Some people behave differently in the winter than they do in the summer. Well same goes for plants, houseplants need to be treated differently in the winter. Plants are actually dormant in the winter so they won’t be growing and will require much different care than when they are growing in the summer sun.
Water
The amount of water you give your plants in the winter is one of the major changes you’ll make. During the warmer months when your plants are growing fast they will use a lot of water. In the dormant winter they will need far less water because they are using less energy. Because your plants need less water it is very important that you check the soil before watering, overwatering is a common mistake in the winter. A good rule of thumb is to water about 1/2 as much in the winter.
Sunlight
The sun is less present in the winter. If you have plants that normally get indirect sun or are in low light, you will want to move them to get the maximum amount of sunlight you can get. Move them towards sun present windows. In the summer when the sun is strong you may not want to be in direct sun because some plants might get too much sun and burn up, but in the winter they’ll love it!
Fertilizer
You should not be using fertilizer in the fall/winter. Some people think because the plants are dormant they need fertilizer, but they most definitely do not. In fact, fertilizering while they are dormant can be harmful because the soil will become too acidic and could kill the plant.
Humidity
In the winter, when you have the heat on, the air in your house is going to be drier. Many plants need humidity so you may want to take steps to increase the humidity in your house or at least in the room that houses your plants.
