Scrub Hub: Do you often kill your houseplants? Here's how to keep them alive in winter

During the pandemic, sales of plants spiked from previous years as people took advantage of the extra time at home.

That increased interest in plants has stayed strong in the years since, with people continuing to add green touches to their homes. And if folks have a green thumb, those plants they first brought home a few years ago are still thriving.

But according to a survey, the average person has killed a handful of plants around their home. This week’s Scrub Hub, however, is meant to help combat that fate. Winter is a notoriously hard time for plants and often is a season when your green thumb might start to feel a little dull.

It doesn’t have to be that way. For this edition, we are taking a look at the question: How do I protect my plants in and around my home from the hazards of winter?

The short answer: Know your plants

The absolute best place to start is to do some research to help you understand the types of plants you have and what their needs are ― both for indoor and outdoor plants.

When it comes to outdoor plants, some can be brought inside (make sure to do that). For those that can’t, it’s important to research each plant’s hardiness zone, or the various ranges for different plants based on the average minimum temperature of any given spot in the nation. This will indicate which plants can survive in the Midwest’s winter climate.

In Indiana, Hoosiers should be looking for plants that can thrive in the Zones between 5b and 6b ― these zones have shifted warmer compared to just a decade ago because of climate change, research shows.

Still, if you already have plants not suited for those zones, then they might be sensitive to cold and likely will not survive, according to experts.

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For those indoor plants, light also becomes an important factor in the winter. As we all know and bemoan ourselves, daylight hours are at their least during this season and cloudy weather is more common.

But plants need light. So if you have flexibility within your home, move and position your plants where they can get maximum sunlight throughout the day. If that is not an option, perhaps consider an artificial light source.

The long answer: Temperature, light, water and nutrients

Plant care consists of four main tenets: temperature, light, water and nutrients.

Most houseplants like to live between 68 degrees and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. That likely is where many of you keep your thermostats set this time of year anyway, so you’re good to go. Don’t worry if you have things a little cooler ― plants can survive in the 60s and even the 50s, but they might stop putting out new growth to conserve energy.

For those outdoor plants you can’t bring in, you can cover them with some light fabric to help defend against future frosts. Just make sure to choose a fabric that allows sunlight to penetrate so the plants can get that other crucial ingredient.

Now when it comes to water and nutrients, those factors vary a bit in the winter compared to other seasons.

It’s still important to monitor your plant’s moisture levels, but plants likely do not need as much water or nutrients during the cold months. If anything, you are at risk of overwatering your plant or giving it too many nutrients because it likely is growing less during the winter and potentially even hibernating.

Everything above has focused on how to get ahead and keep your plants healthy from the start. But there also are some specific warning signs to watch for if your plant begins to look sickly and you’re not sure what’s wrong.

For example, yellow leaves could be a sign of low light. It also could signal a lack in nutrients ― a nitrogen deficiency will present by yellowing in the bottom leaves first.

Another issue might be plant leaves that are curling, dropping or also are slightly discolored. That might be a sign of temperatures that are too cold.

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If your plant hasn’t had enough water, its leaves may wilt or they may be crispy and dry. On the other end, overwatering will result in leaves that are yellow or brown and limp — not crispy.

In the end, if you’re still not sure on what the issue is, you can reach out to the horticulture department at Purdue University with questions. There also are various plant apps that will help you learn more about your plant, diagnose problems and help your plant make it through the winter.

If you have any more questions about plant care, hardiness zones or any other topic, please ask us! You can submit a question to the Scrub Hub through the Google form below.

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Call IndyStar reporter Sarah Bowman at 317-444-6129 or email at sarah.bowman@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @IndyStarSarah. Connect with IndyStar’s environmental reporters: Join The Scrub on Facebook.

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.