How to rescue your houseplants from winter heating woes
The fall and winter months are not ideal for plants. The heating season deprives plants of access to sufficiently humid air and natural light. How can you help them during this time?
4:19 PM EDT, October 17, 2024
The heating season poses a significant challenge for houseplants and their owners. Dry air and elevated temperatures can negatively affect their condition. How can you ensure plants have the right conditions during this difficult period?
How to care for potted plants during the heating season
The first thing to pay attention to is air humidity. Intensive heating makes the air dry, which negatively affects plants. Most potted plants originate from tropical climate zones with significantly higher air humidity. It's worth placing containers of water on radiators or right near the plants and using humidifiers to increase humidity.
How to help plants during the heating season
Another challenge is the elevated temperatures. Plants that are too close to heat sources may suffer from high temperatures and sudden temperature changes. Plants should be placed away from radiators and heaters. An ideal solution is to find a location that provides stable thermal conditions for them. Protective covers can be helpful.
The lack of access to natural light, which is limited in winter, is also a problem for many plants. Additional lighting, such as LED lamps, can greatly improve the situation by emitting light of appropriate intensity. Moving plants closer to windows is another way to provide them with more light, but they should not be placed directly on windowsills where they may be exposed to cold drafts.
Watering plants during the heating season is also crucial. It should be done wisely to avoid overfilling the pots. It’s important to keep the leaves clean so that the pores do not clog, allowing the plants to "breathe." It’s also beneficial to give the plants a weekly bath. Place the plant pots in a bathtub and gently spray them with water.