Are your plants cold? Most indoor plant varieties originate from warm tropical environments—think of a balmy stroll through a lush Hawaiian jungle. Though plants can be very adaptable, conditions inside our homes are much different than these natural habitats, especially during winter. Our homes can be colder, or drier (thanks to heaters) and of course, darker. Always remember that as a general rule, less light & warmth = less water.

As you strive to find the perfect balance for your plants during the colder months of the year, here are a few normal reactions you may see from your green roommates.

Sudden Leaf Drop

This is your plant's way of disposing of old leaves to save energy for new ones. This happens naturally throughout the year, but if you're noticing this all of a sudden during winter, it may be that your plant is reacting to the change in temperature and stocking up on energy. To slow down the process, keep the room above 65ºF and move it away from cold windows which can cause cell damage on delicate foliage.

Wilting or curling leaves

Wilting or curling leaves might also be a sign your plant is cold. Healthy leaves usually have a relative firmness to them, which the plant may lose if it’s too cold.

Yellowing Leaves

Another way your plant tells you that it's done with a leaf, but also accelerated with changing temperatures. Cold temperatures can disrupt the water absorption process in plants, leading to wilting even when the soil is adequately moist. Help your plant by trimming these off and keeping its space warm and humid.

Growth on Pause

If you haven't seen any new growth lately, it's likely that your plant has sensed the cold and counted less hours of sunlight. These signals tell your plant that it's time to rest, and in some cases, even go dormant. Let your plant enjoy its quiet period of slow growth, water only when the soil is dry, and wait for spring to start fertilizing again!

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The Snake Plant and Jade Pothos, basking in winter light. Photo by @thenamestesa

With the change of seasons, it's natural to wonder how your beloved houseplants are faring in the winter months. There are many myths and misconceptions about house plants going dormant during winter, and it's time to debunk any myths!

Dormancy in Winter

Do Plants Need Less Care in the Winter?

Repotting in Winter

Temperatures in Winter

Light Conditions in Winter

Dormancy in Winter

While many outdoor plants and trees shed their leaves and go dormant in winter, most common houseplants don't follow the same pattern. Houseplants come from a variety of climates, and many, including many from our collection at Leon & George, are native to tropical regions where winter is just a slightly cooler and drier season. While kept indoors, these conditions are generally kept pretty constant as well, except for shorter days in winter. So, unless your houseplant is specifically adapted to a dormant period, it's likely to keep growing year-round, though it is not uncommon for houseplants to grow much more slowly during the winter months than they do during spring and summer. 

Do Plants Need Less Care in the Winter?

While most houseplants may not go dormant, their growth may slow down during the winter. This can sometimes be mistaken for dormancy, but in reality, your plant is just conserving energy since there is less daylight this time of year. This reduced growth means they require less water and fertilizer, but it doesn't mean you can forget about them. Houseplants still need regular attention and care throughout the year. Consider reducing your watering frequency and amount, and definitely reduce fertilizer use– in fact, most fertilizers are too strong to use during the winter, but our natural plant food is gentle enough to use all year round (just reduce to once per month in the winter!). 

Repotting in Winter

In general, it's best to avoid repotting your houseplants during the winter months. Repotting can stress the plant, and during the winter, they are already dealing with lower light levels and potentially cooler temperatures. Wait until the growing season in spring to give your houseplants a fresh start, and only repot if absolutely necessary, for example, your plant has been overwatered and is experiencing root rot.

Temperatures in Winter

While many common houseplants can often tolerate slightly cooler temperatures in winter, most generally prefer to be kept in a stable, warm environment. Most common houseplants come from tropical regions where temperatures remain relatively constant year-round. Sudden drops in temperature can stress your plants, so try to keep your home in the same temperature range throughout the year. 

Light Conditions in Winter

While some houseplants may require less light during the winter due to their slowed growth, many still need their usual requirements, in some cases plenty of bright, indirect light. Make sure to place your plants near windows where they can receive enough light to keep them happy. If you live in an area with long, dark winters, you might consider supplementing with grow lights to keep your plants thriving, or at the very least, moving your plants around throughout the day to give them the light they need. 

The idea that houseplants universally go dormant in winter is more fiction than fact. It's crucial to understand your specific plant's needs and provide the right care year-round. While your plants might not be as active during the winter, they still rely on you for proper care and attention to remain happy and thrive!

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The Monstera Deliciosa, prepared for winter!

Winter is here, and your plants know it.

Just like us humans, plants also notice the changing of the seasons and winter is no exception. During this time, plants go into dormancy and are often not actively growing. Shorter days mean less sunlight, and less sunlight means less energy to use for growing. Read our tips on how to care for your plant in the winter and successfully make it to spring.

Adjust your watering schedule

Shorter days in winter translates to plants grow more slowly, and this also means they often tend to take longer to dry out between waterings. That means you should water less frequently, making sure to always check the soil before watering. Depending on where you live, you may have already adjusted your watering schedule in the fall.

Let there be light

Another adjustment you may have already made in the fall, make sure your plant is getting enough sunlight during the short and sometimes dreary days of winter. Plants that do well in one area of your home may not be as happy as they were before. Signs that your plant is not getting enough light may include pale, yellow, or brown leaves, leggy branches, or leaning towards the light. If this might be an issue for you, there are a few things you can do to mitigate during these darker months of the year: move the plant closer to a light source for the fall and winter, rotate it every few weeks, or install an artificial (grow) light.

Cut back fertilizing

The best time to regularly fertilize your plant is when it’s actively growing in the spring and summer. That said, you may try using gentle fertilizers like Boost Vitaminé natural plant food once a month during the winter to help keep your plant nourished. Do not use more than once a month during this time, though, as you may risk fertilizer burn on the leaves of your plant.

Put away the pruners

You may remove dry, old, or unattractive leaves all year round, but save any major pruning for the spring or summer. While it is healthy to periodically prune indoor plants, pruning during the winter may come as a shock to a plant whose resources are already limited.

Up the humidity

Similar to air conditioning, strong heaters can have a negative effect on our plants in the winter as they dry out the air. To combat dry atmospheres, mist your plant here and there (daily is great, but once or twice a week works too!).

Keep them warm

Like us our plants don’t like air that is too cold. This may be hard to avoid in the middle of winter, but aim to keep your plants at a temp that would be comfortable for you, somewhere between 65º-75ºF.

Move plants away from icy windowpanes

Depending on where you live and the type of window in your home, your plant may not like to be close or touching a window. If the window feels cold to you, it probably feels cold to your plant, which may cause leaf damage or shock.

Feel prepared for the long winter ahead? You got this! Head back to our blog for more simple plant care tips for your indoor greenery.

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It’s that time of year again: the sun’s rays have slowly been diminishing (we’ve lost about five hours of daylight since the summer solstice in June!), and as we “fall back” for Daylight Saving Time, our days will feel even shorter than before. Along with the loss of daylight, the sun’s highest point is also lowering, meaning sunlight is softer and less intense than it was a few months ago.

All these changes affect not only us but also our leafy friends. While our plants might not find the clock shift as disruptive (or debatable) as we do, they definitely note the change of light.

Here are a few things to look out for and keep in mind as you nurture living plants in your home:

• Leaf drop might occur. And there’s nothing to worry about! Your plant is just adjusting to less light and possibly beginning to save energy til spring. If the leaf drop feels excessive or persists over several weeks, there might be something else going on.

• You’ll need to water less. As plants get less light, they get less thirsty. Adjust your watering routine as needed.

• You might need to move things around. Some plants will benefit from a sunnier spot during the winter, or at least getting some extra light here and there a few days a week.

• Your plant will most likely grow more slowly. It may even stop growing for a while.

• You can reduce fertilizing. Most fertilizers are too strong to use in the winter, but if you’d like to give your plants a little something extra, you can fertilize once a month with Boost Vitaminé, a very gentle liquid plant food, or foliar feed a few times a week with Potion Magique plant mist, or both!

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The latest in plant care tips for keeping your foliage happy and healthy, brought to you by premium plant delivery service Léon & George.

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Rotating indoor plants is always a good idea, but during shorter winter days and sometimes gloomy periods, it’s more necessary than ever. Here are a few tips for how and why to rotate your houseplants:

• Does one side of your plant look nicer than the other? Try leaving the less bushy side facing the window for a bit longer than usual to even things out. Hint: You can always turn your plant back around when people visit to put its best face forward. 

• Do any of your plant stems seem to be leaning or growing more on the sides closer to the windows? Plants will always follow the sun, so this is normal if you're not rotating them for even light exposure.

• While you're there, take a second to dust off the leaves so your plants can soak in more light, and give any brown tips a trim as these tend to appear more during winter.

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Should you fertilize your plants in the winter?

One of the most common questions our customers ask us is if they should continue fertilizing their plants in the winter. While we are big proponents of regularly feeding indoor plants, there are a few things to know when it comes to boosting their nutrient intake in the winter.

When to fertilize indoor plants

The general rule of thumb when it comes to feeding your plants is to only do it when they are actively growing. Most indoor plants are actively growing during the spring and summer, which is why we recommend fertilizing 1-2 times a month between April and September.

Why You Might Still Fertilize in the winter

Even though most plants see the majority of their growth in the spring and summer, some plants will continue to show new growth well into the winter months--especially if you live in an area that sees mild, sunny winters. Feeding your plants when they are actively growing will help support this new growth and result in fuller, more beautiful foliage. 

Which fertilizer should you use?

Our all-natural plant food, Boost Vitaminé, is a mild and effective formula specially designed for indoor greenery. Whether or not your plant is actively growing, you can use it up to one time per month in the winter during your regular watering routine.

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