Keep indoor garden healthy

Gardeners who have house plants are lucky. In the dead of winter, while everyone else is going stir-crazy, we have our little green in-house therapists to listen to our rants over not seeing the sun, or anything green, without passing judgment. They don’t even send us a bill. The only payment houseplants require is a little TLC for the winter

To keep your little green therapists happy, resist the urge to lavish attention on them. Like outdoor plants, indoor plants have either gone dormant or are resting until the light levels increase again in the spring. Their need for water and fertilizer has slowed in response.

Drink and thrive: Overwatering is the biggest issue for houseplants in the winter. Because they aren’t actively growing, they aren’t using as much water. You might think you are doing them a favor when you water but the sad truth is they probably haven’t finished the last drink they got. Unfortunately, the symptoms for overwatering; drooping and yellowing leaves are basically the same as those for underwatering.

Different plants need differing amounts of moisture. Plants with thick leaves will not need to be watered as often as plants with thin leaves.

To check for moisture, lift a pot to see how heavy it feels. If it seems light, it is probably ready to water. Confirm this by inserting a finger into the dirt down to the first joint (to the second joint for large pots). If it’s dry to that depth it’s time to water. Do not solely rely on a moisture meter as they are often inaccurate.

If the plants seem to dry out frequently, you may need to raise the humidity around them. Group them together on a tray filled with gravel. Add water to the gravel and let it evaporate naturally. Mist plants often to help this process. If the children are almost over any sickness requiring a humidifier, set it up near your plants and run it periodically.

Let it shine: Most houseplants need good light through the winter. This time of year you can place most plants close to south or west-facing windows. The low winter sun is not as intense and the plants can handle it.

If you don’t have windows that face south or west, suspend a grow light about two feet above them. The grow light can be an inexpensive four-foot long florescent tube fixture.

Climate control: Keep houseplants out of warm and cold drafts. Warm air from furnace ducts can quickly dry out leaves and soil. Other plants are very sensitive to cold drafts and will turn yellow and drop leaves when exposed to them.

Don’t overfeed: Resist feeding or repotting plants until the middle of February when light levels have begun to rise. They aren’t growing actively so they can’t take advantage of the nutrients or extra room until then. Once new growth begins to appear, begin feeding with a quality fertilizer.