How do I care house plants in winter?

The nights are getting longer and the days are getting shorter.  The chilly air in the mornings and evenings heralds the approach of winter.

During the winter season, house plants may require some extra care to thrive in the colder and darker conditions. Here are some tips for caring for your house plants during the winter months:

• Provide sufficient light: The intensity and duration of sunlight decrease during winter and house plants do not get a lot of light. Make sure your plants are either in a brightly lit room or in front of a window that gets plenty of sunlight. Check the sunlight requirements for each of your plants and adjust accordingly.
• Give your houseplants less water: During winter, indoor plants require less water because they experience a slower rate of growth or even go dormant. Overwatering can lead to root rot and other problems. To check if your plant needs water, push your finger into the soil to a depth of about 5cm – if it is completely dry, then water. Use water that is about room temperature to avoid shocking the plant’s roots. Let the water sit for several hours before watering your plants to allow dissolved gases, such as chlorine, to evaporate out of the water.
• Note the temperature: Most house plants prefer a warm and stable temperature, so avoid placing them near cold drafts or heaters that can cause temperature fluctuations. One exception is the cyclamen, which loves to be outside on a chilly night – so pop it out on the back verandah before you go to bed.
• Increase the humidity: The humidity drops rapidly in winter, especially with home heating, which dries the air. Some plants, such as ferns, begonias, prayer plants and zebra plants, require high humidity to stay healthy. You can increase the humidity around your plants by grouping them together, misting them with a spray bottle, placing them on a tray of pebbles with water that will evaporate around them, or moving them to areas of higher humidity, such as the kitchen or bathroom. You can also place a bowl of water near your heater to add moisture to the air.
• Reduce or stop the fertiliser: Most indoor plants don’t grow much during winter, so they don’t need as much fertiliser as in the warmer months. Too much fertilizer can harm your plants by burning their roots or causing salt buildup in the soil. You can either reduce the frequency and amount of fertiliser you use, or stop it altogether until spring.