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Indoor houseplants feed, drink, and need warmth as any other living thing. This is the reason why many houseplants die out during the winter. If you have houseplants that strive during winter, they could light and transform your home with their green foliage.
It is important to remember that as the weather changes, so do the growth requirements of your plants.
When choosing indoor plants, be mindful of their care requirements and see what is needed for them to thrive during the cold winters. Here are 10 hardy winter houseplants along with a few easy-care tips that will take the hassle away from your indoor winter gardening.
Jade Plant
Also called “Friendship Plant”, this popular succulent is a great houseplant. The Jade plant can also be given as a housewarming gift which symbolizes good fortune and wealth.
The Jade plant doesn’t need much maintenance and care and grows well even during the winter months. Put the Jade plant in a south-facing window from which it receives direct sunlight or full sun for about 4 weeks every day. Just reduce the watering to once every couple of weeks and don’t overwater it, while always keeping the soil moist.
Christmas Cactus
Christmas cactus is a cheery houseplant that adds color to the winter season, and décor for the Christmas season. The exotic and colorful flowers bloom just when the holiday season arrives.
Being an easy houseplant to care for, even beginners can grow Christmas cacti well. This plant prefers humid conditions, so use a mist spray or put it on a pebble tray. Although it can grow in low light conditions too, try to put it in a place with bright and indirect light. Don’t overwater it but keep the soil evenly moist.
Moth Orchid
Growing a moth orchid is not as difficult as it may sound. It is an indoor plant that needs very little care and maintenance. It is a hardy plant that can thrive in harsh winter weather. This plant reblooms when night temperatures become lower and can tolerate low light conditions. It likes growing in dry places, so don’t overwater it, especially in winter.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Originating from the tropical forests of West Africa, Fiddle leaf figs prefer growing in warm, damp, and smoggy weather. It proves to be a great houseplant as it needs little maintenance.
Just place your Fiddle leaf figs where they can get bundles of sunlight. Water the plant carefully during winters, since the evaporation is slow, the soil could become soggy. Watering once a month is right for Fiddle leaf figs.
Aloe Vera
Being full of health benefits, Aloe vera is an easy-to-grow succulent, thus making it a popular houseplant that could survive winters while adding greenery to your indoors. Aloe vera gel is good for treating sunburns, irritations, cuts, and burns and is also beneficial for hair health. It has air-purifying properties.
Aloe vera grows well even if it is ignored, but it needs at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. This plant cannot grow in standing water, so water it only when the soil becomes dry. For the best growth of Aloe Vera, don’t place it near doors, drafty areas, and air conditioning vents.
Philodendrons
This is one of the toughest houseplants, that is very hard to kill. It does well in low-light conditions and needs minimum attention.
Put the plant in a place where it gets bright, indirect sunlight, and water it when the soil is half dry, perhaps once every two weeks. To promote better growth and the leaves becoming large, it is good to put them in a humid place, such as the bathroom. To create humidity, you may use a pebble tray, humidifier, or mist spray.
Dragon Tree
If you need a beautiful tall houseplant that needs little maintenance, then Dragon tree is for you. It makes a great winter plant for your indoors. The unique look of the plant and its growth up to 6 feet indoors make it a cherished houseplant.
Dragon Tree is drought-tolerant because of an aggressive root system, thus becoming super hardy and will survive tough weather conditions. Although it can grow well in low-light settings, it grows best in bright, filtered sunlight. Water it just when the topsoil feels dry to the touch, perhaps once a week. Use a pebble tray or mist the leaves from time to time to keep these plants hydrated.
ZZ Plant
The shiny and rich green leaves of the ZZ plant make it appear like a fake plant. With its low maintenance needs and being able to survive with little care, it makes one of the best winter houseplants.
Although it can survive in bright, fluorescent light or low-light conditions, it loves to grow in bright, indirect sunlight. People having no windows at home or in low light conditions can preferably grow the ZZ plant. This plant is less likely to die even if not watered for months but will most definitely die if the soil is soggy and the roots rot. So remember not to overwater your ZZ plant.
Snake Plant
The stiff upright leaves can grow long or stay short, and these plants require very low maintenance. An additional benefit of snake plants is their air purification powers which make them a great winter plant for your home. Be mindful when watering your snake plant and water it when the soil is almost dry.
This could take anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks, depending upon the temperature, light levels, and humidity. Since snake plants can thrive in low-light places, they are great houseplants.
Rubber Tree
The last on our list is one of the easiest to grow and care for and will make a great winter houseplant. It can tolerate different conditions, but the only thing it dislikes is a location change. So don’t plan to move your rubber tree.
Choose a place close to a window with a sheer curtain, so that it grows well from the start. Don’t overwater it during the winter, check the dryness level of the soil before watering, but watering needs would be different during other seasons. Spray the leaves with water to provide a humid condition for the plant
Care Tips for Plants in Winter
Some common maintenance tips for plants during the colder months are:
- Plants need to be watered less frequently as the soil dries out slowly and growth slows down
- Apply lesser fertilizers since the plant needs lesser nutrients because of slower growth
- Reduce feeding the plant to half the amount in warmer weather
- Never water the plants with cold water. Cold water can slow down the growth process or even kill the plants
- In case you overwater the plant, remove the excess water from the pot and change the soil. Report the plant in dry soil and prune it if needed.
- Put the plants in well-lit places around the house, where they will get maximum sunlight. But don’t put them where they get cold winds close to the windows or doorways.
Wrapping Up
If you plan to get houseplants for the winter season, remember to choose the right plants as not all plants could survive the cold temperatures and many go into the dormant period. Look for plants that are hardy that can survive the cold winters with minimum care requirements.
With our recommended 10 hardy winter houseplants, you could brighten your home and add some greenery during winter. Whichever plant you choose for the winter, will create a beautiful aura in your house with the green foliage. Just follow the care tips mentioned above to keep growing indoor plants all through the cold winter months.
