Winter indoor plants. A complete guide

During the winter, plants give life to spaces. Their color and joy improve people’s moods by reducing stress. There are many plants that tolerate the winter and cold months very well. All you need is a little guide about winter indoor plants.

With different shapes, styles, requirements, and origins, you have a great variety to choose from and take care of during this winter.

Find out your home's credit score

Check your home condition score to find out!

Check it out

Best winter indoor houseplants

All the plants in this list are great indoor plants for winter, it is up to you to choose the one that suits you the most, considering its care, volume, flowers, leaves, etc. You have different types:

Succulent

Their small size and low maintenance make them the first choice as a winter indoor plant. They can live under certain temperature conditions, like direct sunlight for 2-3 hours, and should not be overwatered.

Jade plant

Is the best choice as a winter indoor plant. it is tolerant to temperature changes and only needs to be watered once a month with a little direct light.

Pothos

They are strong, durable, and easy to care for, which makes them a great choice for winter indoor plants.

Tradescantia

is a species from South America, which grows steadily and is a traditional winter plant for its colors and the practicality of having it in a nursery.

Aglaonema

There is a myriad of types, but all are easy to care for, low light tolerant, and temperature neutral. Plus their bright colors make them a perfect choice for winter and beginners.

Cyclamen Persicem

One of the best winter indoor plants. it likes cold temperatures, constant but indirect light, and well-drained soil. Putting them together in several pots will make them enjoy their range of colors from white to red.

Dwarf citrus

Is one of the top 3 indoor fruit trees associated with summer, these fruiting plants can produce lemons for cocktails or cooking.

Orchid

Are warm and timeless, and the top choice when it comes to indoors, it is low care, needs no soil, and is happy with just a little light in the last months of the year.

Sansevieria

Comes in different forms, and all are happy with direct and indirect light. This makes it perfect for winter as you don’t need to move it around the house. they don’t like the cold, but can withstand temperature changes, and don’t overhydrate.

Aspidistra

Is one of the leafiest and most excellent choices for winter because with minimal natural light and a little bit of cold it can be lush. They live up to 50 years sun in poor conditions. If you fertilize it during the summer it can continue to thrive in winter.

Dracaena marginate

Slow growing during the winter, it is almost indestructible, besides being easy to take care of it is ideal for beginners, they support cold temperatures, low loss, and dry air.

Anthurium Andraeanum

This plant prefers medium light, humidity, and well-drained soil. Its flowers are actually left to attract insects. There is a variety of colors and its flowers can last up to 3 months and appear for 6 or 7 months during the year.

Epipremnum

It has shade tolerance, unmatched by any other plant, and is also known as the money plant because it tolerates dry air and drafts without resentment.

Ficus

One of the best winter indoor plants. Tolerant because of its thick leaves. It is a fan of humidity, and low light, which makes it incredible during the winter months. it can be regulated to maintain lower temperatures so it doesn’t need that 24/7 environment.

Schlumbergera

Known as Christmas cactus. Its diversity of colors can cause them to gather in one place. They need direct and indirect sunlight and temperatures around 70°F plus a humid environment.

Dracaena Trifasciata

Or the snake plant, because of its shape, can be considered a succulent, because it lives long periods alone and does not die. They need low light levels and can sprout year-round.

Philodendron

There are 450 varieties, and they are universal. Do not need to be watered frequently and the soil should dry out between watering.

Zamioculcas

Better known as the ZZ plant. It is one of the most grateful and easy-to-care-for plants in winter, it only needs a well-drained and fed bedding every 6 months.

Read more: Dieffenbachia, perfect houseplant

Benefits of winter houseplants

In addition to the already known benefits, the fact of being able to see color during the winter, also makes the person feel warm and reduces their anxiety levels, lowering blood pressure and fatigue in the rooms where the plants are located.

How to take care of them?

Although indoor plants live in a fairly controlled environment. In winter they can be stressed due to dry and cold air, because of this it is necessary to modify and regulate some basic care to keep them comfortable, healthy, and bright.

The first thing is to know what type of plant it is, you should research its place of origin (natural and climatic conditions) and special care. For example, tropical plants, which come from jungles, require more care because of the humidity they need to grow. There are other plants such as succulents that do not need humidity. To keep them in winter, watering them twice a month is more than enough.

Water

Depending on the type of plant, you can water it once or twice a month and it will be enough, however, you should investigate what type of plant it is. You should check the soil, to know if it is wet or dry. Introduce a finger into the soil and verify that it is moist. In winter the surface of the soil dries out but that does not mean that the rest of the soil is dry. Do not use cold water or water just out of the pipe, let it stand for a few hours before using it, that way the chlorine dissolves and is tempered. Cold water stresses your plant causing changes in its structure.

Humidity

All plants need humidity, most of them need between 50-60 percent and in winter the humidity does not exceed 20 percent. If you have a humidifier you can place it near the plants to supply the necessary humidity.

Another way to generate humidity for your plants is to place them in rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen where steam, humidity, and pleasant temperatures are generated.

Place all your plants together, in their cycle. They produce water vapor which makes the environment around them humid, if they are placed all together they can take advantage of the humidity between them.

A less common way is to place them near a water source, without the roots touching the water source. The water in its path evaporates, generating humidity. Please do not let the roots touch the water.

Temperature

Do not place your plants where the temperature has sudden changes, for example, a kitchen, living room, or room (where there is heating, radiators, etc.), it usually has high temperatures.

Sudden changes in temperatures can be harmful, causing stress in your plants as they cannot regulate themselves to attenuate those temperatures. The idea is that it is in a room where the temperature can be controlled.

Sunlight

First, you must investigate what type of plant you have. whether it likes direct or indirect sunlight. This will depend on whether you should provide your plants with artificial light as a substitute for sunlight or as a complement.

However, if you live in areas where winter is a short sunlight season, this is a must, so it is recommended that you buy ultraviolet lamps. Otherwise, simply move your bushes in pursuit of light. When doing the latter, remember to rotate the pot to ensure that all leaves receive sunlight.

Cleaning

The leaves, like the rest of the house, need cleaning. Clean them with a damp cloth to remove dust, you can use banana shells (contains potassium) to clean them and prevent parasites, plus you will see the shine they get.

Hibernation

It is not necessary to transplant or feed them with soil. They are in a period of slowing down so their growth is little to none, do this in spring.

With these tips, you can now have a small jungle in your home and take care of it in winter without any bad news.

Read more: Birkin philodendron care

Written by Vanessa Gallanti. November 15, 2022

Enthusiast about planning, project management, construction materials and technology, and construction. A civil engineer from Los Andes University and a content writer for Kukun.