During the course of the pandemic, the trend of plant parenthood It led to a booming business for many plant stores, as those trapped inside their homes during closed closings craved a connection to nature.
However, as temperatures begin to drop, all those tropical plants that thrived in the summer are not going to love the upcoming Canadian winter.
If you had plants outdoors, Breakfast TelevisionFrank Ferragine says they need to be brought in before temperatures drop to the freezing mark.
“If by chance you’ve already had some plants that were hit by frost, you can try removing some of those leaves,” Ferragine said. “However, if they are badly infected by frost and all those leaves have turned black, that plant is gone.”
For plants that manage to avoid that frozen fate, the popular plant consultant Julia Rago, better known as Toronto plant girl, says there are several steps you can take to give them the best chance to survive and thrive through winter.
“Tropical Plants: Winter in Toronto is definitely not your ideal environment,” he explains. “In our houses, we turn on the oven, but the plants will feel cold windows or cold drafts, the air will feel really dry. So there are things you need to do to prepare them. “
How to prepare your plants for winter
Step 1: look for pests
The first time you bring a plant indoors from your garden or balcony, Rago suggests spraying it well with water or even taking it into the shower to remove any unwanted hitchhikers, including dust and dirt from insects.
Pests also lay eggs in the soil, so removing old soil and replacing the potted plant will help get rid of them. [See step 2]
Rago says skipping this step is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when bringing your plants indoors for the winter.
Step 2: put the plant back in a pot
When replanting a plant, it is best to increase the size of the pot in small increments. Rago says that a pot about two inches larger than the previous one will suffice.
This is also a good time to check root health – mushy, brown roots indicate that the plant is rotting and unhealthy. Creamy, stiff, white roots indicate a healthy plant.
- First loosen the plant to make it easier to lift by massaging or rolling the pot around. Once it feels loose inside the pot, carefully lift it up.
- If the plant is rooted and the roots are tightly knit, carefully separate the strands to prevent breakage.
“If you want to take your time with this, there is no need to rush. It’s probably the scariest part for a lot of people, but once you get started it’s not as bad as you think, ”says Rago.
- Trim dead leaves and stems.
“Leaving a large amount of decomposing plant material around the plants invites pests,” explains Rago. “[Dead material] it shows that the plant is weaker and it is easier for pests to enter and feed on it. “ - Add a small amount of a coarse soil mix to the bottom of the new pot; a mixture with perlite and bark is recommended. Carefully place the plant in the new pot, making sure all the roots fit inside.
- Add new soil up to the soil line to fill the pot.
Step 3: add natural fertilizer and diatomaceous earth
Rago recommends using natural fertilizers like earthworms instead of synthetic fertilizers, especially during winter when most plants are not actively growing. They do not cause root burns like some synthetic fertilizers when misused and enrich the soil organically.
He also says that diatomaceous earth powder is a good supplement.
“It is a natural pest killer. Spraying the top of the soil a little will help kill any insects and egg sacs on the ground, ”says Rago.
Step 4: spray with insecticide
Spraying with an insecticide is recommended whether or not you see pests on your plants, and Rago says it also acts as a preventative.
“A lot of insects will accumulate under the leaves and stem cracks, so that’s where you should focus,” he explains.
After you finish spraying, clean all the blades with cotton gloves or a microfiber cloth.
Step 5: water minutely
After you’ve cleaned, replanted, and sprayed the plant, water it well to help it settle into its new pot. Water until you see water seep through the drain holes.
“[This] It means that the water has reached the roots, which is what we want. You are now ready for your new home. [indoors]”Says Rago.
Creating favorable conditions indoors
With the heat on throughout the winter, the air in your home is going to get quite dry. Rago suggests increasing the humidity levels in your home to counteract this effect, noting that most tropical plants do well with higher humidity.
“Otherwise, the leaves will brown a lot,” says Rago.
Also, you may need to make up for the lack of sunlight and fewer hours of sunshine in the day. Rago says you should try to bring your plants closer to the window and invest in inexpensive grow lights.
“Keeping a grow light on for a couple of hours during the day will help supplement that lost sunlight that we don’t get during the winter,” he says.
Avoid this critical mistake
Rago says that most people have a watering schedule for their plants, but it should change in the winter.
“Your plants will dry out much faster in the summer because there is so much more and there is tons of heat and you are using all that energy in the soil to create lush new growth,” explains Rago. “It’s not that long in the winter, so you want to take advantage of that irrigation.”
Rather than stick to a schedule, Rago says it’s best to let the soil dry out a bit before watering. She suggests checking soil moisture levels with your finger, toothpick, or water meter before giving the plant its next drink.
When it comes to watering, Ferragine echoes Rago’s concerns.
“The number one killer of indoor plants is overwatering,” he says.
Reference-toronto.citynews.ca