Task you must do once a week from now until spring to ensure plants stay healthy

With the colder weather creeping up on us as we enter November there will be fewer jobs to do in the garden until next spring, but the change in temperatures means that the green-fingered among us still have one or two jobs to do to make sure their houseplants stay happy over the winter. The changing temperatures mean that conditions inside the house are likely to change as well, with some areas becoming colder, like window sills, while the heating coming on means others will get warmer. Most houseplants are native to rainforests and like warmer temperatures and high humidity, which can make caring for them tricky in chilly British winters or with the central heating on which creates hot dry conditions indoors.

BBC Gardeners’ World recommends during winter owners “water house plants less frequently and move them off particularly cold windowsills at night.” Wilted yellow leaves can be a sign of overwatering. If the compost is damp, let it dry out before you next water.



As well as stopping houseplants from getting too cold you also need to protect them from the effects of central heating. “Mist the compost and leaves regularly with a fine spray, to raise humidity,” the Gardeners’ World recommends. “Continue in winter, as central heating is very drying.

Keep out of direct sun.” You can also make a humidifier tray. Simply fill a plastic or metal tray or saucer with water, put some stones or gravel in it and put your plants on top, making sure the plant itself is out of the water.

This will ensure the plant will get the benefit of increased humidity as the water beneath them evaporates. Other top winter houseplant tips include moving your babies to lighter areas, most houseplants like low light anyway, but as the light levels drop over winter some may benefit from being moved closer to a window, providing it is not too chilly. Another way of making sure houseplants are getting as much light as possible is to make sure their leaves are free of dust.

Take them into the garden and hose down large-leaved plants, smaller ones can we wiped with a cloth. This is also a good time to check the leaves for pests like aphids, scale insects, thrips and mealybugs..