Winter is coming and are you prepared for the change?

Caring for Your Houseplants in Winter: Top Tips

If you're like me, the thought of winter creeping in feels a bit chilling, and our plants feel that change more than you might think. The good news is that with just a few simple tweaks, we can help them ride out the darker, colder months and come out thriving in spring. Here are my top tips for caring for houseplants during winter.

Heating is on!

So, how long do you usually wait before turning on the heating? I always try to last as long as I can, but once you finally give in and turn it up to full blast, there’s one key thing to remember: move your plants away from the radiators.

It may seem harmless, but continuous hot air blasting can burn your plants. Think about it, you wouldn’t want to stand with a hair dryer pointed at you on full heat for eight hours straight. Neither do your plants!

Where did the sun go?

One of the trickiest parts of winter is the lack of sunlight. Here in the UK, we get as little as just over 4 hours of daylight on the darkest days, which is pretty miserable for us and for our plants. Variegated plants in particular will struggle, so it’s a good idea to shuffle them closer to a bright window to soak up every bit of light.

Another option is to bring in some backup. Grow lights can be a lifesaver for plants in the winter months. We stock Grow Gang’s LED grow lights, and they work exceptionally well. Most plants would love around 6 hours of light a day, so setting your grow lights on a timer can really help them stay healthy when the days are gloomy.

Watering

Now, this is a big one. Remember how in summer you felt like you were constantly watering your plants? Winter is the complete opposite. Because the air is cooler and the soil dries out more slowly, your plants will need far less water, and overwatering becomes the biggest risk.

The trick is to check before you water. I like to use what I call the “bake a cake” method: take a stick, push it down to the bottom of the pot, and then pull it out. If it comes out covered in damp soil, the plant doesn’t need a drink yet. If it comes out clean, then it’s time to water.

If you’re a cacti or succulent collector, listen up. These guys like to take a proper break in winter, almost like a little hibernation. So, don’t water them at all until spring. The only exception is if your succulents are looking shrivelled and wrinkly, in which case a tiny splash is okay. Otherwise, let them snooze.

Do plants eat in winter?

There’s a bit of a myth floating around that you shouldn’t feed plants at all during winter. Most plants indeed slow down, so food isn’t essential. But if your plants are still growing, you can give them a little something to keep them happy.

A nitrogen-rich feed, like seaweed feed, works really well. Don’t expect massive growth spurts, but think of it like when you’re feeling under the weather and you grab a fizzy drink for that sugar boost. It’s not going to fix everything, but it gives your plants just enough energy to keep going through the winter months.

🌿 Winter Plant Care Summary

• Keep plants away from radiators; hot air will scorch them.

• Give them as much light as possible, move them closer to windows or use grow lights.

• Water less often, always check before watering.

• Cacti and succulents prefer a winter rest; leave them alone until spring unless they shrivel.

• Feeding is optional, but a light nitrogen feed can help plants that are still growing.