Essential Winter Care Tips for Houseplants

Assessing Your Space

When freezing temperatures arrive, inventory your patio plants and decide which will winter indoors. Limited window space and low light may force tough choices—light-loving plants like kalanchoes may not survive.

Light Requirements

Boston ferns need bright light; without a bay window or patio door, they may decline. A schefflera can recover if turned toward the sun, as new buds emerge on the sunnier side.

Watering Wisely

Never let water sit in saucers for more than an hour; it saturates the bottom soil, preventing root growth. Fill saucers with smooth pebbles and set pots on top so water drains completely.

Use your finger as a water meter: push it an inch into the soil. If dry, water; if damp, wait.

Fertilizing During Dormancy

Plants cannot use nutrients in low winter light. Excess fertilizer burns roots. A single diluted feeding on Christmas Day satisfies the plants and the gardener.

Pest Management and Specific Plants

African violets suffer if chilled. Angel's trumpet cuttings can be rooted and overwintered indoors. Move plants back outdoors when nights approach 60°F.