Watering2 min read

Watering houseplants in winter

Less light means less water, but don't forget them

Why plants drink less

In winter, short, dim days send most houseplants into a rest. They grow slowly, use much less water, and the mix stays wet longer, especially in a cool room.

Keep the summer schedule and the roots can sit in soggy soil and rot. More houseplants die from overwatering than from anything else, and winter is when it happens most.

Check first, every time

Don't water out of habit. Before each drink, feel the mix and lift the pot. Water when the top inch or so (about 2.5 cm) is dry, or when the plant just starts to droop.

For most plants that means watering less often, but still thoroughly. Let the extra drain away, and empty the saucer. In a cool room, many plants manage a week or two between drinks.

Dry heat changes things

Central heating dries the air, and homes can drop to 10–20% humidity in winter. Some pots dry out faster than you'd expect, so keep checking instead of assuming.

Dry air also browns leaf edges. A humidifier or a group of plants helps more than extra water, which only soaks the roots.

A few winter rules

These habits keep roots healthy until spring.

Use room-temperature water. Cold water can chill roots and leave pale spots on African violet leaves.
Keep cacti and most succulents on the dry side, cool and in bright light.
Plants under grow lights or in a warm, bright spot keep growing, so they may need their usual water.
Stop feeding, or cut back to a light feed once a month, until spring growth starts. Follow the label when you do.

When it's too much

Yellowing leaves, soil that stays wet for a week and small flies over the pot are the usual winter warnings. Let the mix dry out more before the next drink, and move the plant to brighter light if you can.

If a plant wilts in wet soil, slide it out and check the roots for rot before doing anything else.

Sources

General guidance, not a diagnosis. Written by PlantWiz in our own words from the sources above.