Series: Winter
"For the Northern half of Earth (the Northern Hemisphere), the Winter Solstice occurs annually on December 21 or 22. (For the Southern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs on June 20 or 21.) The Winter Solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in the whole year, making it the 'shortest day' of the year".
- Almanac
Winter is coming...scratch that; it's already here in the Northwest.
Your response might be, "Oh yeah? Temperatures drop here and feel like Winter in the Fall... So what?".
Well, if you don't want your plant to look like this fascinating creature above...read on. Or you may just want a few tips on plant survival during the up-and-coming season change; that's okay too.
No matter the reason, now is the time to consider what the colder temperatures and lighting changes mean for your houseplant this Winter season.
Some Green Thumbs For Ya
A typical house runs at 68 degrees, plenty warm for a houseplant. Light levels are heading south for the next 90 days, so you must adjust the watering frequency. This time of year, allowing the soil to dry is a good idea.
Success with a houseplant is all about simplicity.
However, there is a line that you want to avoid crossing where the soil hardens up. Most soil mixes contain peat moss, which can harden when it gets too dry. This becomes challenging to rehydrate the soil and keep your houseplant healthy.
Even More Green Thumbs
1. Pick 1 day of the week to check on your houseplants.
2. Clip off any dead or stressed-out leaves.
3. Check the soil and water as needed.
Light, heat, and water are the primary factors for growth or failure with your little green plant buddy.
After watering your plant, checking the soil for even water distribution is a great way to learn how the soil takes to water. You'll quickly learn how much water is required to get the soil evenly wet.
It also provides an opportunity to see the roots of the plant. If you see more roots than dirt, that is an excellent indicator that it's time to bump that plant into a larger pot so that the roots have more soil to interact with.
(Keep a look out for our transplanting blog post on how to size up your houseplants and get ready for Winter, coming up next).
When you return your plant to its former perch in your home, consider rotating it a bit to even out the light distribution.
Depending on the plant variety, you'll notice that leaves on the side that get less light will exhibit more stress. This is a predictable outcome; rotating the plant will help alleviate this.
Parting Words
Houseplants will always be stressed this time of year, don't freak out; stick to the plan, besides you're an expert after reading this blog, right? So just relax, and spring will be here before you know it.
Quote Source
Winter Solstice 2022: The First Day of Winter. Almanac.com. (2022, November 18). Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-winter-winter-solstice
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