With colder weather drawing our attention indoors, many of us swap garden maintenance for caring for our favourite houseplants. But while your spider plant, peace lily or monstera may be safely tucked away inside, their needs change significantly during autumn and winter.
Reduced daylight, cooler temperatures and drier indoor air can all affect the health of houseplants, meaning the care routine that worked perfectly in summer could actually do more harm than good during the colder months.
It turns out many of us are unknowingly making a few common mistakes that can leave indoor plants struggling through winter. Here are the habits to avoid, plus the simple swaps that will help keep your houseplants healthy until spring.
Move plants closer to the light — but watch for draughts
You might assume that moving your houseplant closer to a bright window is an excellent idea in winter to allow it to drink in as much sunlight as possible. And while this isn't necessarily a bad move, it just requires a little more thought.
'It’s always a good idea to move them closer to a bright window as darker days hit, but make sure to avoid cold draughts and radiators,' Mark Sage, B&Q's horticulture expert, tells us. 'Cold draughts and dry air from radiators can all take their toll on indoor plants, leading to yellowing leaves, rotten roots or even plant fatality.'
Similarly, Mark suggests thinking about where the sun actually shines in your home throughout autumn and winter.
'Where natural light may be limited, consider investing in a plant light to give an extra boost, while rotating larger plants daily can help avoid leggy, awkward growth as they stretch out looking for the sunshine,' he suggests.
Water and feed less as growth slows
When houseplants start to look a little worse for wear and growth begins to slow over winter, it's tempting to step up your care routine. You might find yourself watering more often, tending to leaves more regularly, or even feeding plants in an attempt to encourage new growth.
However, Mark warns that this is often the wrong approach. In fact, during autumn and winter, 'sometimes the best thing you can do for your plants is leave them alone!'
He explains: 'In a slower growth period, plants generally need less water and feeding, and winter certainly isn’t the time for regular repotting.'
Instead, Mark recommends letting the soil dry out between waterings to help prevent root rot and giving plants time to rest. 'It's worth giving them a boost of plant feed ahead of the winter months, but a little goes a long way,' he says. 'Give plants their final dose at the end of autumn.'
Group plants together to boost humidity
During summer, when houseplants are actively growing, it's common to spread them throughout your home so you can enjoy a touch of greenery in different rooms. However, according to Mark, this can work against them once temperatures drop.
Instead, he recommends bringing your plants together during autumn and winter to help recreate the conditions many tropical houseplants naturally prefer.
'Give your houseplants a helping hand through winter by clustering them together to create a more humid microclimate, as many of these plants originally come from much hotter parts of the world,' he recommends. 'Grouping several varieties close together can help maintain humidity around them, which can be particularly useful when central heating makes indoor air drier.'
Wipe dust from leaves to make the most of winter light
While watering may have been your main plant-care task during summer, it's a mistake to neglect cleaning your houseplants over autumn and winter. Just like the rest of your home, plants can gather dust, and that build-up can make it harder for them to make the most of limited daylight.
'During winter, leaves can gather a layer of dust,' says Mark. 'Give them a wipe down every 1-2 weeks with a microfibre cloth to support photosynthesis, and to help them benefit from even the smallest burst of sunlight.'
In fact, Mark suggests combining cleaning and watering occasionally by giving your plants a gentle shower.
'Use lukewarm water to boost humidity and get rid of any pests, but keep an eye on the temperature as if it is too cold you can shock the roots, but too warm and you can scald the leaves.'
