How to: Help Your Indoor Plant Fronds Survive Winter

The weather has turned – the cooler days and nights are here to stay. But don’t worry, we’ve got some tips for your indoor plant fronds that will help them make it through the season!

TIP 1: WATER LESS

The growth rate of your indoor plant will slow down considerably during winter so you need to reduce your watering frequency. Monitor the moisture of your plant regularly by checking the soil. A few different ways to see if your plant needs watering are - to use your index finger and push into the soil to see if the soil is still damp, you can also tell when your plant needs water by looking at its size. If it’s lighter than normal, then chances are you should give them a drink; but if not and they're still heavy from last time - don't stress, leave for a few more days then check again. Alternatively you can use a Moisture Meter.

Know the water guidance for your specific plant. If you’re not sure how frequently your plant frond prefers to be watered, please refer to your Plant Care Card that you received with your plant or reach out to us and we’re more than happy to help and provide further guidance.

TIP 2: HUMIDITY IS KEY

During cooler months, many homes are very dry due to heaters and fireplaces and many of our beloved plant fronds are sensitive to the dry air. Placing them in groups can help to keep your home cool and more inviting by releasing moisture into the air through transpiration, or evaporation of water from their leaves.

For those tropical plant fronds that thrive in humidity (but not so much in winter) – misting their leaves with water is an excellent way to help hydrate them however the effects only last a short time. You should therefore be consistent with misting and do it often in between winter waterings!

TIP 3: KEEP THE TEMPERATURE CONSISTENT

Keep an eye out for ways your plants can be protected. You might have to move them away from areas with cold drafts or frosty windowpanes, and equally important are heat sources like heating ducts or fireplaces that could damage their roots in dry seasons when it is too hot inside.

TIP 4: STOP FEEDING

During winter, Indoor Plant Food can do more harm than good. Our indoor plant fronds will not fully utilise the nutrients they are receiving from the food during the cooler season and this can sometimes upset the natural growth cycle of the plant. It’s best to hold off on feeding during winter and get back into the feeding cycle once Spring comes around.

TIP 5: AVOID REPOTTING

As much as possible, avoid repotting your plant fronds during winter. This is because their pace of growth will slow right down, and you want to avoid them being shocked from being comfortable to a completely new environment. Try to scheduling repotting when the warmer Spring weather sets in.

TIP 6: WIPE LEAVES OVER REGULARLY

Keep your plant clean and dust-free to make sure it's healthy! Bugs like hiding out in dust in leaves, which makes them harder for you find. Your favourite plant fronds may be more vulnerable during winter if they go into dormancy so any leaves that remain please be sure to keep them shining using our Leaf Shine spray.

TIP 7: CHAMPION DORMANCY

Does your mood change in winter? Do you feel sluggish or tired during the season? Plants feel this way too - all thanks for shorter days and less sun. Some species of plants can go into dormancy or semi-dormancy during the winter season. The change in light levels will cause your indoor plants to need less water. You may even find yourself watering them only once every two weeks (depending on where you live).

TIP 8: LEAF LOSS WILL HAPPEN

Indoor Plants will naturally start to drop some of their leaves during the winter season. If your indoor plant grew during warmer months but now looks like it's doing the opposite - don't worry, it's just its way of adjusting to the season change. Using your gardening scissors, you can safely trim any older leaves or leaves that are starting to drop as this can help prevent further leaf loss.

NOT SURE WHERE TO START?

Check out our Plant Match Quiz to find your perfect plant frond! If you're feeling confident and just want to start your indoor plant jungle head straight to our Plants page and starting adding to your cart!

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