“If leaf edges turn brown or curl, that’s usually a humidity cry for help,” per Mutalik. “We keep humidity-loving plants like calatheas, ferns, and marantas grouped together on pebble trays and run a humidifier nearby.” (Our WIRED-tested favourite is above.) He says {that a} windowed toilet can also be nice for tropical crops that love excessive humidity. “It doesn’t have to be fancy,” provides Anderson.
Warmth
We already coated that it’s best to monitor the heat close to your home windows to make sure it would not drop beneath 55 levels Fahrenheit. However ambient air temperatures can have an effect on your houseplants as properly. “If you’re feeling chilly, your plants probably are, too,” says Hancock. “And they can’t put on a sweater.”
You may additionally need to be careful for drafts. “If you have a houseplant near a heating vent where it’s getting exposed to air that’s noticeably warmer or cooler than the ambient air temperature, it can stress your plant, causing leaves to yellow prematurely,” says Hancock.
Drafts could be brought on by exterior doorways and home windows. Connolly factors out that heating vents and area heaters could be detrimental, too. Vegetation “like the temperature to stay consistent and not be swinging back and forth between hot and cold.”
Consciousness is vital in terms of warmth and airflow. “We keep anything leafy or tropical at least 2 feet away from heaters and ensure windows are well-insulated,” says Mutalik.
Pests
{Photograph}: Kat Merck
Backyard Protected
Insecticidal Cleaning soap Insect Killer
In the event you’re bringing your crops indoors from outdoors, specialists suggest quarantining them for a time frame to make sure they don’t seem to be internet hosting any pests that would have an effect on your different houseplants. (As a result of let’s be actual—no one has only one houseplant.) “Catching them early saves a lot of heartache,” says Anderson.
Mutalik and the remainder of the Houseplant Nook quarantine their crops for 2 weeks. Test beneath each leaf for mites, mealybugs, or gnats. In the event you encounter pests, there are a number of methods of addressing them that may differ primarily based on desire and plant species. Wheat removes them manually if potential, and wipes them down with a fabric or a lightweight vinegar resolution earlier than transferring on to different, extra aggressive measures like horticultural oils or soaps if wanted. (Editor Kat Merck makes use of the insecticidal cleaning soap above on her houseplants and hydroponic gardens.)
Connolly wipes crops down with a fabric after which rinses them within the sink. And Mutalik says that Neem oil or castile cleaning soap can work wonders should you catch the pests early; wipe the leaves, particularly broader leaves, each two weeks to stop an infection.
Whereas many winter pests hitch a trip indoors, Hancock factors out that dry, heat circumstances (like these present in heated properties in winter) are the perfect setting for spider mites.
“Regularly washing plant leaves can help dislodge spider mites and help keep the population low. If you’re just seeing spider mites and don’t want to spray, consider investing in beneficial mites. Beneficial mites will eat the spider mites and don’t harm your plant,” he says.
Fertilizer
{Photograph}: Kat Merck
Fertilizer is at all times slightly complicated, and it may be much more puzzling within the wintertime. “I would say, don’t even bother to fertilize your house plant if you’re using an over-the-counter potting soil. Most of these soils have slow-release fertilizer in them that is sufficient for plant growth,” says Wheat.
When you have an older plant with drained soil, or a very “heavy feeder,” you may go for a sluggish or controlled-release fertilizer—or simply repot it with contemporary soil. (However bear in mind that winter is not often one of the best time to repot a plant, and you might need to wait till the rising season arrives.)
