HOUSE PLANTS IN WINTER - THEIR SURVIVAL MECHANISM AND WINTER CARE

The Mechanism:

As the temperatures begin to drop, there are shorter days and longer nights, we commonly find leaves turning yellow and shedding, grass growing slowly, plants putting fewer branches, growth becoming almost negligible, then, we surely are into winter months.

The reason for this change is a busy biological activity happening within to survive the temperatures unsuitable for the plant.

The nutrients from the leaves are transferred from the leaves to the branches where they get deposited in the barks of trees. As the leaves loose the nutrients and chlorophyll, they turn yellow and fall off the branches.

The plants go into survival mode by reducing the photosynthesis activity and thereby the growth of the plant too slows down.

The survival mechanism often is referred as ’dormancy’ when the plant conserves its energies for the better and warmer months.

Winter Care:

We all love snuggling into our cozy blankets in the winter months while the weather gets as crisp as it can. Wearing Hoodies and boots, sipping a hot cup of beverage, moisturising when the weather dries up our skin, are some of the many things we do differently during the months of winter. Although winters are loved by most of us, it comes with its list of pros and cons which affect us prominently. As we take measures to keep ourselves warm and protected, plants too require a special type of care during this time of the year.

Here are 5 simple measures you can take during winters to keep your indoor plants Fresh and Blossomy!

Transfer them to sunlit location in house.

As the days become shorter, make the best use of sunlight by shifting the plants near the source in a balcony or near a window at least for 2-3 hours a day allowing them to photosynthesise and prepare their own food.

Do keep an eye on the cold breeze entering through your window.

Spray clean mist of water on leaves

Cold and chilling weather force us to close the doors and windows during winters. This makes our indoors cold and dry with negligible humidity.

Whereas, plants require certain amount of humidity for their healthy growth, the absence of this makes the leaves crunchy and dry.

A simple solution to overcome this is by sprinkling clean and clear water on the leaves from time to time keeping the humidity levels at optimum levels.

Alternatively, you can buy a humidifier to keep your indoor buddy in pink of health.

Reduce the use of fertilisers

There’s no doubt that fertilisers do wonders to plant health and growth. But if you notice closely, winters restrict the growth of plants. It would be best practice to use the fertilisers during summers to get the best out of them

Do not over water your plants

It is very important to pay attention to the season and weather while watering your plants.The plants transpire less in winter and hence they need less water. During summers, when the temperatures are high, plants absorb more water while compared to winters. Watering the plants in the same amount throughout all seasons lead to mortalities.

Wipe them clean

The dust particles block the pores of plants making it difficult for them to transpire. Make sure you clean the leaves by wiping it gently with a cloth. In addition to this, remove all the dried leaves from the pots.

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• Rajender Kumar is avid Horticulturist with over three decades of practical knowledge and familiarity with Landscaping in particular.He is astute observer and passionate plant lover.