It’s no secret that houseplants can help clear the air in your home, making it easier and healthier for you to breathe. This can be especially important during the winter months, when we have fewer opportunities to open our windows and get the fresh air inside.

With that in mind, here are some tips for making sure your houseplants survive the winter!

Resist Overwatering

Even though your plants are inside during the winter, they can tell that there has been a drop in temperatures, and as a result, many houseplants will slow down their growth rate during the winter months. Because of this, you can water your plants less frequently, because they will be absorbing less water. You can always tell if your plant needs water by putting the tip of your finger about one inch deep into the soil to see if it’s dry.

Change Windows

During the summer, the sun may fill some windows in your house with light, but this will undoubtedly change come winter because of the earth’s rotation. If your plants have been happy near one window during the summer, you may want to consider moving them so they still get ample light during the winter. You should also rotate your plants so they grow evenly on all sides.

Don’t Fertilize

Whether you fertilize or not during the summer, you should definitely stop during the winter. Most plants grow healthier, fuller and put out more flowers or fruits with the help of a good fertilizer. But because plants don’t grow as much during the winter, fertilizer is unnecessary. You can start fertilizing again in the spring.

Clean Your Plants

It might seem silly to clean a plant, but when plants are indoors, they can become covered in dust. Dust can clog the plant’s pores, which makes absorbing nutrients and sunlight much harder for them. Take a damp cloth and wipe down your plant’s leaves every week or two. Cleaning can also help prevent pests.

Turn Up the Humidity

For most of us, the winter weather means dry air. Dry air in your home doesn’t just affect you and your family’s health, but the health of your plants as well. Most houseplants need a humidity level of 40 percent to stay at their healthiest, while your home may only be at about 10 or 20 percent. You can easily invest in a humidifier, either for your whole home or for one area, or consider misting your plants regularly to keep them happy.

Maintain the Temperature

Your houseplants can be sensitive to your home’s temperature, so try to maintain a temperature that encourages them to keep thriving. During the day, this can be between 65 and 75 degrees, while nighttime temperatures can be 10 to 15 degrees cooler. If the temperature in your home fluctuates too much, it can be damaging to their health, so keep them away from heaters, drafty windows or fireplaces.

Prune Your Plants

Over time, you’ll start to notice leaves or flowers on your houseplants start to turn brown and die off. This is a normal part of a houseplant’s life cycle, as new growth dies to make room for new growth. That’s why it’s so important to prune your houseplants through the winter. It doesn’t just keep them looking attractive, it also helps to make room for new buds. Most houseplants are easy enough to prune with your fingers!

Stocking up on houseplants isn’t the only way you can improve the air quality in your home. At Bryan’s Fuel, we offer a wide range of whole-home air quality solutions.