Indoor plants, as in living organisms, activity alternates with rest. In each case, the flowers require completely different care. At first, they need to be watered and fed frequently. In the second, on the contrary, water is given a minimum, and fertilizers are either not applied at all, or only half of the norm is used. Failure to comply with this rule, as a result, will most likely lead to illness or even death of the plant. Here you will get answers to how often to water indoor plants in winter and some related questions.
how often to water indoor plants in winter?
Many growers do not know exactly how often to water indoor plants in winter. Plants need very little water in the cold season, because they actually rest and almost do not use up the accumulated resources.
For this reason, watering is done irregularly, but only when necessary. It is much more important to ensure constant aeration of the soil – it is more often loosened.
Moreover, certain varieties of indoor plants do not need watering at all in winter. These include:
• succulents;
• most types of cacti.
Even during the active growing season, they need only a minimal intake of liquid. This rule is suitable for the vast majority of decorative indoor crops. They need active watering from early spring to late autumn. In the cold season, irrigation is carried out moderately and only when necessary, which is indicated, in particular, by the drying of the soil to a depth of 10 millimeters.
What is the best way to water plants that continue to bloom? As in other cases, preference is given to settled (for 1-3 days) water. Active feeding of flowers that are at rest is not needed.
Almost all flowering plants require a slightly moist soil. At the same time, excessive dampness is destructive for them.
An important point! Before you water the flower, make sure the soil is really dry and deep in the pot. Often, a crust forms on the ground, under which moisture stagnates, therefore, excessive irrigation can lead to root rot.
If your air is too dry at home, take care of humidifying it – which, by the way, will benefit you personally. For this:
• install containers with water near the radiator;
• put a wet cloth on it;
• spray liquid with a spray bottle.
To minimize the effects of a hot battery, place a sheet of Styrofoam or regular cooking foil over the flower-filled windowsill.
In general, if possible, move the flowerpots away from radiators. If this is not possible, then put the pots in wide plates, having previously poured ordinary expanded clay into them. Additionally, a little water is poured into it, so that it does not touch the bottom of the container in which the flower grows.
How do you take care of indoor plants in the winter?
Quite often, flowers growing on the windowsill, looking beautiful and luxuriant in summer, become frail and stunted in winter. Their foliage actively turns yellow, and sometimes completely falls off. For the most part, this has nothing to do with diseases or improper watering – the whole point is that an unfavorable period has simply come for the plant, and it goes into a state of stasis.
As you know, in winter there is very little sunlight, and, accordingly, flowers cannot normally carry out photosynthesis. At the same time, the included heating reduces the air humidity, which many plants really do not like. As a result, the water from the pots evaporates literally in a matter of hours, and the lack of it negatively affects the overall health of flowers.
In winter, the hostess is required to constantly collect fallen leaves and dried buds – this will prevent the development of many diseases. It is also necessary once a week:
• clean the dust;
• rinse under the shower;
• wipe with a damp sponge.
Should I fertilize indoor plants in winter?
Some Internet users advise feeding flowers and indoor plants with castor oil. Is this idea really good? Let’s think logically. Plants feed on substances that dissolve in water. But oil is fat that simply cannot mix with liquid. Therefore, it is not absorbed. That is, adding castor oil to the soil, we only contribute to its accumulation, which is guaranteed to lead to the death of the flower. Exactly the same thing happens if you water the plants with milk, because it, in fact, is a fat emulsion.
You should not reinvent the wheel, but use ready-made fertilizing solutions that are sold in a large assortment, in all specialized stores without exception.
Throughout the winter, feeding is given no more than once a month. In this case, use half of the standard dose indicated in the instructions. At the same time, plants blooming in winter are watered and fertilized in the same way as usual.
How do I protect my plants from frost in the winter?
Flowers and indoor plants need fresh air, so the room where they grow is regularly ventilated. In this case, it is important to ensure the indirect supply of oxygen, that is, it is recommended to open a window in the next room.
Froast are also dangerous to flowers, especially if it blows out of window cracks many of them simply cannot withstand extreme changes and die. But cacti endure such troubles without difficulty.
The normal temperature regime for winter is 14-20 degrees Celsius.
Why are plants dormant during the winter?
Many flowers noticeably reduce their activity in winter. Most of their physiological processes almost completely stop.
There are two types of rest:
• forced;
• organic.
In the first case, slowing down becomes a response to unfavorable conditions. Basically we are talking about:
• lack of light;
• uncomfortable temperature;
• deficiency or excess of moisture.
Organic rest is the result of evolution. Dormant plants are best taken to the basement or taken to rooms with a temperature of at least 12 degrees.
As a rule, flowers (depending on the species) stay in this state from 1 to 3 months. Here, minimal watering is required just enough water is given so that the soil is slightly damp.
Summery
We are hopeful that you have got answer to your question how often to water indoor plants in winter and other as well. if you have any suggestion please let us know in comments.
