
Dormancy: The state of being inactive during winter months; this is a common plant response to cold temperatures or lack of moisture in order for them to conserve energy and prevent desiccation (extreme dryness). Dormant plants require much less care than actively growing ones; you may even notice that some plants shed their leaves during dormancy!The chill in the air is a reminder that winter is on its way. For those of us who have potted plants indoors, this means it’s time to prepare them for winter.
Help your plant hibernate!
There are a few ways you can prepare your plants for the long winter ahead:
Give them plenty of water: Watering your plants before the temperature drops will help them get through the dry weather of winter.
Keep them out of drafty areas: Cold temperatures can be hard on plants, so keeping them away from cold doors and windows is important. If you have a particularly drafty area, consider insulating with heavy drapes or using plastic to block the cold air.
Check for pests: Winter is a good time to check for pests that might hide in the soil or leaves of your plants. Remove any pests you find, then treat with an insecticide if necessary.
Don’t overwater: It’s tempting to water more frequently during the dry winter months, but this can lead to root rot and other issues that may damage your plant.
Move them closer to the light: Plants may need more light than usual during winter, so moving them closer to a sunny window or investing in grow lights will ensure they stay healthy
Winter is coming for your houseplants and you may be wondering what to do. Here are some tips on preparing your indoor plants for the winter, so you’ll have a year-round green thumb.
Preparing Your Plants for the Winter
1. Bring all of your houseplants indoors before the first freeze.
2. If you can, keep your plants in a sunnier, warmer room than you usually do (or at least provide them with a grow light).
3. Buy a hygrometer so you can keep track of the humidity level in the room where your plants are staying. If it’s too low, try running a humidifier or misting your plants regularly with water (just make sure they aren’t sitting in standing water).
4. Keep an eye on the soil moisture of your plants and adjust as necessary to prevent under- or overwatering. In general, most plants will need to be watered less during the winter months than during spring and summer because they’re not growing as actively and transpiration is reduced.
Winter is coming. It’s a phrase that strikes fear into the hearts of even the bravest Game of Thrones fan, but it’s also a phrase that should strike fear into the hearts of all indoor plant owners.
Winter is coming for your plants, too.
A lot of people think that just because your plant is inside and doesn’t have to deal with snow or ice, it will be fine. But winter inside can be just as brutal as outside! The average temperature in most homes during the winter months drops from an average of 72 degrees in the summer to 65 degrees in the winter. For most plants, that’s a big drop in temperature, especially when you consider that some plants are used to tropical conditions where it rarely gets below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
While some plants will be fine with a slight temperature drop (like succulents), others will need extra protection to survive until spring. Here’s what you need to do to make sure your plant makes it through the winter.
So you’ve got a plant, maybe in your living room, maybe in the kitchen—maybe you’ve even got a few plants in every room of your house. And you’re doing great so far—you’ve been watering them, repotting them occasionally, keeping them out of direct sunlight. But then it starts getting colder outside, and suddenly all those luscious green leaves are starting to droop.
And you’re thinking: What happened? How do I fix this?
Well, don’t panic. Your plant’s just getting ready for winter.
Here are a few things you can do to help your plant through its dormant stage and into the spring.
Ah, winter. The first sparkly dusting of snow, the smell of gingerbread and eggnog in the air… it’s a beautiful time of year!
But what about your plants?
Many people don’t remember that your indoor plants need special care to get them through the winter months. Don’t fret, though—we’re here to help you make sure your plants stay healthy and happy all winter long with these simple tips!
1. Just like you, your plant needs more water when it’s cold out. Plants lose water quickly in dry indoor air and cold outdoor temperatures. So be sure to check the soil and water if needed!
2. When you bring your plants indoors for the winter, inspect them for pests first! If you don’t treat them right away, they’ll spread disease and damage to your other plants very quickly.
3. Make sure your plants are getting enough light! In the winter many people turn off their sunrooms because they think they won’t use it during the colder months, but this is a mistake: without adequate light many indoor plants will start to die off or go into hibernation mode until spring.
4. Once you’ve checked all three things above, you’re good to go! Your plants
If you are like us, you have a lot of plants living in your house. And if that’s the case, you know that winter can be pretty rough on them. As the weather gets colder, we are spending more time indoors, and so are our plant friends. Unfortunately for them, that means less light and less warmth too.
So what can we do about it? Well, there are a few things to try that will help your plants survive the winter and thrive until spring comes again.
1) Watering: The most important thing to keep up with is watering. Just as you would do in the summer months, make sure that your plants aren’t drying out. In the winter they need water even more than in the summer because they aren’t getting as much light or humidity indoors during those months. Not only that but cold air coming in from windows and doors can dry them out even more quickly. If it’s been a while since they’ve been watered last check their soil by sticking your finger into it or poking around with a chopstick—if it feels dry at all give them some water!
2) Light: The next most important thing is light—your plants need it to survive! In the summer our plants get plenty of sunlight through
It’s getting chilly out there, and you can’t put your favorite houseplants into hibernation like the rest of the wildlife, so it’s up to you to help them survive winter. With a few easy steps, you can help your plants beat the winter chill and thrive all year long.
First, make sure your plant is getting enough water. Watering your plants less in the winter isn’t going to save them from cold weather—in fact, it could actually deplete their energy stores. But you also don’t want to overwater—check on your plants regularly by sticking a finger into their soil and making sure it feels moist before watering again.
Next, check the thermostat! You might feel fine when you’re bundled up with a fuzzy blanket and hot chocolate, but if the temperature in your home drops below 65 degrees at night, your plants will start feeling it. Be sure to keep indoor temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit at all times during the day and at night to keep your plants happy.
Now that we’ve covered temperature and water, let’s talk light! If you have any sun-loving houseplants, they’ll need as much sunlight as they can get during the winter months (or even more). Move those babies closer