{"id":17693,"date":"2026-01-20T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everpress.everapps.dev\/plant-care\/houseplants-in-winter\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T09:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:30:00","slug":"houseplants-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everpress.everapps.dev\/en\/pflanzenpflege\/houseplants-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Houseplants in winter: less light, dry air"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Houseplants in winter: less light, dry air<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

From November to February a plant on the windowsill often receives only a tenth of the light it gets in summer. At the same time, humidity in heated rooms drops to 30 % and below. Yet most houseplants come from tropical forests with evenly high humidity. No wonder leaves turn yellow, tips dry out and spider mites appear now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news: adapting care to the season gets almost every plant through winter without losses. Five adjustments make the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/svg><\/span>Light<\/dt>\n
As close to the window as possible; south-facing windows are ideal now.<\/dd>\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/svg><\/span>Watering<\/dt>\n
Less often but thoroughly \u2013 only when the top of the soil is dry.<\/dd>\n
\r\n\r\n<\/svg><\/span>Humidity<\/dt>\n
Bowls of water, group plants, never above the radiator.<\/dd>\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/svg><\/span>Temperature<\/dt>\n
No cold draughts when airing, no leaves touching the glass.<\/dd>\n <\/dl>\n\n\n\n

Light: the most important factor<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Plants that stood a metre from the window in summer now move right up to the glass. A south-facing window that would be too hot in July is the best spot in the house in January. Dust on the leaves swallows extra light \u2013 so wipe large-leaved species such as the fiddle-leaf fig<\/a> with a damp cloth once a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning helps too: a quarter turn per week stops the plant from growing lopsided towards the light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Large-leaved plants need the brightest spot in winter.<\/figcaption>\n \n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Watering: less is more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Water consumption falls with the light. Watering in winter as in summer risks waterlogging and rotting roots \u2013 the most common reason houseplants die in winter. The finger test is more reliable than any fixed schedule: only water when the top two to three centimetres of soil are dry.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Plant<\/th>Watering in winter<\/th>Minimum temperature<\/th>Special note<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Monstera<\/td>every 10\u201314 days<\/td>16 \u00b0C<\/td>Do not cut aerial roots<\/td><\/tr>
Fiddle-leaf fig<\/td>every 10 days<\/td>15 \u00b0C<\/td>Do not move it<\/td><\/tr>
Snake plant<\/td>every 4 weeks<\/td>12 \u00b0C<\/td>tolerates drought<\/td><\/tr>
Lemon tree<\/td>weekly, a little<\/td>5 \u00b0C<\/td>bright and cool<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you want to be completely sure, measure: a soil moisture sensor<\/a> shows on your smartphone when the root ball is actually dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humidity and pests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dry heated air favours spider mites and thrips. First signs are fine, pale speckles on the leaves and delicate webs in the leaf axils. Preventive measures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n