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House Beautiful’s winter houseplant report recommends changing four habits as daylight and temperatures fall: move plants toward suitable light while avoiding drafts, water and feed less, cluster plants to support humidity, and wipe dust from leaves. The advice comes from B&Q horticulture expert Mark Sage; individual plant needs can vary.
House Beautiful has published four winter-care habits for indoor plants, citing Mark Sage, B&Q’s horticulture expert: adjust plant placement for limited daylight, reduce watering and feeding as growth slows, group plants to support humidity, and wipe dust from leaves. The advice matters because lower light, cooler temperatures and dry indoor air can change what plants need compared with summer.
Sage advises moving plants closer to a bright window as days get darker, but not placing them in cold drafts or beside radiators. He says those conditions and radiator heat can affect plants, and recommends considering a plant light where natural light is limited. Rotating larger plants can also help prevent uneven, stretched growth toward a light source.
Because many plants grow more slowly in autumn and winter, the report advises letting soil dry between waterings and using less fertilizer. Sage says winter is generally not the time for routine repotting, and recommends giving plants their final feed at the end of autumn rather than continuing a summer schedule.
The other habits focus on indoor conditions and leaf care. Grouping plants can create a more humid area around them, which may help when central heating dries indoor air. Sage also recommends wiping leaves with a microfiber cloth every one to two weeks so dust does not block as much of the limited available light. He says an occasional gentle shower with lukewarm water can clean leaves and help remove pests, while warning that water that is too cold or too hot can harm plants.
Why Winter Conditions Change Plant Care
The advice addresses a seasonal mismatch: a routine that suits active summer growth may not suit plants receiving less daylight and growing more slowly. Continuing to water or feed at the same pace can be counterproductive, while placing a plant near a window may expose it to cold drafts. Adjusting these habits can help home growers respond to changing conditions rather than treating winter care as a more intensive version of summer care.
The recommendations are practical but not a guarantee that every plant will respond the same way. Light, temperature and watering needs differ by species and by home. The report’s central point is to monitor conditions and avoid assumptions: reduced growth does not automatically mean a plant needs more water, fertilizer or repotting.
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The Four Seasonal Care Adjustments
The report frames winter care around four changes: light, watering and feeding, humidity, and leaf cleaning. It notes that many familiar houseplants, including spider plants, peace lilies and monsteras, stay indoors as colder weather arrives, but their environment can still change substantially inside a heated home.
Sage’s advice is to place plants where they receive suitable natural light without exposing them to drafts or radiator heat; allow soil to dry between waterings; scale back feeding after a final autumn application; group plants to support humidity; and clean leaves regularly. These are general recommendations in the report, not a plant-by-plant schedule or a substitute for checking the needs of a particular species.
“It’s always a good idea to move them closer to a bright window as darker days hit, but make sure to avoid cold drafts and radiators.”
— Mark Sage, B&Q horticulture expert, quoted by House Beautiful
Plant Needs Still Vary by Home
The report does not set out specific watering intervals, light levels or humidity targets for individual plant species. It also does not quantify how much grouping plants changes humidity or how much dust affects light absorption. Household conditions and plant varieties differ, so the four habits should be treated as general guidance rather than a fixed care plan. The source gives no publication date, and it does not report testing or measured outcomes for the recommendations.
Adjust Care as Conditions Shift
As autumn and winter progress, the practical next step is to observe each plant’s location, soil and growth, then adjust care to the conditions in that room. Check that a brighter spot is not drafty or directly beside a radiator, and allow the soil to dry between waterings rather than following a summer timetable. The report offers no formal follow-up or scheduled next update; its guidance is to continue monitoring plants and make seasonal adjustments through winter.
Key Questions
Should I water houseplants less in winter?
Generally, yes, according to the report. Sage says slower growth usually means plants need less water. Let the soil dry between waterings, while accounting for the plant’s type and conditions at home.
Where should I put houseplants during winter?
Move them closer to a bright window if they need more light, but avoid cold drafts and spots beside radiators. A plant light may help where natural light is limited.
Does grouping houseplants increase humidity?
Sage recommends grouping plants to create a more humid microclimate around them. The report does not provide a measured humidity increase or guarantee that this will meet every plant’s needs.
How often should I clean houseplant leaves?
The report quotes Sage recommending a wipe with a microfiber cloth every one to two weeks. He also suggests occasional gentle showers using lukewarm water, cautioning against water that is too cold or too warm.
Source: housebeautiful.com
