Gardeners are well aware of this: the cold season is a very delicate period for indoor plants. As temperatures drop, they need to be taken care of more to boost their resistance and enable them to fight off the cold weather of winter. Remember that your flower plants each have their own needs. You must therefore ensure not to make mistakes that could be fatal.
To help your flowers better cope with the winter period, here are some tips to follow and a very effective homemade mixture to protect the soil from frost.
Tips for Protecting Plants in Winter
In winter, the flowers enter a vegetative rest: during this period it is essential to know how to carry out the irrigation process. During the cold season, plants should only be watered when the surface soil is really dry. Remember that the soil must be in the best conditions to ensure good plant growth. It is he who nourishes your plants by providing them with the right nutrients necessary and which allows efficient water drainage.
To take good care of your houseplants during this period, here are some tips recommended by flower arranging and gardening experts:
- Do not use cold water, but instead use room temperature water. This will help you avoid thermal shock that can affect your plants.
- The temperature inside the room where you place your potted plants is fundamental. Make sure the flowers are not placed near the radiator or any heat source.
- In December and January it would be wise to put a protective layer on top of the soil to protect the roots and stem from frost. This solution applies to potted plants indoors (or on the terrace) as well as those in the garden or courtyard.
- Most houseplants need 70-90% humidity, which is impossible to achieve in an apartment. To remedy this, simply place a humidifier near your plants. Another tip: install the pots in trays filled with clay and water. Be careful, as at low humidity the leaves may turn yellow and fall off. In addition, the edges of the leaves become necrotic and growth is slowed.
Wise alternative to replace the mulch mixture
Of course, in specialized stores you can always buy specialized products intended for the care of your plants, in particular a mixture called “mulch”. It is an organic layer, usually made of sawdust and wood shavings, that is often placed on the soil of flower plants to protect them from winter frost. This mixture can be transplanted both in pots and in the garden, directly on the ground to preserve the plants . It also allows you to get rid of weeds.
Don’t have a mulch mix on hand? If you don’t have time to get one or if you want to save money, know that it is possible to prepare a similar solution at home. You will need straw, a few leaves, sawdust or finely cut pieces of wood. The procedure is very simple: mix all these ingredients well in a bowl and then add this protective layer above the soil of your plants. This works very well: the soil will be protected from frost until March!
