Expert tips for looking after houseplants over winter

Two women surrounded by houseplants
Katie Heward (right ; with co-founder Emily Wright)shares some plant care tips (Picture: EMILY METCALFE)

As the winter months approach and there’s less natural daylight, the temperature starts to plummet and the central heating goes up — and it’s not just us who are affected by the change in environment.

‘It’s important to give your house plants a little extra TLC to help them through,’ says Katie Heward, co-founder of plant maintenance firm Plant Sit.

‘A conservatory is the perfect place to display your plant collection. But it’s important to choose wisely when you are filling it with greenery.’

Here, Katie shares her top tips on which conservatory plants to pick and how to keep conditions spot on.

Aloe Vera

MAINTENANCE RATING (1 = LOW, 5 = HIGH): 1/5

Aloe Vera plant in white flowerpot
Easy to care for Aloe Vera is a staple houseplant (Picture: Getty Images)

Succulents such as Echeveria and Aloe Vera are ideal for growing indoors. They require little maintenance, lots of light and a dry climate.

For best results, position your Aloe Vera in full sunlight on the south side of your conservatory. To keep them happy, water sparingly in the winter (almost not at all), making sure they aren’t sitting in water.

Bunny Ears Cactus (Opuntia microdasys)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 1/5

Bunny Ears Cactus - Cactus (Opuntia microdasys) in plastic pot on old wooden background
Cute cacti are a must-have (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Cacti are a conservatory favourite, each striking and unique due to their diverse shapes, and none more so than the Bunny Ears Cactus.

They only require a small amount of watering — allow the soil to dry out between each time. They also need fresh air and good ventilation so position next to a window or vent that can be opened occasionally.

Olive Tree (Olea europaea)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 2/5

Olive trees
An olive tree adds instant Mediterranean vibes (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

For something larger to fill up more space, olive trees are evergreen and frost-hardy. As a bonus, if your conservatory doesn’t get heated, these guys will be happy as long as they have brighter light.

Watering during dry spells is crucial for fruit production so make sure the soil is moist, not wet, during the winter.

Kentia Palm (Howeia forsteriana)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 2/5

kentia in pot in front of white background
Regular watering and lots of light is all a Kentia Palm needs(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

To get the full Kew Garden Palm House vibe, the popular Kentia Palm really is the perfect conservatory choice.

They require the shadier corner of the conservatory, and need to be watered regularly in the winter, whilst letting the soil dry out between. And make sure that the leaves are free from dust so they get the light they need in the winter months.

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 3/5

Ivy growing out of plant pot on wooden table
English ivy doesn’t mind the cold (Picture: Getty Images/Image Source)

Ivy looks great when trailing down from a shelf or hanging in macramé, and English Ivy will be happy in an unheated conservatory over the winter months.

If you have a heated conservatory, these will be ok but may suffer from brown leaf tips if you do not mist regularly.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 1/5

Aspidistra elatior or cast-iron-plant or bar room plant with spotted leaves in pot
Cast irons plants are made from strong stuff (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

As you can imagine by its common name, these Cast Iron Plants are easy to look after, plus will add deep green, leafy hues to your winter conservatory.

They are happy in an unheated environment and can tolerate dryness. Just wipe their leaves clean on occasion and water sparingly over the dormant period.

Scarlet Star (Guzmania lingulata)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 2/5

Scarlet Star (Guzmania) Top view on the red guzmania flowers in orangery
Brighten up your conservatory this winter(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

For that little bit of extra colour and texture, requiring bright filtered light, Bromeliad’s are a brilliant addition to the winter conservatory.

A Scarlet Star (very festive!) has a brilliant orange and red flower that can last up to six months, then after that produce pups that can be easily propagated. Make sure they are in the warmest section of your conservatory and mist if humidity levels are low.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 1/5

Snake Plant,Sansevieria or snake plant at home
Keep leaves dusted for a happy snake plant ( Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Not just striking looking, snake plants are extremely easy sun- seeking plants. They’re very low maintenance as they require little watering in the winter.

These add height when placed near other sun-seeking plants such as Aloe Vera or some small cacti. To make sure they are happy, dust their leaves every other week or so.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 3/5

Peace lily
The beautiful plants are worth the extra TLC (Picture: Getty Images)

These fantastic flowering plants are a popular choice for light-filled conservatories where they tend to produce more white spathes and flowers. T

hey need a little more watering than the other plants — make sure the soil doesn’t dry out and mist frequently to increase humidity. In the winter months, they like as much light as possible to keep producing flowers, so position in a sunny spot.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

MAINTENANCE RATING: 2/5

Spider plant houseplant, Chlorophytum comosum in front of a light wall in a green pot
Retro spider plants can go with minimal watering in winter (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Spider plants have beautiful, long-arched green and yellow leaves, often producing tiny white flowers during the summer. They are tough indoor plants that need moderate watering.

Make sure soil is left to dry in the dormant months, watering less frequently than required in the summer. With their long leaves they look great hanging in macramé, in a shadier corner of your conservatory.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR CONSERVATORY WARM IN THE WINTER

Spraying plants in a conservatory
Hydration is key (Picture: EMILY METCALFE)
  1. Low heating is the obvious one, but make sure it is consistent. If temperatures fluctuate too much, with sudden bouts of dry air, house plants will suffer. To combat the dry air, many plants need misting regularly, or pebble trays can increase humidity.
  2. Double glazing solar glass is a great way to regulate the temperature of your conservatory, particularly when there is no central heating.
  3. Draft-proof your conservatory by making sure vents can be covered while windows and doors are sealed properly for the winter period. A lot of plants will not tolerate drafts, particularly in the winter months, so consider the placement of them.
  4. Flooring in your conservatory will have an impact in overall temperature, so if you wish to increase the temperature without strong central heating, then invest in rugs or carpets to treat it more like a room in your house. If the floor is cooler, then plant stands are a great way to raise them off the cool floor.
  5. Blinds will add a level of heat protection, but also shield your plants from harsh rays, if you have picked plants that do not tolerate full sun.

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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