As winter draws on, days get shorter and houseplants will be taking note and adjusting their behaviour. By responding to these changing needs, indoor gardeners can be sure that their plants will thrive during the cooler darker months.

It’s a good habit to look over your plants as a routine to make sure all is well. That way you can make necessary adjustments to watering and positioning. But what should you be looking for in your daily rounds?

Signs of stress in houseplants

Plants that are living in conditions that don’t suit them will show it in the following ways:

• dried-up leaf tips
• stunted growth
• drooping leaves
• yellow leaves

You may also find that the compost smells unpleasant, particularly if you’ve overwatered a plant. Sickly plants are more susceptible to pests and diseases, which can spread through your collection. So keep a close eye for spots and signs of unwelcome insects. When you check over your plants, remove rotting or diseased material as needed.

You can often reverse the signs of stress in plants by making small adjustments to your watering or feeding routine, or by moving the plant into a more favourable spot.

What do houseplants need in winter?

In cooler, darker conditions, plants may enter a period of dormancy. Their growth rate slows so they will need less watering and less feeding. Plants still need light in winter, however, and plants that prefer higher light levels will benefit from being moved to a sunny window.

Winter heating in your home can make the air drier at this time of year. Plants that need a higher level of humidity may need help in the form of a humidifier, or you can stand the pot in a tray of pebbles filled with water.

Some plants, like some people, will suffer in cold draughts, but it’s also important to maintain good air circulation around your indoor garden to protect plants from mildew and pests. Opening a window each day during winter is a good habit.

A winter watering routine

As mentioned above, plants need less watering in wintertime. Giving too much water can cause the roots to rot; but too little will cause them stress as they dry out. It’s best to get advice for each specific type of plant that you are growing in your home.

A quick search should bring you to a reliable resource such as The British Cactus Society or the RHS’s advice on houseplants. There is, however, a fair bit of conflicting advice about winter watering of houseplants. But when in doubt, water when the soil feels dry, or when the pot feels noticeably light.

By checking all your plants routinely, you can get a feel for when they need watering.

Tap water can contain chemicals and minerals such as fluoride that some species of houseplant don’t tolerate, so rainwater is best, particularly if you live in a hardwater area. Use water at room temperature for plants. Very cold water drawn from an outside rain barrel could shock delicate species, so let it stand overnight before watering.

Changes to your home in winter

The way that light enters your home will change as the year turns. A spot that was perfect in summer may be too dark in winter. Conversely, a spot that was too bright and dry in summer could be a good setting for a light loving cactus or succulent all winter long.

Another substantial change to your indoor environment in winter is that the heating comes on. Plants that are too close to heaters or in fireplaces are at risk from sudden changes in temperature, scorched leaves, poor air quality and damage from low humidity.

Making space for plants in your home

You may also want to bring some tender plants out of your garden and into the house to overwinter until the risk of frost has passed – for example pelargoniums and begonias.

Another way of preserving plants over winter is by taking cuttings – we’ve got some tips on doing just that in our post on moving house plants.

Some plants – for example, bonsai – can be valuable. If you’ve invested in your indoor garden, check that your plants are covered by your home contents insurance.

If space is tight in your home during winter, a quick declutter can help to open up functional surfaces where you can keep plants during the winter months. You could even consider putting some furniture into storage to give your overwintering plants the best possible environment. When you insure your stored furniture with Store and Insure, you only pay for the days when it is actually in your unit, so it’s the perfect insurance solution for temporarily or seasonally stored domestic goods.

Sharing your home with plants has quite a few benefits, aside from the aesthetic ones – as well as looking great, they have been shown to improve mood and they may even improve air quality! So whether your plants are permanent residents or just indoors for a visit, make them part of your household routine to get the very best out of them.