03 December 2023 , 09:30
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Winter is a confusing time for plants because the usual 'water and go' will not be enough for even the most low maintenance greenery in your home.
Temperatures are constantly changing, there is a lack of sunlight, central heating leads to dry air - our poor houseplants are suffering.
However, according to experts there is a perfect hack to keep all your houseplants alive this winter - and it won't cost you a penny.
Chris Bonnett, from Gardening Express told the Metro: "While heating keeps us cosy and warm, it can cause harm to our precious houseplants. The dry, heated air can parch your plants, leaving them stressed and vulnerable."
Whilst Chris isn’t saying the heating needs to remain off this winter for the sake of houseplants, he is encouraging plant owners to keep plants at a distance from radiators and areas where it's particularly drafty.
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He said: "This doesn’t mean that you should avoid using heating, it's just important to be more vigilant with plant care and create a comfortable environment for houseplants to thrive during winter."
Chris encouraged plant parents to find spots in the home where plants are kept "away from heat sources, yet maintain a safe distance from windows to shield them from chilly drafts."
Depending on budgets a humidifier can be helpful when it comes to keeping plants healthy, however if this is not on the cards then moving plants into the bathroom during a shower or hot bath could help the plants thrive.
Putting plants closer together will also create a microenvironment with higher humidity, allowing the plants to survive this is because plants experience increased moisture through transpiration.
Meanwhile, heating can dry out plants quickly so checking soil moisture regularly, and watering plants when the top inch is dry could be the best approach.
Keeping plants away from cold drafts by windows or doors will help keep them healthy this winter too.