Houseplants are the latest obsession among urban home set-ups and there are several reasons why. For starters, indoor plants brighten up the interior and help purify the air you breathe in. But come winters and plant owners find themselves in a fix. After all, winter planting can be tricky, even for experienced plant parents. Cold weather is a rough time for your plants and without proper care, they may not be able to live through the season. The good part is, there are several plants out there that require minimal care to thrive in the winter season!
10 Best Winter Plants To Upgrade Your Home Garden
Don’t let the harsh weather dampen your dream of having a greener indoor space. Here are some plants you can use to upgrade your home this winter season!
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are among the most popular fruits that grow in winter. And although not a common choice, this plant can also be grown as an indoor plant. For this purpose, all you need is a big pot, a sunny spot, and stakes or cages ( for supporting the branches as the plant grows). Since they are easier to grow in a pot, go for a compact variety if you are planning to grow tomatoes indoors.
It won’t be too long before the plant sprouts and matures. Moreover, you don’t have to put in a lot of care at the initial stage when the seeds are sown. You may consider transferring your tomato. Plant outdoors once the weather is warm enough.
2. Coriander
Another top contender in the list of herbs and vegetables that grow in winter is coriander. With a little extra care and attention to sun exposure, growing coriander indoors can be quite rewarding.
Split the coriander seeds and sow them in the pot (½ to 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart). Make sure you are gentle while watering once the seeds are potted. Since coriander seeds are on the surface, excessive watering may prove to be damaging.
The plant will need about 4 to 5 hours of sun every day and needs to be watered only when the soil is dry to touch. Spinach, carrot, radish, lettuce and cabbage are few other top contenders in the list of winter vegetables to grow at home.
3. Petunia
Placing a blooming flowering plant in it can make any room look happy and vibrant! And when it comes to winter flowering plants, petunia is one of the most popular choices. Petunia is a hassle-free houseplant, which grows pretty quickly and does not require much attention. Once-a-week watering and five hours of sunlight each day are enough to keep it healthy during the season.
Petunias are the perfect winter flowering plants for pots and hanging planters and come in a range of colours including red, pink, yellow, purple and pink.
4. Croton
From a drab living room to dull a dining area, this decorative house plant can help you spruce up any space in your house. It has beautiful, leathery multicoloured leaves that come in various colours including green, orange, yellow red and black.
The most popular varieties of this plant include banana crotons, broadleaf croton, petra croton. gold dust croton and oak leaf croton. Croton is an ideal option in winter plants for pots because it does not need much looking after. Just place your plant in a spot that receives bright light and water it only when the soil feels dry.
5. Jade Plant
This plant with glossy and fleshy green leaves will add a classy touch to your interiors. The beauty of this plant is further elevated by pink and white flowers that bloom from winter to spring. Moreover, the jade plant is also considered to be a symbol of good luck.
This houseplant is easy to keep, doesn’t need much watering and thrives in medium light. Make sure you place it near a south-east facing window where it will receive adequate sunlight for optimum growth.
6. Aloe Vera
Known for its medicinal properties, aloe vera is another common houseplant that is widely found in Indian homes. This stemless, succulent is pretty easy to look after, making it an ideal indoor plant. All you have to do is make sure you don’t water the plant excessively or keep it in the sun for too long.
Since it is a succulent plant, aloe vera plant requires dry conditions to thrive. Make sure that the soil is absolutely dry before watering your plant. Place the pot near a south or west-facing window to make sure the plant receives ample sunlight.
7. Marigold
When it comes to flowers that grow in winters, marigold is an excellent choice! This easy to grow annual flowering plant blooms from mid-summer till winter and comes in a wide range of sizes and colours.
Winter flowering plants like marigold require adequate care and occasional watering. Place your marigold plant pot in a sunny spot (preferably a south-facing window) as it needs around 6 hours of sunlight on every day. If that’s not an option, you can use a grow light instead.
8. Snake Plant
Next up in the list of easy-to-keep winter season plants is the snake plant, which is a great option for newbie ‘plant parents.’ Its ornamental beauty and minimum care requirement make it an ideal indoor plant.
This sturdy succulent can thrive in bright as well as low sunlight and dry soil conditions. If you forget to water your plants regularly, the snake plant is your best bet as it can go without water for several days.
Snake plant also works as an efficient air purifier as it absorbs toxins and chemicals from the air. Just avoid excessive watering and freezing temperatures to keep your snake plant healthy throughout the season.
9. Money Plant
If you are new to gardening and planting, this plant is one of the best options, to begin with. Money plant is easy to grow and does not require much care. This leafy beauty can add more charm to any space in your house. But that’s not all! Money plants can also help purify the indoor air by getting rid of pollutants like benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
Money plants grow well in humidity and should be kept away from direct sunlight and drafts of wind. Just water the plant once a week to keep it healthy and growing!
10. Lucky Bamboo
From workspaces to homes, this super popular houseplant can be found almost everywhere in India. Lucky bamboo is said to bring happiness and prosperity and is highly recommended by Feng Shui practitioners.
The plant requires moderate levels of maintenance and care. It needs to be kept in clean water all the time. Lucky bamboo is susceptible to chemicals and may be affected if the water has trades of fluoride or chlorine in it.
The plant must be placed in a spot that receives indirect sunlight and the water must be changed every 2 weeks or so.
7 Important Tips To Keep In Mind With Winter Plants
Your houseplants are in a ‘resting’ phase during the winters. It is important to make a few significant changes in your plant care routine to make sure your plants survive through the season.
Here are a few tips to help you take care of your indoor plants during the winter season.
- Plant development is slow during the winters so cut back on watering to avoid rotting of the roots. Ideally, you should water the plants only when the top of the soil feels dry to touch.
- The indoor air is dry during colder months. Low levels of humidity and moistness may trigger the leaves to twist or change colour. A room humidifier can help plants stay healthy during winters. In case you do not have a humidifier, consider placing your plants in areas where moisture levels are comparatively higher (like kitchen or restroom). You may also use humidity trays in order to maintain humidity levels.
- Move the plants from shady areas to spots that receive more light. Turn the plants occasionally so that each side receives equivalent light. You may also consider installing grow lights.
- Keep your plants away from chimneys, heat vents and gloomy windows.
- Leave the windows open during the daytime so that the plant receives adequate light.
- Do not re-pot the plants during winters as this may upset their roots and development.
- Your plants may benefit from trimming and removing dead or yellowing leaves during winter.
These easy to maintain plants are the perfect remedy to uplight your spirits during the gloomy winter season. Other than making your home feel brighter and happier, they also help purify the stale indoor air, reduce stress and boost your mood! The best part is, you don’t have to be a pro at winter planting to keep these plants alive and healthy through the season. Taking care of these indoor winter plants may require minimum effort and time but is extremely rewarding!
