During the long, bright summer days, it's easy to keep plants warm. However, when winter arrives and temperatures drop, things can get chilly fast. Don't stress though -- There are plenty of ways to care for your houseplants in winter.
After all, when your plants are warm it helps them stay healthy by preventing certain diseases like gray mold fungus -- It loves when houseplants are cool and damp. One of the easiest ways to deter this fungus is to keep them warm and water correctly so, what are you waiting for? Discover six cozy ways you can keep your houseplants warm and comfortable during the cold winter months.
Set Your Thermostat
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One of the easiest ways to maintain the best temperature for your plants is to keep your house warm. With a thermostat, you can easily keep your house cozy and warm without any extra work. On average, houseplants like temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply adjust your thermostat so that it falls into this temperature range and let it take care of the rest! It will automatically turn on the heating system in your home so that it stays at the temperature you set it to, keeping your houseplants toasty warm.
Avoid Drafty Locations
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While you might enjoy the snowy winter scenery by your window, many houseplants find windowsills far too chilly in winter. To keep your houseplants warm, keep them away from windows or doorways that have cold air drafts. This means that you should also avoid putting a houseplant in your entryways. Every time you open up the door you'll send a blast of icy air over your plants.
Instead, put them somewhere in your home which isn't directly in a cold air draft. For instance, you might have a great coffee table or fireplace mantel in your living room that gets sunlight but isn't right next to your frozen windowpanes.
Put Them in a Sunny Room
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Another easy way to ensure your plants are cozy in the winter is to relocate them to a sunny room. When the sun shines in on a bright winter day, it will naturally warm up your room without using your heating system. This is a great way to save on energy too!
A good way to find out how warm the room actually gets is to place a thermometer where you plan to put your houseplants. Then, check the ambient room temperature on a sunny winter day. If it stays in the range of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, this will keep the average houseplant comfortable.
Keep in mind that not all plants love a lot of sunlight, some plants do best in low light. So a sunny room isn't a solution for every plant. Check the light requirements of each plant before placing it in the sunny room. If you notice the foliage on your plant is fading or the leaves are burning with brown tips, it could be receiving too much light.
Heat Mats
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Heats mats can be a handy way to warm a selection of houseplants. Generally, heat mats are a great choice if you just have a few indoor plants that you want to keep warm. Essentially a heat mat is a flat mat that you plug into an electrical outlet. You then set the heat mat to a specific temperature. They provide a steady source of heat for plants and are also a popular option for germinating seeds indoors.
Note: If you choose this option, check to see if all the plants you will be putting on the heat mat like the same temperature range. You may find this is best for just those houseplants which consistently need higher temperatures than the ambient heat in your home.
Wrap Pots in Bubble Wrap
You can also keep your plants warmer in winter with a fun DIY hack that uses packing supplies you may already have in your home. When winter arrives, some gardeners wrap the pots of their outdoor plants with bubble wrap to keep the pot warmer. You can borrow this tip to warm up your indoor plants too. All you need to do is wrap the container or pot all the way around its sides. This will help to insulate your pot and keep your plant cozy.
Use Window Curtains at Night
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During the winter you can prevent heat loss by putting up curtains or heavy drapes as well. On average covering windows with curtains can lower your heat loss by 10 percent. During a sunny day, you can leave the curtains open to allow the light to naturally warm up your room, then at night conserve heat by drawing the drapes. This will help to prevent temperatures from dropping as fast during long winter nights. As a result, your plants will stay that much warmer, and you won't use as much heating either!
Cozy Houseplants All Winter Long
With a few simple strategies, you can keep your houseplants cozy and thriving during the cold winter months. From setting your thermostat at an optimal range to grouping houseplants in a sunny room, and putting up curtains to reduce nighttime heat loss, there are options for every lifestyle!
How do you keep your houseplants warm during the winter? Share your top tips in the comments below to help fellow indoor gardeners keep their plants thriving during the coldest time of the year.