-
- Articles
Index : Container Plants & Patio Gardening
-
-
- 1. Winter Care of Indoor Potted Plants - Top
- Think you have trouble coping with dry air and cold temperatures during the winter months - well so do your house plants!
When our homes are closed up, especially in the winter with the heat on, the air becomes bone dry! As a result, humidity-craving house plants suffer! Leaves dry out, and as they do, the margins of leaves turn crisp and brown. Dry air can also result in and yellowing and dropping of the lower leaves.
Winter chills can also come over our house plants when they’re located too close to windows and doors. Cold and drafty air will cause plant leaves to develop brown or black spots and drop off. In general tropical varieties of potted plants don’t like temperatures below 55 degrees F. On frosty nights, move them back at least 3 feet from window panes and 6 feet from entryway doors.
There are many ways to combat dry air indoors, but contrary to popular belief, misting isn’t one of them! Measures that do work include using a home humidifier, grouping plants together and setting plants on water filled gravel saucers.
The saucers should be over-sized, to allow moisture evaporating off the gravel surface to flow up, around and into the plants. Use a plastic plant saucers! Clay saucers are porous, allow moisture to seep out, potentially damage carpeting or other flooring materials.
Fill the saucers nearly to the top rim with fine gravel. I like aquarium gravel. It’s clean and attractive, and the small gravel size provides more surface area for more evaporation and higher humidity! As the pot will sit on top of the gravel surface, the water level in the saucer should be a half inch or so below the bottom of the pot. This will provide enough room for drainage water without overflowing the saucer. Never let the bottom of the pot sit in the water! Accumulated salts can be reabsorbed by the soil, damaging the plant. Every month or two, empty water out of the saucers and refill with fresh water.
Over-watering during the winter months can result in yellowing and leaf drop. It can also cause plants to be stunted, with an absence of new growth. Water-soaked roots are prone to root rot diseases which, in turn, can result in loss of the entire plant!
Potting plants in a well-drained container soil mix will improve drainage and make over-watering less likely. It's a good idea to allow plants to go longer between waterings in the winter than you would during other parts of the year. Most potted plants are not actively growing in the winter and thus do not require as much water as they would other times of the year. I suggest using a moisture meter to determine when your potted plants need watering. Moisture meters are inexpensive and available at most garden supply outlets; and best of all, they really do work!
Watering with chilled tap water can damage plants, especially tropical house plants. This is a problem in the winter when water pipes running into the house become cold. Always use room temperature or water slightly warm to the touch. Some plants are also sensitive to chemicals added to our tap water, including chlorine or fluoride. Letting the water set overnight in a watering can or other open container will allow these chemicals to evaporate out, making the water safer for your house plants. If you collect rain water, use it to water your potted plants! It’s totally free of chemicals and salts and may even contain some beneficial trace minerals.
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona,
520-626-5161. - Updated: January 13, 2008
-
-
[e-Mail me
the Articles] - [Search
the Articles]
-
|
