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A House Beautiful report recommends four adjustments to houseplant care as autumn and winter bring less daylight, cooler temperatures and drier indoor air. B&Q horticulture expert Mark Sage advises moving plants toward light while avoiding drafts and radiators, reducing watering and feeding, grouping plants, and wiping dust from leaves.
A House Beautiful report outlines four ways to adjust houseplant care for winter, when lower light, cooler temperatures and drier indoor air can change what plants need. B&Q horticulture expert Mark Sage advises adjusting plant placement, watering, feeding and leaf cleaning rather than continuing a summer routine unchanged.
Sage recommends moving plants closer to a bright window as daylight declines, while keeping them away from cold drafts and radiators. Those locations can expose plants to cold air or dry heat, he says. Where natural light is limited, he suggests considering a plant light; rotating larger plants can also help limit uneven, stretched growth as they reach toward a light source.
The report also advises watering and feeding less as many houseplants slow their growth in colder months. Sage recommends letting soil dry between waterings to help prevent root rot and says winter is not the time for regular repotting. He suggests giving plants a final dose of feed at the end of autumn, rather than continuing to fertilize through winter.
Two further habits address dry air and limited daylight: grouping plants together may create a more humid area around them, while wiping leaves with a microfiber cloth every one to two weeks can remove dust. Sage says a gentle shower with lukewarm water can clean leaves and help raise humidity, but cautions that water that is too cold or too warm may harm plants.
Four Adjustments for Winter Conditions
The guidance matters because winter changes the conditions inside homes as well as outside them. Shorter days can mean less light, while heating can make indoor air drier. A routine built around active summer growth—especially frequent watering or feeding—may not suit plants that are growing more slowly.
The recommendations are practical adjustments, not a guarantee that every plant will respond the same way. Houseplants vary in their light, water and humidity needs. The report’s central advice is to watch the plant and its soil, avoid exposure to temperature extremes, and make changes in response to the conditions in a particular home.
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Why Summer Routines May Fall Short
The source report frames winter care as a change in routine rather than a separate, fixed schedule. In autumn and winter, reduced daylight and slower growth can mean a plant uses water more slowly than it did during summer. Keeping to the same watering frequency without checking the soil may leave it too wet.
Indoor conditions also differ from room to room. A bright window may offer useful light but sit near a draft, and a radiator may dry the air around nearby plants. Sage’s advice, as reported by House Beautiful, is to weigh those factors together rather than moving plants toward light without considering temperature and airflow.
““It’s always a good idea to move them closer to a bright window as darker days hit, but make sure to avoid cold drafts and radiators.””
— Mark Sage, B&Q horticulture expert, as quoted by House Beautiful
Plant Needs Vary by Home
The report does not specify a single watering schedule, temperature range or light level that suits all houseplants. The right frequency depends on the plant species, soil and home conditions; its advice is to let soil dry between waterings rather than follow a universal calendar. It also does not quantify how much grouping plants changes humidity or how much extra light a plant light should provide.
The source offers general guidance attributed to Sage, not the results of a controlled study. It does not establish that every plant will develop yellow leaves or root rot if placed near a radiator or overwatered. Those are risks described in the advice, while an individual plant’s condition may have multiple causes.
Adjust Care as Growth Slows
As winter conditions set in, the practical next step is to check light, drafts and soil moisture before changing a plant’s routine. Move plants toward available light where appropriate, keep them clear of radiators and cold drafts, and reduce watering when the soil is still moist. Grouping plants and wiping dusty leaves can be added to regular checks.
Continue to observe how each plant responds through the colder months. The report does not provide a further update or a specific date for restarting summer care; its advice is to let plants rest during slower growth and adjust again as conditions change.
Key Questions
What are the four winter houseplant habits?
House Beautiful’s report recommends moving plants toward brighter light while avoiding drafts and radiators, watering and feeding less, grouping plants to support humidity, and wiping dust from leaves.
Should I water houseplants less in winter?
Sage says plants generally need less water as growth slows. He recommends letting the soil dry between waterings to help reduce the risk of root rot; the report does not give one schedule for every plant.
Where should I put houseplants during winter?
A brighter window may help plants get more of the limited winter daylight, but Sage advises keeping them away from cold drafts and radiators. Consider the light and temperature around each spot.
How often should I clean houseplant leaves?
Sage recommends wiping leaves with a microfiber cloth every one to two weeks to remove dust. The report also suggests an occasional gentle shower using lukewarm water, with care to avoid water that is too hot or cold.
Source: housebeautiful.com
