With the temperatures set to drop sooner than later, you’re probably in the process of moving your garden indoors. Gardening inside the home can be a bit tricky because unlike when they’re out in the sun and rain, plants have to rely on you for their every need. So with that in mind, here is a quick guide on how to keep your plants fresh this winter.
#1: Lighting
Before selecting a home for your precious plants, first find a place in the house where there is ideal lighting conditions for them. We all know that plants need light, plain and simple. Light is what triggers their growth and makes us so happy when we see how and beautiful they are. Once you’ve found the light in your home that is comparable to what their natural lighting conditions, you have to consider a few things once they’re situated. First, dust is not good for us and it’s no good for our plants either. Do you and your plants a favor and dust them and if you want to go above and beyond, lightly dampen a down and wash off both the top and bottom of the leaves. This way the plants can absorb as much light as possible and some water in the process.
#2: Temperature
After you’ve found the perfect light, next locate a spot where there is enough heat from your B.R. McGinty heating system to accommodate the plants’ needs. Plants tend to favor climates where there are warm days and cool nights, and one way to mimic this is by dropping the temperature of your home slightly at night to promote healthy natural growth.
#3: Watering
Plants need water to live just like humans, however there is a fine line to follow. Over-watering can actually hurt the plants, but a general rule of thumb to follow would be to ensure that the soil is moist, but never saturated.
#4: Humidity
Lastly, one of the hardest factors to account for during the winter months is humidity. When we have our heating system running at full blast, the air tends to dry out and can even fall to desert-like conditions in the home. One of the easiest ways to help fight dryness in the home for plants is to group them together. However, you need to make sure that they are not touching since they like their space. Also, you can place the pots on pebble dishes and pour water so that the it comes half way up the pebbles.
We hope these tips helped! Remember to give B.R. McGinty a call at 501-847-6800 for any heating help you may need this winter.