PREPPING YOUR GREEN MATES FOR THE COLDER SEASONS
It may not feel like it, but to dust off an old chestnut: Winter is Coming.
Summer is gone, and Autumn is in full swing. But what does it mean for your plants, that have gone gangbusters over the last few months? Some new plant parents may have just started their collection recently – so we want to go over a few pointers in preparation for the colder days we have coming.
- Humidity. This is a massive one. For us in Melbourne, we have experienced some super muggy days, which for most of your indoor buddies is a Godsend. Natural humidity is amazing, but you may not experience so much of it indoors during winter. Investing in a humidifier is a great way to keep many of your plants safe. We use the simple, yet effective Ultrasonic Humidifier from Kmart. It’s $89, and you can adjust the settings exactly to your preferences! Alternatively, if a humidifier isn’t an option, you can move some of your more vulnerable plants to a sunny possie in your bathroom and let them munch on your shower steam all. It’s all good! Plants also create humidity when they’re bundled together – especially if there’s pebbles and water in a bowl underneath them.
- Light! Yes, light. Natural light, manmade light... just, light. It can be darker in winter – the clouds come out and the sunshine we so desperately need doesn’t want to come to the party. Try and place your plants where they’ll get the most natural light. If this isn’t an option, grow lights are fantastic and can cover a lot of ground. We have them for $44.95 with 3 heads that can manipulate all over the show, and can assist in growth during colder seasons.
- Temperature. It sounds like a no-brainer, but heaters can suck all the moisture from the air. The difference between warmth and humidity could mean life and death for your babies! Be sure to check the temp and humidity levels frequently. Investing in a little Hygrometer to check both things at once!
- Watering. Summer took its toll one a lot of plants. Some of those hot days had us going out 2-3 times a day to give everyone a drink! But you need to slow down the process when it starts to get cooler. Check your plants don’t completely dry out (because of heaters etc) but don’t continue to drench them. Not only will they noy enjoy wet feet, but they may attract some pests who thrive on soil moisture.
- PESTS! Lastly and super importantly, always check for pests. Summer had us seeing mealybug, fungus gnats, thrip… But winter means when your air dries out – you welcome pests like spidermites and scale. Be sure to have plenty of pest control at the ready. Pests come in all shapes and sizes, all year around!
So there you have it! These are just some tips that scratch the surface, but it’s best to keep it simple and understand that everyone is at a different stage with their plant knowledge and collections.
Stay safe this winter!