The Best Winter Houseplants

Snow and ice and freezing cold temperatures… It certainly can be miserable outside this time of year. Once winter hits, spending more time hibernating is the status quo for many of us. For the next few months, we’ll be dealing with the bleakness of winter, counting down the time until the first blooms of spring arrive, and we can once again enjoy the outside.

However, you don’t have to wait long to see some spring-like greenery. Filling your home with beautiful, lush greenery provides relief and gives you a touch of colour and freshness that is difficult to find in these long months.

For anyone who has attempted to grow houseplants before, you know how difficult it can be to make sure your plants stay healthy. The winter provides its own challenges, as it can be difficult to control things like humidity and temperature. Have no fear! Here are a few wonderfully forgiving winter houseplants that will be a breeze to care for and provide you with that touch of spring we all crave.

Easy Care Winter Houseplants

You want to keep a few things in mind when looking for plants that robustly handle the winter months. You want to find plants that do well with temperature changes, can overcome the lack of humidity caused by heating your house, and thrive when not given exposure to sunlight for an extended time.

Here are a few options you might consider, as well as some tips and pointers for their proper care.

Snake Plants (Sansevieria)

Snake Plants are a trendy indoor plant. They are easy to care for and nearly impossible to harm. They can hold up against cold drafts and handle the vents’ heat that keeps you cozy.

They aren’t particular about how much sunlight they get and can go for days without being watered. In fact, one of the only ways you can hurt this plant is to over-water it. Snake plant care is one of the easiest to master, and your plant will flourish with minimum effort. Plus, their yellow markings against the dark green background of their leaves provide a unique pattern that can help provide contrast from other plants.

Dracaena

Dracaena is another excellent example of winter houseplants. Like the Snake Plants, this winter houseplant is native to a drier climate and can withstand drought-like conditions. You wouldn’t want to forget about watering this plant for too long, but a few days wouldn’t be enough for it to notice. Dracaena is a plant with many different colours, shapes, and sizes. Finding the perfect one to complement the décor of whichever room you want to place it in will be easy. The instructions for ideal dracaena conditions are identical to snake plant care. Just don’t overwater it!

ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia… It’s easy to see why this plant is known by just its initials. Fortunately, the ZZ plant is easier to take care of than remembering the full name. It does well in just about any condition. It can be shady or sunny, dry or moist, cold or hot, and this plant will do just fine.

This is an attention-receiving plant; you will love its shiny, deep green petals. It’s also slow growing, which is ideal if you don’t want to repot frequently. If you have to repot, just make sure to use well-draining soil, as too much water isn’t great. It is also easy to tell when it’s time for watering. Just use a long, thin probe to test the soil. If the probe is damp when you pull it out, you can forgo watering for at least another day. Something like a popsicle stick or knitting needle would be ideal to use to check the water content of the soil.

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

The Fiddle-Leaf Fig is an elegant addition to any room. The unique, violin-shaped leaves give this small tree its name and will stand out against any background. This plant needs more sunlight than the others on the list, but if you can find a sunny spot, maybe at a large window, this plant would be ideal.

Its resistance to drought and heat makes the Fiddle-Leaf suitable as a winter houseplant. You would only need to water it once or twice a month, and warm blasts of air from heat registers shouldn’t bother it. One thing to keep in mind though, is that they do NOT like temperature fluctuations whether it be from a drafty window or door or from being next to a heat vent. They will drop leaves very easily. This plant grows quickly and can reach more than 6 feet in height and may need to be repotted more than the other plants on this list. The Fiddle-Leaf Fig is an excellent air scrubber, too, and does a great job of eliminating bad smells in your home.

Philodendrons

If you are concerned about the lack of sunlight, especially at this time of year, look no further than the Philodendrons. These plants thrive in shadow and out of direct sunlight. Too much sun may cause the leaves to burn, so shady areas of a room are perfect. They are another plant that does not need watering often, so you don’t have to worry about the lack of humidity. Its large leaves help this plant absorb whatever moisture is in the air and even small amounts of sunlight. Wherever you place this plant, expect a lot of growth. Even without much attention, they can get quite big.

Succulents

No list of hearty plants would be complete without one of the most demanding plants of all, the Succulent. These small but strong plants can withstand everything, from a little amount of sunlight to dry air to heat pouring from vents. In the winter, if you like it a little cooler in the house, you will barely need to water them at all. There are so many varieties and colours of succulents you will have no problem finding the perfect one for any bookshelf or table.

Using this list as a guide, visit us at Blue Grass Nursery for help making the perfect selection of winter houseplants.

Have you found a particular plant to be easier to care for than others in the winter season? Please leave a comment below to assist our readers in their selection.