Houseplant health in winter

Dry, centrally heated rooms can cause problems, says Ruth

NOW that there are days when working in the garden is impossible thanks to the weather, it’s time to make sure our indoor plants are staying healthy through the winter months.

This season is a tough time for houseplants because many of them hail from temperate, humid climates and are not well suited to our dark, dry, centrally heated homes.

You can improve conditions by creating a humid atmosphere around their leaves using damp pebbles and misted water, and by moving them to the lightest part of the room.

Unless they are flowering, there is no need to feed houseplants in winter, and they only require watering when their compost is dry to the touch.

Orchids will benefit from a mist with an orchid spray and you should dunk their roots in a bowl of rainwater every fortnight, letting them drain well afterwards.