Indoor plants in winter

The main factors of well-being of plants in winter: temperature, lighting, watering, humidity, fertilizing - are closely related and should provide a period of complete or relative dormancy (most species), or conditions for full growth and flowering (cyclamen Persian, azaleas and Others).

Temperature conditions

Tropical plants such as begonia, balsam, kalatea, dracaena, cyperus, arid, bromeliad, ficus, hoyi, tradescantia, many palm trees and orchids are thermophilic sissies, they must be protected from cold and drafts.

The temperature regime should be + 18-25 degrees. These plants are placed in winter in the window on the flower stands, not allowing close contact with either cold glass or radiators.

More hardy - ivy, aloe, araucaria, hibiscus, camellia, laurel, lemon, myrtle, oleander, plectranthus, pelargonium - prefer a moderate temperature in winter and can tolerate its short-term decrease to +5 deg.

Pots with them are placed on the windowsills at some distance from the glass, on wooden grates or stands made of insulating material, for example, foam.

There is also a group of plants for which winter time is a period of rest (cacti, many succulents, fuchsias, royal pelargoniums, conifers, hydrangeas, some orchids, etc.).

They need a cold winter, otherwise they are depleted, stretched, almost do not lay flower buds. They are kept in winter gardens or on insulated balconies, in loggias where the temperature does not drop below +2 degrees, and does not rise above + 10-12 degrees. On the window they are moved to the glass and shielded by the screens from the heat of the heaters.

Ventilate the room carefully, avoiding drafts. Plants from cold air are covered with any covering material.

Light mode

With a lack of light in the conditions of the heating season, plants can stretch, lose decorative, become sick and even die. Most tropical and subtropical species, and some shade-tolerant species, require good lighting and lighting with lamps.

Plants in a state of complete rest (tuberous begonias, gloxinia, achymenes, gloriosa, etc.) will not need light.

In winter, flowers turn for uniform growth, but it needs to be done less often than in the other part of the year.

Air humidity

Dry air depresses green pets, especially those from the humid tropics. Therefore, they are sprayed daily using soft warm water.

You can half-dig pots with plants in the sand and make sure that it is always wet. If there is no sand, pallets with wet claydite, on which pots are placed, will do. Help solve the problem and humidifiers.

Watering and feeding

Watering plants in winter is rare, but do not allow the drying of the soil. Water is preliminarily defended.

It should not be cold to avoid root rot: warm water is better and more quickly absorbed by plants.

The exception is azalea - she likes "cold" watering. The water remaining in the pan should be drained off. Exception - again azalea, it leaves a small amount of water in the pan.

Feed the plants during this period not more than once in 3-4 weeks with complex fertilizers with a minimum content of nitrogen.

Flowering winter azaleas, cyclamen Persian, Kalanchoe Blosfelda, begonium elatior, poinsettia need a full meal. Plants, which are in the state of rest is the formation of buds (oleander), treated with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

"Winter" pests and diseases

The dry air of the heated rooms creates favorable conditions for the development of a spider mite. His presence gives out whitish points on the outside of the leaf and a thin web on the bottom, the leaves quickly turn yellow and fly around.

The spider mite multiplies rapidly, therefore it is not necessary to delay the treatment with acaricides ("Fitoverm", "Akarin", "Actellik", etc.).

Great harm to plants can cause mealybugs and scabs. The best way to combat these insects is watering the soil with Aktara. Spraying with insecticides on adults does not work.

Lukovichnym often harm thrips, will help cope with them, insecticides of a wide range of action or biological products ("Fitoverm"). Fungal mosquitoes and pods, often found on the surface of the soil, do not cause damage to plants with small populations.

Especially dangerous diseases in the winter are root rot. The affected plant looks oppressed, loses the turgor, turns black and dies. Root rot causes pathogenic fungi and bacteria.

The fight against these diseases is often unsuccessful, therefore prevention measures are much more important here:

• Maintain optimal conditions (temperature, light, food),
• Water only with warm, clean water,
• Do not fill the plants,
• Exclude their hypothermia.

As a preventive measure, you can use biologics "Trichodermin", "Fitosporin-M", "Gamair" and others.