Many people do not realize that house plants need extra care in the winter. Some plants may go dormant for a short while but others just need a little TLC.

If your house plant lives in a sunny window, you may want to move it 6″ from the window. One touch of your fingers to that window glass will tell you just how cold it is outside. Any leaves in constant contact with that cold will not do well at all. Your house plants can be decimated by a cold draft as well.

The air in your house becomes dry in the winter from running your heater. Doesn’t your own skin feel a little dry? The answer is not to water more often although you may need to do that also. The real answer is to mist the plant at least once a day.

It is important that your house plant leaves are clean.

Before you start misting those plants, be sure you gently dust the leaves. Smooth leaves can be dusted with a soft cloth – no furniture polish please. Fuzzy leaves such as the African Violet can be dusted with a small paint brush.

Plants breathe through their leaves and a layer of dust can be suffocating. Plants really should have their leaves dusted at least once a week. Hanging plants like the beautiful Spider do well with a monthly shower to clean their leaves. Make sure you use a gentle spray of water. Philodendron leaves can be cleaned with a solution of milk and water – very light on the milk. It will make the leaves shine.

If you have the space try putting a layer of rock in a pan – an old cake pan or pizza pan – fill the pan with water and set your house plants on top of the rocks. Instant humidity. If you don’t have space for a pan, set out some decorative vases filled with water.

You may just find that your own skin is feeling a little less dry.

Check the light your house plant is receiving. Days are shorter and you may need to supplement with artificial light if your plants are looking a little SAD.

All plants need a resting period so stop the fertilizer for a couple of months. Trim off any yellowing leaves.

Now is also a good time to start thinking about new pots for the spring. You don’t want a root bound plant. Without the natural interaction that outside plants get, house plants can become impacted in the dirt.

Related posts:

1. Uncomplicated Cold Weather Plants to Put in your Garden If you think that gardening is only for people who...
2. Top Plants and Flowers that are Easy for Kids to Care For in the Garden Gardening can provide a wealth of learning opportunities for children....

The calming beauty of a fern or the dramatic statement of a palm tree – the plants we choose to decorate our homes both compliment our decor and provide a refreshing spot of life in an otherwise static environment.

If you are trying to decide which type of plants will both suit your home and your life there are three points to take into consideration.

Safety

Philodendron and ivy are popular houseplants because of their beautiful coloration, attractive leaves and low maintenance. However, some varieties of these beauties are just a sample of plants that are incredibly poisonous to humans or animals when eaten.

If you have children or animals in the home or as visitors you are wise to take the time to investigate which plants are harmful and which are not. Some plants do not even have to be eaten to be harmful, so it is well worth avoiding them if possible.

Whether or not you choose to have poisonous plants in your home it is always a good idea to keep them out of the reach of children and pets as well as have the name of the plant clearly identified in case of an emergency.

Light and Temperature

If you are new to plant care or simply don’t want to spend more time than necessary to care for your plants you need to match your plant choice to the light and temperature environment in your home.

As a rule of thumb, cactus and other succulent plant varieties need a great deal of sunlight and warmth. While direct sun – especially intensified through a window – is not good for any houseplants, you will want a south or west exposure with plenty of light for the best results when choosing these plants.

Flowering plants also require good sunlight, although not as much as succulents. If you do not have a bright room for your flowering plants they may survive but not flower as frequently or at all.

Foliage without flowers often does well in lower light areas. Ferns, ivy and some palms are examples of plants that often do well away from windows and bright sun.

If your home is very dry, especially during the winter, you may need to spray your plants with a mist of water to provide the humidity they need to thrive.

Many nurseries provide information on a tag when you purchase a plant. Use the information on these tags to identify plants that will do best in your home environment.

Appearance

Plants come in such a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes that it is easy to find a plant that suits your taste and decor.

Delicate foliage like ferns and ivies look great in traditional decors while simple, stunning palms and other tropicals stand out in modern or Mediterranean decors.

Grouping plants can provide an attractive vignette in an empty corner or near a window, but be careful not to overdo it or your home may begin to look more like a greenhouse than a home.

Check your plants regularly for changes in appearance – brown or yellowed tips which may mean over or under watering, as well as spots, holes or changes in color that could mean disease or infestation. If you suspect either you should immediately separate that plant from the others to avoid contamination. When bringing new plants home set them aside for a week or so until you are sure they are not contaminated before putting them near your other plants.

You are sure to enjoy the addition of plants to your home, whether you intend to devote a lot of time to them or as little as possible. Choosing wisely will make your new additions both beautiful to look at and a pleasure to care for.

Related posts:

1. Selecting the Proper Place for Your Organic Garden Just like real estate, one of the most important aspects...
2. Top Plants and Flowers that are Easy for Kids to Care For in the Garden Gardening can provide a wealth of learning opportunities for children....
3. Importance of Including Kids in your Gardening Plans If you have children, then you know that they either...

Houseplants add a refreshing charm to interior décor. In the dead of winter when there is not much greenery around, they remind us that spring will come again. Even in the warmer months they will make a welcome splash of color throughout the house.

While not suitable for permanent indoor living, some plants can come inside for a short time if they are then taken back outside to a greenhouse or some spot that suits their needs, to recover.

One of these is the Croton. You will find a great variety of color and leaf form in these attractive plants. Some might be green with wide yellow stripes; the foliage of others can be rose, red, copper and bronze. The leaves may be smooth, twisted, broad or narrow, so there is something to suit all indoor color schemes.

Similar in needs is the Aphendandra, also known as the Zebra Plant because it has a striped pattern on the glossy green leaves. Its sprays of yellow flowers are not as attractive as the leaves, for which the plant is valued.

Both need a light position and a minimum winter temperature of 55 F degrees (13C). They need to be fed a weak solution of liquid fertilizer in the summer months and should be kept moist at all times. Most indoor plants dislike drafts, or temperatures that fluctuate widely.

Bromeliads can be grown as indoor plants. They don’t like sunlight and are mostly epiphytic – drawing their nutrients from the air and water. Those that grow in a rosette shape with a central cup need to have this filled with water regularly. In many bromeliads this central cup or vase is the striding part, being colored a deep rose red or carmine. Others have either stiff or pendulous spikes of flowers that are very showy. Pot them into rather small pots, as their rooting system is not significant. A fibrous potting mix such as is used for orchids will suit them and they may benefit from fortnightly applications of half-strength liquid fertilizer.

Marantas are an especially attractive houseplant with velvety green leaves that have a deep red veining pattern. They like warm humid conditions and must be kept out of direct sunlight. 13 degrees centigrade is their preferred minimum temperature. Maranta leuconeura is a particularly beautiful variety.

Calatheas are related to the Maranta and require the same conditions. Their leaves are a blotchy green on top with purple undersides. Calathea Makoyana, or peacock Plant is one variety that is deservedly popular. Marentas and Calatheas like a peat-based compost for their pots and a minimum of 13 degrees Centigrade.

There are many more houseplants to delight the keen indoor plant enthusiast. Some can take a lower indoor temperature and less light than those mentioned above. A good rule of thumb is that the darker green the leaf is the less light a plant needs. Never let dust build up on the leaves of your indoor plants. Brush them regularly with a soft brush, or sponge with a weak milk and water solution.