How to care for ornamental plants in cold weather

Watering properly or protecting ornamental plants when the weather is too cold are factors that determine their healthy growth during the cold season.

During cold weather, plants are easily weakened, their roots die, and their leaves turn yellow. Bonsai trees are inherently not used to harsh weather, so you need to change the tree care regimen compared to other seasons of the year.

Caring for ornamental plants in cold winter weather

According to The Spruce , for ornamental plants to live healthy during the cold season, you need to ensure the following factors:

Provide enough light

Providing enough light is the secret to caring for ornamental plants in cold winter weather. (Photo: sunset Magazine)

In the cold season, not only does the number of hours of sunlight decrease, but the rays also shine at a lower angle. You can move indoor plants to a brighter place or supplement the lighting by shining a lamp on the plant.

The best location is a window facing south or west, where there is sunshine all day. However, don’t keep plants too close to windows during cold weather because they can be exposed to drafts.

The pot should be rotated regularly to ensure that all sides of the plant receive some sunlight and grow evenly. Otherwise, some branches will stretch longer to reach the light.

Layers of dust on plant leaves can also reduce the amount of light the leaves receive. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dirt and help the plant absorb light better in winter.

Reduce watering

During winter, most plants require less water. Therefore, you should check to see if the soil is dry or not before adding water to the plant. (Photo: Better Homes & Gardens)

During the cold season, most plants need less water. Although the air is drier in winter, plants also grow more slowly, so you don’t need to water too much to avoid root rot.

Remember that different plants have different water needs. Drought-tolerant cacti and other succulents may not need watering at all, while some tropical plants may still need fairly frequent watering.

The soil on the top of a plant pot may dry out more quickly during the winter months, but that is not a sign that the plant needs water. Press your finger into the soil to determine if the soil is dry or not before adding water to the plant.

When watering, you should use warm water instead of cold water. Warm water helps accelerate the decomposition of organic fertilizer, providing enough nutrients to leaves and stems in a timely manner. If watered with cold water, the root temperature will be low, the nutrient decomposition process will be slower, causing nutrient deficiencies and affecting plant growth.

The appropriate water temperature for watering plants is about 25-35 degrees Celsius. The appropriate time to water plants in the cold season is at 2-3 p.m.

Maintain appropriate humidity

You can place the pot on a gravel tray filled with water to increase the humidity of the plant without causing root rot. (Photo: The Spruce)

Low air humidity can be the biggest obstacle houseplants have to overcome during the winter. To increase your plants’ humidity, if you have a humidifier in your home, move your plants to where they can enjoy its benefits.

If you don’t have a humidifier, you can place the plant on or near a tray of water. However, do not leave the plant directly in water; Place pebbles or rocks in the tray to raise the bottom of the pot above the water level in the tray and place the pot on top of the rocks. This will help increase humidity without causing root rot.

Additionally, you can also spray mist to increase humidity for the plant.

Protect bonsai from cold wind

This is also important when taking care of ornamental plants in cold winter weather. Keep your plants away from cold drafts from windows and doors. If you live in a cold climate, bring the potted plant indoors during the winter.

Note about fertilizing

Most houseplants do not need fertilizer in the winter because they do not grow as strongly during this time. Fertilizing will upset their natural cycle. When you start to see signs of new growth or the leaves appear to be greening up, fertilize to give the plant enough vigor for the next growing season.