Cottage Care

Indoor plants in the winter

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Indoor plants in the winter

Did you know that some of your indoor plants may have different needs in the winter time? Even though they aren't out in the snow, their growth usually slows. In their best interests, you might actually want to move them! The Chicago Tribune said, "In winter, the sun moves lower in the sky, so the light levels near windows drop compared with spring and summer. Houseplants that were growing in a sunny east- or north-facing window in summer may benefit from being moved to a southern or western exposure for the winter." They also typically need less water, fertilizer, and pruning!

Do indoor plants need special care during winter?

You will need to adjust your basic care routines for houseplants over the winter to get the best results. During the winter, most houseplants will not be actively growing because of short day lengths, reduced humidity and lower temperatures in the typical Chicago-area home. (The maintenance practices for tropical houseplants growing in a greenhouse, though, will be completely different, as most greenhouse plants will still be actively growing.) Generally, houseplants require less water and much less (if any) fertilizer because their growth slows down during the winter. If you are growing flowering houseplants, such as hibiscus or African violets, you...

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