Top Five Ways to Prepare Your Houseplants for Dormancy

Much like your trees, shrubs, and other perennials settling in for a long Saskatchewan winter, your houseplants are likely preparing for a quiet period of rest, too. But it may look different. Because they live indoors year round, houseplants often don't enter a true dormancy in the same way, but they still need time to regroup. Here are five things your indoor green friends may need—or don't need—from you during this time. 

Although it can often be triggered by stressful conditions, houseplant dormancy isn't a bad thing—in fact, for many it's necessary. Plants go dormant during periods when conditions aren't ideal and they need to conserve energy. Without adequate energy, many plants cannot put out new growth. They may stop growing, drop leaves, or simply slow down.  Much like us, plants notice the changing of the seasons, even when they don't feel winter's bite approach.

This is a stretch of recuperating, strengthening roots and stalks, and preparing for a season of growth when spring comes back around.

Here's how you can help.

Fertilizer

Just as you shouldn't fertilize your trees and shrubs after a certain point in the season, your houseplants don't need fertilizer—or they may not need it as often. A plant needs an abundance of energy to put out new stalks, leaves, or flowers, and this is a season of energy conservation. Many fertilizers encourage the former—and this could leave your green friends stressed out. Plants that continue to actively grow during winter, or those with supplementary light sources, may still benefit from fertilizer—but they might only need it half as often.

Repotting

The best time of year to repot houseplants is early spring, when the plant will have the benefit of the full growing season to get settled into its new home and spread roots. Conversely, autumn and winter are best to avoid—unless a plant is showing signs of nutrient deficiency, or has become rootbound. A plant in need of a repot will always benefit from a new home, but if it can hold off until spring, best to do so. Repotting during winter, when the plant is in a slower growth phase and doesn't need the nutrients, can lead to overwatering and potential root rot.

Water

There's a theme coming around here, and watering is no different. When a plant isn't actively growing—or growing as fast—it will take in less water. Scale back on watering during these months when the days are shorter and plants naturally receive less sunlight. Most tropical plants don't like their roots to sit in soggy soil, and especially during a period of dormancy, they may not have the strength to withstand root rot or other challenges.

Light

One of the key requirements for a houseplant to grow is adequate sunlight. Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect light, and when the days grow short, they don't receive enough light—especially those rare variegated beauties. You can assist them by moving them closer to natural light sources—or by giving them supplementary grow lights. These lights often come in different settings with timers, so you can set them once and they'll turn on and off each day. Be sure to monitor the light your plants are receiving though, and adjust as needed.

Temperature

One of the most important ways you can support your houseplants through this slow season is by providing them with consistent conditions. Ensure they aren't sitting next to a drafty window, and if possible, supply them with a small humidifier to combat the dry furnace air in your home. Much as we want to be comfortable indoors over the coming winter season, so do your plants. If we look after them through a season of lows, they'll be around to return the favour when the growing season kicks off once more.

Until next time!