how to keep indoor tropical plants alive in winter

Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. In a low-sided tray, place a shallow layer of pebbles. Often our heated homes become quite dry, which can cause plants to lose moisture quickly. These are generally bulbous growths at the base of the stem. You might be in luck if you have a plant that tolerates low light like the Sanseveria. Every month, check your regrowing material. Talk to the people at your favorite nursery about what to expect from a plant during winters in your area. Having plants around your home is great all year round. bloom for next year. Each plant will have its own ideal temperature range, but most kinds of tropical plant suffer damage when exposed to frost or temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Nevertheless, most banana plants like it hot, and if you don’t live in USDA Hardiness Zone 9 or higher, you may wonder how you can add one of these tropical beauties to your landscape and keep it alive over winter.. Let’s learn more! You can always shave excess dirt off a root ball with your shovel, but it will be impossible to reattach a severed root. Another concern for growing tropical plants indoors is the dry air in winter. To avoid stressing them, bring indoors at the first sign of cool evening temps. Indoor plants, whether they are year-round houseplants or plants you brought inside to over-winter, can be affected by factors such as temperatures that fluctuate from daytime heat to evening chill, dry air, short days, and limited light. Leave the dirt outside. The spray cleans off the leaves, too. : Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) trees are great patio plants with showy flowers. Just be sure to place the heater several feet away from your plants to prevent damage. Tropical plants are vibrant, colorful additions to your garden. So light is a necessity if you intend to keep your tropicals alive and actively growing all winter. For best results, you should transplant most plants in the evening, while nighttime temperatures are still in the 50°F (10°C) range. The exact frequency you'll be watering is influenced by many factors, though, including how warm or cool your home is, the humidity levels, how big your hibiscus is, how big its pot is, type of potting mix, etc. Keep your plant in the same location. Most sun loving tropical plants have similar requirements during the late fall and winter months. Easy-care plants that do best indoors are generally varieties prized for their foliage and that can handle lower light conditions indoors. Your plants will thrive in spots that have both the right amount of sunlight and a consistently mild temperature. Get good coverage of the leaves (top and bottom) and remember to spray under the rim of the pot too! There are lots of opportunities to consider and important decisions to make before the main event. Like I mentioned above, most indoor plants are from tropical regions of the world, and they can’t stand the cold. Plants should be sprayed with soapy water (5mL dish soap – not detergent – to 1 L of water) before they are brought inside for the winter. Watch for pests. Once indoors, place hibiscus in bright light with some direct sunlight daily. Everyone’s home and climate is different. After you put them in the ground, add a nice, thick layer of mulch for extra insulation. Having the right houseplant winter survival tips keeps your plants alive until spring. Here's the secret to keeping your houseplants alive this winter Listen up, plant parents. Under 50 degrees and they’re less than happy. "Extreme changes can stress plants out," The Sill, an online plant service, warns. Do read the label as some plants including dracaena and ferns don’t fare well with this product on their leaves. Keep this in mind and take the necessary steps and you’ll have an indoor garden that lasts. They deliver color, form, and texture you can count on in the garden. If possible, try to mimic the temperature and conditions … The Biggest Challenges in Winter Houseplant Care. A good rule of thumb is to begin preparing to bring plants indoors when the temperature reaches around 50 to 60°F (10 to 15.6°C). Remove any rotting plants soon as any signs show. If you live in tropical or subtropical regions, winter plant care is not as important a consideration but if you live in temperate climes, like we do in Melbourne, and are growing tropical plants – most indoor plants – you’ll need to give them a little more support over winter to ensure they can cope with the cold. It’s a fun process, but oh-so-slow, so prepare to be patient. And, feed less often. This was the first year we have had it and not through winter. Nov 17, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Raffaele | Ohio Tropics Housep. It’s not the end, it’s just the beginning of a trip to your favorite garden center for new indoor plants. This keeps the plant dormant but the plants never freeze. Make sure to reinforce the inside of your container with a plastic saucer so they don’t leak. All Rights Reserved. These can stay outside a little longer to take full advantage of the sunlight. Removing the struggling parts of a plant will encourage healthy growth elsewhere. Succulents can often go quite a long time in the winter without water, especially if temperatures are cooler indoors. (Check out aspca.org for pet friendly options.). Here, we’ll offer three ways you can protect and preserve your banana plant over the winter months: Just keep an eye on your plants and watch for signs of stress. However, for them to be effective, plants need to be cared for during these months, as well. How to keep your indoor plants alive through the winter 1. My favorite garden center tells me I didn’t name you and you’re not part of my family, so it’s okay to let some of you go to the compost with the frost. Know that growth and blooms on overwintered tropicals will appear later in the season then a grab-and-go container from the garden center. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Make a humidity tray for plants to add moisture to the air. Tropical hibiscus, jasmine, bougainvillea and small citrus trees will do quite well indoors if they’re in a bright spot where temperatures are at least 60 degrees. Keeping Your Banana Plant Alive. Err on the side of caution when digging. To prevent unexpected plant death, you may want to research the tropical plants you wish to save. Hop over to the summer plant care tips instead. Spray your tropical plants with a fine mist of water every day when they’re indoors to maintain the humidity they need. Only one site said to keep it cool & dark to produce Ease the stress by learning the basics of how to take care of indoor plants in winter. Keep tropical hibiscus in a cool, dark location where the temperature remains near 50 F, such as an unheated garage or a basement. When I would bring my Tropic Escape hibiscus in for winter, I ended up watering it about once a week or so. An open letter to tropical plants and their owners: Thank you for being beautiful and flowery and leafy all summer long. You have cared for your plants and watched them grow and flower. This article here covers the specifics of winter houseplant care. Well, lo and behold, I actually have a green thumb. By: Lucinda Gunnin 21 September, 2017. Putting your plant in this kind of location will trick it into thinking it's still in its growing season. You made me look good as I cared for you with ease. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,781 times. Tropical hibiscus plants are only perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11 unless you protect them during winter dormancy. Indoor plants make our homes beautiful, but they can also be more work during the wintertime. You owe it to your fragile specimen to keep it alive. One of my favorite things to do with my husband is to go plant shopping. Increase the light. How to prepare your plants for winter depends greatly on the type of plants that you have and what the winter weather is like in the region in which you live. There are how to protect tropical plants in the winter steps you can take. In cold climates, keep the humidity below 30 percent to avoid condensation on your windows. Then, carefully dig up the plant. Some plants may take up to two months to start regrowing. For cold-climate dwellers, it may come as a surprise that succulents and cactus can actually handle a little cold. But in the middle of winter, when the days are cold and gray, and the house is dry, your houseplants can have real trouble to survive. This article has been viewed 3,781 times. If you have tight space constraints, you may want to lightly prune away large limbs or growths. You put on a splendid performance in both the garden and in containers in which you were planted. PREV: Tips for Bringing Ferns Indoors for Winter, http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/, Beautiful Branches: Grow a room with a view, Long-Blooming Perennials for a More Beautiful Landscape. If possible, find a small spot in the garden or yard to relocate your plants temporarily for the winter. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/aid8307933-v4-728px-Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"