With the onset of autumn, many indoor plant owners are thinking about how their green babies will make it through winter. After all, if people tolerate temperature changes and adapt relatively quickly, everything is a little more complicated with plants. Fragrant flowers on the windowsills are like a breath of fresh spring air on cold winter days. But making them bloom during this period is not an easy task. However, we can help plants overcome winter and preserve their beauty and health easily following the steps below.
In the fall and winter, the amount of sunlight decreases. Plants on the windowsill suffer less than those in the back of the room. Thus, try moving plants to the windowsills to increase the amount of sunlight they get.
Another option is to provide your plants with artificial light: fluorescent lamps are the most common solution. It will give a sufficient illumination level at a distance of no more than 15-20 cm. We recommend not to use incandescent lamps, as they dimly shine and dry the air. You can turn on the additional light with the onset of darkness for 2-3 hours.
Geraniums, roses, begonia, and fuchsia are especially sensitive to lack of sunlight. Their leaves fade, and the stems stretch out. What is more, you can forget about flowering if these plants do not get enough light.
Despite popular belief, not all plants need additional insulation. For example, aloe, aspidistra, aucuba, dracaena, lemon, zygocactus, ficus, and cyperus are indifferent to the temperature conditions. Begonia, anthurium, calathea, and violet love warmer air. Geranium, hydrangea, camellia, primrose, rose, and fuchsia love coolness - they usually feel alright on the windowsills even without additional insulation.
Having decided to insulate your green pets, you can use the following ideas. Small and medium-sized pots can be warmed up by placing them in larger pots with previously added foam on the bottom. The remaining free space on the sides can also be filled with foam, old newspapers, dry grass, or leaves. You can put sawdust or leaves on the ground - this way, the heat inside will remain longer. To make the pot look more appealing, you can wrap it in fabric or burlap and tie it with ribbons.
As the weather becomes cooler, plants enter their dormant period. The resting season starts in the autumn and lasts till the first warmness outside. It is essential for future blooming and proper development. The vital processes of plants slow down. During this time, the plant does not grow actively and does not bloom.
Thus, reducing both the watering frequency and the amount of water for a single watering is necessary. Some plants, for example, gloxinia and amaryllis, hibernate in the fall, so they should not be watered at all. In winter, indoor plants withstand temperature drops better if the soil is dry but not overdried. Also, plants do not need to be fertilized as they rest. Propagation should be postponed until spring as well.
During the heating season, the air becomes arid, and the plants lack moisture. Various humidifiers will help you with this, and if you do not have one, you can spray the plants several times a day.
For the winter period, you can install plants in trays with moistened expanded clay, gravel, or pebbles or place plants nearby these constructions. It will be easier for them to maintain a humid microclimate around them.
Additional moisture may not be needed if there are not many flowers on your windowsill. After all, they can be moved closer to the window to receive the necessary moisture.
Winter is a real test for many tropical potted plants as they do not tolerate frost. Regularly remove dry and yellowed leaves, prune weakened shoots so that the plants always have a well-groomed appearance. Follow caring and watering tips, and your plants will delight you for more than one season.