January In The Indoor Garden
Happy New Year 2026!
Hopefully everyone had a wonderful holiday season, however you chose to celebrate, and cheers to the new year ahead! I don’t know about you, but December often seems to fly by— and the days between Christmas and New Years tend to flow together.
Until we find ourselves in January, staring ahead at the new year, with the chaos of December behind us, it can be a time of exhaustion, with one year coming to a close, but also a time of optimism and hope for the one to come. Either way, it’s often a turning point of sorts.
As the dust of the holidays settle, certain priorities tend to slip—and sometimes our plant care can fall by the wayside. Especially if you’ve been travelling.
Now is a great time to remedy that! Take some time to check in with your houseplants, and get them on track for the new year, too.
● Although many plants enter a state or partial or full dormancy in the winter, they still need consistent watering—just not as much. As a good rule of thumb, if the top couple inches of soil are dry, the plant might be thirsty. And if your plants are in nursery pots, consider bottom watering them. Not only is it better for root growth, but certain pests like to nest in the top inch of damp soil and detritus, so bottom watering can deter them as well.
● Similarly, most plants don’t need frequent fertilizing during the winter season, but they still require nutrients. If you haven’t fertilized in a month or more, your plants may appreciate it now. Many standard pre-made fertilizers have the right mix for indoor plants, and can be mixed right into your water.
● Humidity is key in winter, and houseplants like a consistent level of humidity that homes often lack. Consider getting a small table-top humidifier to sit with your plants and provide more of what they need. Visit November’s Top Five blog post for more options on raising humidity!
● Likewise, the short days and long nights we see this time of year don’t allow much daylight—not relative to what your plants would prefer. Even plants that can tolerate low-light environments will be happier with bright, indirect light. A grow light can go a long way to keeping your plants producing, especially any variegated beauties!
● Clean-up! Look over your plants and trim any yellow, browning, or crispy leaves. With limited energy, dying leaves are only drawing power the plant doesn’t have to spare. Keep in mind, one or two poor leaves on a plant can be totally normal, but if you see more cropping up on the same plant, there may be something else at play. Plants like consistency and a small deviancy from that could upset the balance.
● While we’re on that subject, it’s okay to say goodbye to any plants that aren’t bringing joy to your home anymore. If it’s a constant struggle, or more work than you can handle, it’s alright to move on! I know it can feel guilt-inducing, so consider giving the plant to someone who has more time or ambition to care for it.
● An unfortunate reality of raising indoor houseplants is pest control. Plants can be prone to a number of different pests, commonly including fungus gnats, thrips, mealybugs, spider mites, and others. As much as we try to keep them away, these pests are often so small, we don’t see them until they’ve spread—and it can be a total nightmare at that point.
Regularly check your plants, particularly on the undersides of leaves and in new growth. Isolate any plants harbouring pests so they can’t spread to the rest of your collection—and be sure to keep any new plants in isolation when bringing them into your house.
Prevention is a great way to keep pests from taking over and killing a plant, but we’ve all dealt with them. The Floral Acres advice blog has a series on pest control with information on specific types. In-store and online, Floral Acres has a variety of solutions, including sticky tags, plant-safe sprays, and beneficial insects. Stop in and find out the best option for you!
● Although winter is typically not the best time of year to repot your plants, especially those new to your home and still settling in, sometimes it’s necessary. If a plant has been in your care for a significant length of time and has outgrown its current pot, it’s better to pot up than to leave it to decline. Always remember to repot a grown plant into a pot 1-2” wider than the size of the root ball—not the plant itself. Too large of a pot can lead to excess moisture and potentially cause root rot.
If you keep your plants in nursery pots, it’s an easy way to observe root growth. Certain plants like to be rootbound, but most prefer space to grow.
A few more months remain before the greenhouse will fill with annuals, perennials, and a wide range of trees and shrubs. With the coldest months of the year still ahead of us, spend some time caring for your indoor greenery. Working with plants and soil can affect the hormones to uplift mood, create comfort and relaxation, and may even strengthen your immune system. So caring for your plants now will probably make you feel better, too!
Be sure to take a look at some of the new tropical and rare exotic plants at Floral Acres, either online or in-store. Christmas retail is all on sale, and spring product lines will be arriving soon. For the houseplant lovers, our Plant Whisperers Corner is now set up, with a wide range of plant goodies for you AND your plants!
Lastly, January 10th is Houseplant Appreciation Day! So if you’re looking to add some new tropical houseplants to your collection, put this in the calendar! For one day only, all tropicals will be 40% off, with rare exotics at 30% off. Such great prices, you can treat yourself to two (or more) :)
Until next time!