Dos and Don'ts to Winter Indoor Plant Care

Have you caught the indoor plant bug? You know the one. The one where you thought you'd get one plant to brighten up your room, and then you didn't kill it after a few months, so you bought some more. And more. And then a few more. You've even brushed up on the best ways to look after your plant family, and you're feeling proud about all the new leaves that you can see growing. But your obsession is more beneficial than you think. Not only do indoor plants brighten up a space but they also help clean the air and help make a room feel more like a home.

Now winters arrived, and you're worried that all your hard work will go down the drain. That's why we've compiled a handy list of dos and dont's to help you look after your indoor plant jungle when the mercury drops.

Do

• Dust your plants “ they need to breathe too! Take a look over each of your plants and if you notice plenty of dust, simply wipe it off with a damp cloth. Repeat every few weeks or so.
• Move them to allow for maximum sunlight “ if their current location doesn't give them enough sunshine, scope out the best places in your home that the winter sun hits. Move them to a bright room, near windows, or even move them outside for a couple of hours on the weekend and let them soak up some much needed vitamin D.
• Prune dead leaves “ in the colder months you might spot some browning or dead leaves. Prune these to allow for growing room.
• Choose plants that allow for easy care: fiddle leaf fig, succulents, cacti, peace lilies and aloe to name a few. These need less light and less care during winter.

• Over-water “ during winter, your indoor plants don't need as much water as they would in summer. It's easy to water your plants too much “ to make sure just stick your finger an inch into the soil. If it's dry, give your plant a drink, if it's damp you can water another day. It's also important to keep an eye out for root rot. If your plants are sitting in a plate of water, tip it out to avoid this.
• Keep them next to a space heater “ if you find yourself dependent on the heater during winter, keep your plants far away. Keep your plants away from radiant and space heaters, vents and blasts of warm and cool air.