Now that the cold weather has started to rear its head, it is time to turn our attention to our houseplants and the special care they need this time of year. With shorter days, dryer air and colder temperatures, your houseplants may require a change in the way you care for them. I found a short piece from K-State Research and Extension that gives a few basic tips to keep your indoor plants healthy throughout the winter.
During the short days of winter, houseplant growth slows, resulting in a need to change how we care for them. Although frequent watering may have been necessary during the long days of summer, the same amount now could cause problems. Excess water fills air spaces within the soil resulting in roots that receive less oxygen than they need. Water by touch, not by calendar. If the soil is dry an inch deep, it is time to water. Be sure to add enough so that some water flows out the bottom of the pot. This will help wash out excess salts that tend to accumulate within the potting soil. Fertilization also should be reduced. Normally, it is best to apply half the amount of fertilizer for flowering houseplants and one-fourth the amount for foliage houseplants. Too much fertilizer results in plants that become leggy and weak. Location is another factor that should be considered this time of year. Since day length is so short, houseplants maybe helped by being moved to areas of the room that receive more light, such as a south-or east-facing window. Avoid placing plants where drafts from doors or direct output from heating ducts may contact them. Relative humidity also tends to be low during the winter. If you do not have a humidifier, frequent misting of the plants or placing them on water-filled trays of pebbles can help raise the humidity.
Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Barton County K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910