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Indoor Plant Care Overwinter

Five essential tips for keeping your indoor plants happy over winter

1. Rinse plants regularly (once per 4-6 weeks) under fast flowing fresh water. This removes dust, strengthens the stems and keeps pests off. Smaller plants can be rinsed in a kitchen or laundry sink. Larger plants can be showered! Try to rinse tops and undersides of the foliage. This task is easy and cheap - and is the most important “chore” required for happy indoor plants.

2. Repot using a quality, composty soil. Healthy soil will allow your plants to uptake nutrients according to their needs, as opposed to your plant care schedule (or lack of one!). Many studies have demonstrated that compost based organic soils also provide protection against disease and pests, and facilitate sturdy growth. All SGH plants are grown in a mixture of Sea Soil and peat based mix (some are also enhanced with worm casts and or coco-coir). Indoor plants can be potted in up to 100% Sea Soil.

3. Pinch back growing tips regularly. Leafy plants such as Mints should be cut back up to 50% every 4-6 weeks. On woody plants such as Rosemary, focus on pruning just the stem tips. Dead head the blooms on flowering plants, cutting back the flowering stalk where leafy growth starts. Always use sharp scissors and prune at the intersections of stems and leafy growth (internodes).

4. Avoid hot dry air. Deflect the flow of air from heat vents away from your plants. Place a pebble tray under the pots (1” of small rocks set on the saucer that the pot sits on) - this will create extra humidity right around your plants, and once set up there is nothing to remember to do! You can find attractive pebbles at craft and pet shops. Dry air is the number one challenge for indoor plants.

5. Space your plants out. While dry air is a problem, insufficient air flow can also be a concern. If growing many plants under lights (or grouped near that one great south window!) set up a small fan to keep air circulating. This will reduce the chance of disease and has been proven to promote stronger, healthier stems.

In addition to the the above recommendations, keep in mind that there is a spectrum of “ease of care” for indoor plants. Some, such as succulent leaved Cuban Oregano or the Maverick Prickly Pear, can go weeks without water and tolerate a variety of light conditions. These are truly neglectable! Others, such Tea Trees and Rosemary, require attention 1-2 times per week - a good deep watering and a little pruning to keep them vigorous in the short day season. Choose plants that suit your style.

As a general rule, most of the indoor plants offered at SGH appreciate a contrast between spring/summer and fall/winter care. Over winter, water less frequently and reduce fertilizing by 50% or more (especially when using a rich composty soil). Plants from zones 5-9 appreciate cooler windows, such as bay windows, patio doors or foyer windows. Zones 10 -Tropical always appreciate warmer locations.

Finally, use grow lights (T5 & full spectrum CFL’s are inexpensive, easy to set up and don’t require a lot of room) if you are interested in keeping up the productivity on edibles. This is the only way to grow annual herbs such as Basil, Cilantro and Dill (start fresh seeds for these in fall). Woody perennial herbs such as thyme and oregano can be brought in from the summer garden; again, these will be much more productive under lights.

Sage Garden Herbs 3410 St. Mary’s Road Detailed plant care info for many varieties is available under “Live Plant Listings & Care Instructions” on our website.

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