As someone who’s killed many succulents, I’m here to give you expert advice on how to keep your houseplants alive during the winter.
Here are some basics, though you might need species-specific tips for pickier plants:
- Manage your expectations: they’re getting less light, but they’re still doing their best. They’re just not going to grow as much as they do in the summer.
- Consider supplementing for lost sunlight by checking out options for artificial lighting.
- Treat your plants like they’re in the desert (which they are). A.K.A., don’t overwater them. In faster growth periods, plants need more water and nutrients. If they’re not going to use the water, overwatering can lead to root rot.
- Similarly, hold off on the fertilizer. They only need it when they’re growing, and too much can fry them to a crisp.
- You’re probably going to have your heater on most of the winter, which dries out our already thirsty Idaho air. So put plants close together and consider using a humidifier. After all, most indoor plants are tropical plants, so low humidity can lead to lots of problems.
