How to Overwinter Indoor Plants

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Once the temperature outside drops, the heat goes up inside your home. Great for you, but torture for your indoor plants. Lack of light during the short winter days and minimum humidity are stressful to most indoor tropicals. Here's how to help them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Aquarium Gravel
Mild Liquid Soap
Kitchen Sponges

Step 1

Create a source of humidity by placing gravel in the saucer under each plant. Water will collect in the gravel-filled tray and evaporate up through the foliage.
Step 2

Reduce the amount of water you give your plants. Plants use less water when days are short and temperatures drop.
Step 3

Mist plants daily with a portable spray bottle.
Step 4

Open the curtains during daylight hours to provide more light.
Step 5

Move plants a few inches back from windows so their temperature remains constant.
Step 6

Add an additional light source. Grow lights are available and can be fitted into regular lamp fixtures.
Step 7

Clean the leaves. A thin layer of dust will inhibit the available light by 50 percent.
Step 8

Move plants away from frequently opened doors and heater vents to prevent drafts and rapid changes in temperature.