A Complete Guide to Winter Care Methods for Indoor Flowers

How to keep indoor flowers warm and protect them from freezing in winter: the minimum overwintering temperature requirements vary considerably among different varieties, so different care measures should be taken according to the region and the plant species.

I. Temperature Control

During the overwintering period, keep the room temperature for the night-blooming cereus (Epiphyllum) at 10°C-15°C; for spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), try to keep the winter temperature no lower than 10°C; for white magnolia (Magnolia denudata), hydrangea and aloe, no lower than 5°C; kumquat and chrysanthemum can overwinter at a temperature of around 0°C.

II. Proper Watering

After the beginning of winter, plant growth basically stalls, and some plants enter a dormant stage, so their water-absorbing capacity is greatly reduced; watering should not be too much or too heavy. Water thoroughly once before moving plants into a shed or indoors, and during their time in the shed try to keep the potting soil slightly dry, which helps foliage plants overwinter. When the potting soil is found to be too dry, water at 11 a.m. on a clear, warm day; by no means use too much water or water in the early morning or evening. The water temperature should be similar to room temperature, and the temperature difference should not be too great. Foliage plants are generally watered once every half month in winter; too much water easily causes root rot.

III. Ventilation and Air Flow

Plants overwintering in a shed or indoors need a certain amount of air humidity, but it should not be too high. Therefore, open doors and windows on clear, warm days to regulate air humidity; especially in plastic sheds, where the air humidity is higher, even more attention should be paid to ventilation. Ventilation is generally best done after 9 a.m. and before 3 p.m. Light is also very important for foliage plants in winter; some small flowers and plants, if they often lack light, will suffer from pests and diseases, so during the overwintering period their positions should be changed frequently to ensure the plants get a certain amount of light.