Houseplant care in winter: how to keep your plants alive until spring
Winter is when most houseplants die, and it is rarely the cold that does it. Short, dull days slow their growth right down, but we keep watering them as if it were summer, then park them next to a radiator or on a freezing windowsill. A few small changes in October get almost any plant through to spring.
Short answer: water less, only when the top 2-3cm of compost is dry, which for many plants means half as often as in summer. Stop feeding from October to March unless the plant is flowering. Move plants closer to your brightest window, but not touching the glass, and keep them away from radiators and cold draughts. Group plants together to raise humidity, and wait until spring to repot.
Why winter is hard on houseplants
- Less light. A UK window in December gives a fraction of the light it does in June, so plants grow slowly and use far less water.
- Dry air. Central heating dries the air, which browns the leaf tips of tropical plants such as calatheas and ferns.
- Temperature swings. A windowsill can be warm by day and close to freezing at night, especially behind closed curtains.
Watering: the big one
Overwatering is the most common way to kill a houseplant in winter. With little light, roots take up water slowly, compost stays wet for longer, and the roots rot. Check before you water: push a finger into the compost, and water only when the top 2-3cm feels dry. Lifting the pot helps too, since a dry pot feels noticeably lighter. Our guide on how to tell if a plant needs water goes into more detail.
- Most leafy houseplants: roughly every 10-14 days, but let the compost tell you.
- Cacti and succulents: barely at all, perhaps once a month or less.
- Winter-flowering plants (cyclamen, Christmas cactus, poinsettia, moth orchids): keep watering normally, since they are actively growing.
Use water at room temperature, and empty saucers and decorative pots after 15 minutes so roots never sit in water.
Light: move them closer
Spots that were too bright in summer are often perfect in winter. A south-facing windowsill that would scorch a plant in July is usually ideal from November to February. Move plants a little closer to the window, dust the leaves so they catch what light there is, and turn pots a quarter turn every week or two so they do not lean. If a room is genuinely dark, an LED grow light on a timer makes a real difference.
Temperature: radiators and cold glass
Most common houseplants are happy between about 15°C and 24°C, and many tropical plants are damaged below about 10°C.
- Keep plants off and away from radiators. Direct heat dries compost and leaves fast, causing crispy brown edges.
- Mind the windowsill at night. Leaves touching cold glass can scorch, and closing curtains traps plants in a cold pocket. Move them into the room in the evening, or pull them back from the glass.
- Avoid draughts from doors that open often. Sudden cold makes plants such as weeping figs drop leaves.
Humidity
Group plants together, since they raise the humidity around each other. Standing pots on a tray of wet pebbles helps a little, as long as the pot sits above the water. Misting only raises humidity for a few minutes. Ferns, calatheas and other humidity lovers often do best in a bright bathroom or kitchen. A small humidifier is the most effective option if you have a lot of tropical plants.
Feeding and repotting
Stop feeding most houseplants from about October to March. They are barely growing, and unused fertiliser builds up in the compost and can burn the roots. The exceptions are plants in flower or in active growth. Leave repotting until spring, March or April, when plants start growing again and can recover quickly.
Winter problems: what is going on?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow lower leaves, wet compost | Overwatering | Let the compost dry out, then water less often |
| Crispy brown leaf tips | Dry air or a nearby radiator | Move away from heat, group plants |
| Pale, stretched, leggy growth | Too little light | Move closer to a window or add a grow light |
| Sudden leaf drop | Cold draught or a big temperature change | Find a steadier, draught-free spot |
| Fine webbing, speckled leaves | Spider mites, which love dry air | Shower the plant, raise humidity, isolate it |
| Tiny black flies around the pot | Fungus gnats in wet compost | Let the compost dry out between waterings |
| Soft, blackened leaves after a cold night | Chilling or frost damage near glass | Move into the room and trim damaged growth later |
If tiny flies are the problem, see our guide on how to get rid of fungus gnats.
Going away for Christmas?
Most houseplants cope happily with one or two weeks alone in winter, since they use so little water. Water them the day before you leave, move them off cold windowsills and away from radiators, and group them together in a bright spot. If you turn the heating down, keep it high enough that the house does not drop below about 10-12°C.
Winter houseplant questions
How often should I water houseplants in winter?
Less often than in summer, and only when the top 2-3cm of compost is dry. For many leafy houseplants that is roughly every 10-14 days, and for cacti and succulents once a month or less. Winter-flowering plants need watering as normal.
Should I feed houseplants in winter?
No, not most of them. Stop feeding from around October to March while growth is slow. Plants that are flowering in winter, such as cyclamen and moth orchids, can still have a little feed.
Why are my houseplants dying in winter?
Usually overwatering combined with low light, which rots the roots. Other common causes are heat from radiators, cold windowsills at night and draughts.
Can houseplants be near a radiator?
Not directly next to or above one. Radiator heat dries out leaves and compost quickly and causes brown, crispy edges. Keep plants at least a metre away where you can.
Is it too cold for houseplants on a windowsill in winter?
It can be at night, especially behind closed curtains or with single glazing. Keep leaves off the glass and move tender plants into the room overnight in cold spells.
Should I mist my houseplants in winter?
Misting only raises humidity for a few minutes. Grouping plants, using a pebble tray or running a humidifier helps more. Avoid misting plants with hairy leaves, such as African violets.
When should I repot houseplants?
In spring, March or April, when plants start growing again. Repotting in winter disturbs roots when the plant cannot recover quickly.
Get winter care right for every plant 🪴
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