Winterizing Your Houseplants
Prepare your plants for winter with these essential cold-weather care tips.
Winter Challenges
Shorter days, lower humidity, and temperature fluctuations stress indoor plants during winter.
Adjust Watering
Reduce frequency as growth slows. Soil dries slower in cooler temperatures.
Increase Humidity
Heating systems dry air. Group plants, use humidifiers, or place on pebble trays.
Supplemental Lighting
Consider grow lights if natural light is significantly reduced.
Avoid Cold Drafts
Keep plants away from windows at night and exterior doors.
Stop Fertilizing
Most plants don't need fertilizer during dormancy.
Tools and supplies for this
Products we'd actually buy for this job. Linking to Amazon — if you buy through these links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- Weston Mill Pottery Terracotta plant pots, 175mm (pack of 10)
Mid-size workhorse terracotta — perfect step-up for plants outgrowing their nursery pots.
- Weston Mill Pottery Terracotta plant pots, 20cm (pack of 5)
Heavyweight 20cm clay for established plants — the porous walls help prevent the soggy roots aroids hate.
- Whitefurze G04012 7.5cm Garden Pot - Terracotta (Set of 10)
Cheap, cheerful plastic propagation pots — what we actually use for cuttings and small offsets.
- Whitefurze G04013 10cm Garden Pot - Terracotta (Set of 7)
Reliable mid-size nursery pots with proper drainage holes — the boring essential every plant parent runs out of.
Dr. Sarah Green
Plant Biologist
Passionate about helping plant parents succeed with expert tips and proven techniques.
Comments(11)
I'd add that tropical succulents especially benefit from backing off watering entirely during winter—mine went through a rough patch years ago when I kept the same summer schedule. Now I let the soil dry out completely between waterings and it bounces back stronger in spring. The light drop is real too, though honestly my single succulent sits in a south-facing window so it manages okay without a grow light.
I'm curious what you mean by tropical succulents—are you growing something like *Echeveria* or *Aloe*, or something more tender like *Portulacaria*? I've found the watering pullback really depends on the species and how cold it actually gets where they are. My *Aeonium arboreum* basically goes dormant in my med climate winters and I water maybe once a month, but a friend in a heated apartment keeps hers on a lighter schedule than summer but not bone-dry. The south-facing window is ideal though—I'm jealous of anyone who has that light advantage without needing supplemental help!
That's really helpful to know—I've got a few tropical plants that I've been watering on the same schedule year-round, so I'm definitely guilty of that. I'm curious though: when you say let the soil dry out completely, do you mean like several weeks between waterings, or just longer than your summer routine? I have a Monstera and some Philodendrons that I'm worried might suffer if I cut back too much, since I'm in a pretty humid tropical climate anyway.
I'd add that the transition period matters as much as the destination—I've found my *Solanum lycopersicum* seedlings respond better to gradual temperature drops than sudden shifts indoors. Worth noting too that "winterizing" looks completely different depending on whether you're in a climate where plants genuinely go dormant versus just slowing down. Most houseplants in temperate zones don't actually need the deep rest people assume.
I'd push back gently on the "one-size-fits-all" winterizing approach—what actually matters depends heavily on your setup. I keep most of my plants indoors away from drafts, so I mainly cut back watering and stop fertilizing; I barely adjust light since my south-facing window helps. The big mistake I see people make is moving plants closer to heaters or cold windows out of habit rather than thinking about their specific conditions.
You've hit on the exact issue I struggle with in my dry climate—I actually have to *increase* humidity as heating kicks in, which totally flips the script compared to what most guides suggest. My Phalaenopsis especially hates that combo of warm air and low moisture, so I moved mine away from the vent entirely and started misting more often (though I know that's not ideal long-term). Your point about drafts and individual setups is spot on; there's really no substitute for knowing your own space.
I've been dreading winter with my one succulent because I live in a pretty dry climate anyway, and I wasn't sure if I should change anything about watering or placement. This post is really helpful—I didn't realize I might need to adjust my light setup even though it's already sunny where I live. Do you have tips for succulents specifically, or are the basics you mentioned pretty universal for them too?
I find winter care gets framed pretty broadly, but for succulents especially, the shift is less about coddling and more about respecting dormancy. Most of mine actually thrive on the cold snap and reduced watering—I've noticed my *Aeonium arboreum* varieties especially appreciate those crisp nights. The real key is resisting the urge to fuss with them during this quiet season.
Great timing on this! I've been scrambling to adjust my indoor herb setup as temps drop here. I'm curious—do you recommend cutting back on fertilizer entirely during winter, or just reducing frequency? My *Ocimum basilicum* always seems to get a bit leggy once the light hours shift, and I'm wondering if that's just inevitable or something I can actually prevent with the right prep.
I've learned the hard way that "winterizing" really just means backing off—less water, no fertilizer, and accepting slower growth. The biggest mistake I made early on was still watering on my summer schedule when my plants were basically dormant. Now I let the soil dry out more between waterings and watch for signs they actually need it rather than sticking to a routine. Are you finding most people overwater in winter, or is that just been my particular struggle?
I've been worrying about my plants as temperatures drop here in the tropics—even though winters aren't as harsh, my indoor temps do dip. I'm realizing I probably overwater during this season out of habit. Does anyone else struggle with adjusting their watering schedule, or is it mainly about moving plants away from cold drafts? I moved my *Monstera deliciosa* away from a window yesterday and I'm curious if that's the main thing I should focus on.