How to care for household flowers in winter? All the key points for overwintering care are here
When winter temperatures are relatively low, conditions are unsuitable for the growth of most flowers. To help potted flowers overwinter safely, they need to be moved indoors one after another in early winter. After being brought indoors, the care measures taken and the placement positions must take into account the characteristics of each type of flower.
Temperature: adjust appropriately according to different flowers
In northern regions, the winter climate is cold and temperatures are relatively low, so generally southern flowers need to be moved indoors to overwinter, and suitable temperatures should be adjusted according to the requirements of different flowers. For flowers that like high temperatures, such as Milan (Aglaia odorata), poinsettia, African impatiens, begonias and succulent flowers such as cactus and ball cacti, the pots should as far as possible be placed on an indoor windowsill with ample sunlight and relatively high temperature (between 20°C and 25°C), and the lowest temperature must not fall below 10°C. For flowers that like moderate temperatures, such as jasmine, geranium, Chinese rose and Rohdea japonica types, the suitable winter temperature is 18°C-22°C, and the lowest temperature must not fall below 6°C. For flowers that like low temperatures, such as kumquat, osmanthus and orchid types, the winter temperature should be kept between 12°C-15°C, and the lowest temperature must not fall below 2°C. For aquatic flowers, such as lotus, water lily, water hyacinth and Nuphar pumilum, the water should be drained in time before frost, and the pots moved to a cellar or a corridor hallway, with the temperature kept at 5°C, and appropriate spraying of water when the pot soil is dry.
In addition, flowers that bloom in winter and spring and flowers that like light and warmth, such as Christmas cactus, cyclamen, camellia, poinsettia, Milan (Aglaia odorata) and jasmine, should be placed on a windowsill or in a sunny spot near a windowsill. Evergreen flowering shrubs that like sunlight but can tolerate low temperatures, or flowers in a dormant state, such as osmanthus and citrus types, can be placed in a cool spot with scattered light. Flowers with generally low light requirements, such as potted water lily and Chinese rose, can be placed in a dark, cool spot without light.
Fertilizing: reduce as much as possible or stop
In winter most flowers enter a dormant period, so fertilizing should be reduced as much as possible or stopped. For indoor flowers that do not go dormant in winter, such as evergreen flowers like snake plant, fishtail palm, broadleaf lady palm and pothos, when the room temperature is around 5°C they basically have no demand for fertilizer, so no additional fertilizing is needed; if fertilizing is done when the temperature is relatively low, root rot can easily occur. The main reason is that in winter the plant root growth is in a slow state, and the fertilizer applied cannot be absorbed by the roots; instead, it hinders normal root absorption, and in severe cases causes root rot.