Winter Is Coming, Are Your Ferns Ready?

The leaves are changing color and falling all around the neighborhood.  While the outdoors is awash in the gorgeous hues of fall, the plants inside your home are, however, looking sad and droopy.  Winter is coming and you need to get your indoor oasis ready for the season.   Just like the plants outside, winter is a time of rest and recuperation for those that are kept in pots inside.  They still need basic care but not as much as they would during peak growing season in the spring.  Indoor plants need less moisture during the winter, so cut back on the watering.  If the soil is dry when you place your finger one inch into it, then let the water flow.  Otherwise, you could be overwatering, which can cause soil to become too saturated and can also cause the roots to rot.  In addition, indoor plants do not need as much food or fertilizer, so hold off on feedings until spring comes around.  Just like in your outdoor garden, this is also the time of year to go ahead and prune your indoor plant in preparation for spring.  

If your indoor plants are looking a little down, they may just need a change of scenery, as in a different window sill to sit on.  Throughout the year, the sun changes angles thus changing the amount of sun that your plants may be receiving if they sit in only one window all year long.  Moving the plant to a new location may give the added sunlight it needs during the winter.  Also, don’t forget to rotate the plant so that all sides get a little bit of the rays.  Indoor plants do not like great fluctuations in temperature, so be sure to place your plants away from major heat sources, like the fireplace or stove.  The last thing you should consider is a good sponge bath.  Just like us, dust, dirt and grime can clog a plant’s pores and make it hard for the plant to absorb the nutrients it needs to grow.  This is a great time of the year for you to mark on your calendars to give your houseplants a gentle cleaning with a damp cloth.  Besides removing debris, it is a great time to inspect the plant for and to get rid of any unwanted pests.