Caring for houseplants in the winter
Jan 5, 2024, 9:00 AM
With cooler homes and lower light levels coming through the windows, plants don’t photosynthesize as efficiently. It also means they don’t need as much water. (Canva)
(Canva)
SALT LAKE CITY — Do you own any houseplants? There are different ways to take care of them depending on the season. Last week on the KSL Greenhouse Show, co-hosts Taun Beddes and Maria Shilaos shared some tips on caring for houseplants in the winter.
With cooler homes and lower light levels coming through the windows, plants don’t photosynthesize as efficiently. It also means they don’t need as much water.
“Where you normally during the summer would water every 5 to 7 days, on an average houseplant in the winter you can usually go every 7 to 10 days,” Taun said.
While there are exceptions, most houseplants don’t need fertilizer from November through February because they don’t grow as quickly.
“It’s not that they go dormant,” said Taun. “They just slow down, you really don’t need to worry as much about fertilizer unless the plants are actively blooming.”
When it comes to repotting your plants, it’s important to note that potting soil breaks down for two to three years. You will want to transplant most plants every other year. The ones that are more root-bound, such as the Christmas cactus and the amaryllis, need to be transplanted about every three years.
“Because the soil breaks down, winter is a good time to put these into new, slightly larger pots,” Taun said. “You usually step up to a pot that’s at least two inches wider and deeper than the one you had.”
The KSL Greenhouse is on every Saturday from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. You can follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and on our website.
