How to Care for Your Houseplants During Cold Winters
Quebec winters are no joke, and our tropical houseplants feel the effects too! Between shorter days, cold windows, indoor heating, and dry air, their environment changes considerably. Even when they're staying warm and cozy indoors, their needs aren't necessarily the same as they are in the middle of summer.
Fortunately, caring for your plants during winter doesn't have to be complicated once you understand how they respond to their environment. I'm going to share my tips for preparing your plants for the colder months, adjusting your care routine, and helping them thrive until spring returns.
If you're new to tropical houseplants, you can also explore our tropical plant care guide library to better understand their needs throughout the year.
1. Bring Your Plants Indoors Before the First Cold Nights
Do you enjoy moving some of your houseplants onto your balcony, patio, or into your garden during summer? It's a wonderful way to give them extra light and fresh air, as long as you keep an eye on temperatures when fall approaches.
At Zarits, we recommend bringing sensitive tropical plants indoors before nighttime temperatures drop below 12°C (54°F). This is a general precaution: some species tolerate cooler conditions, while others may start showing signs of stress at higher temperatures.
Don't wait for the first frost! Cold damage isn't always immediately visible.
Meghan's 3 Essential Tips for Bringing Your Plants Indoors
In this short video, Meghan, the founder of Zarits, shares three essential steps to follow before bringing your plants back inside for the colder season.
How to bring your plants indoors for winter: Meghan's tips from Zarits. (Video in French)
- Bring your plants indoors before nights get too cold. Keep an eye on the weather as summer comes to an end, and plan to bring your plants inside before temperatures drop significantly.
- Inspect the leaves and potting mix. Check the tops and undersides of leaves, the stems, and the surface of the growing medium. Insects may be hiding after a summer outdoors. If you notice an infestation or another issue with the potting mix, consider replacing it.
- Clean the leaves and isolate your plants. Meghan uses black soap as part of her cleaning routine. Make sure you're using a plant-safe product and following its instructions. Always test it on a small area before treating the foliage.
🌿 Roxanne's Tip
I recommend keeping plants that have spent the summer outdoors separate from the rest of your collection for about two to three weeks. This observation period makes it easier to spot unwanted pests before they spread to your other plants. And there's no need to automatically repot a healthy plant. Inspect it first!
2. Light: The Biggest Challenge During Winter
During winter, the days become shorter and the sun stays much lower in the sky. Even next to a window, your plants may receive considerably less light than they do in summer.
A plant that was perfectly happy in its spot in July might not receive enough light in December.
This reduced light exposure can lead to slower growth, stretched stems, or less dense foliage.
How Can You Provide Enough Light?
- Gradually move your plants closer to your brightest windows without placing them directly against the glass.
- Clean their leaves regularly to remove accumulated dust.
- Adjust their location according to their individual light requirements.
- Use a grow light if natural daylight becomes insufficient.
Some plants, such as Hoyas, particularly appreciate bright conditions. You can explore our complete Hoya care guide to learn more about their specific needs.
💡 Roxanne's Tip
A grow light can really make a difference during winter. Providing approximately 10 to 12 hours of light per day is a good starting point for many tropical plants. However, you'll need to adjust the duration based on the light's intensity, its distance from the plant, and each species' individual needs.
3. Adjust Your Watering Routine for Winter Growth
This is probably one of the most common mistakes I see: keeping exactly the same watering routine as in summer.
When light levels decrease, many plants slow down their growth and use less water. As a result, their potting mix may take much longer to dry out.
Growing media that stay wet for too long can contribute to root problems.
The secret isn't following a schedule. It's paying attention to your growing medium.
How Do You Know When to Water in Winter?
- Check the moisture level of the growing medium before each watering.
- Lift your pot to learn how heavy it feels when the growing medium is dry versus moist.
- Make sure excess water can drain properly.
- Respect each plant's individual watering requirements.
Keep in mind that some plants prefer their growing medium to dry almost completely between waterings, while others appreciate more consistent moisture.
The type of growing medium also plays an important role. To better understand the differences, read our article: How to Water Your Plants: Potting Mix, Perlite, and Stratum.
💧 Roxanne's Tip
During winter, I always prefer checking the moisture level of the growing medium rather than automatically watering every seven days. A plant growing under a grow light may continue to need regular watering, while a plant receiving less light might need much longer intervals between waterings.
4. Indoor Heating and Dry Air: Keep an Eye on Humidity
Our homes are kept warm during winter, but indoor air can become particularly dry when outdoor temperatures drop.
Many tropical plants appreciate higher humidity levels than those found in some homes during the colder months.
Air that's too dry can cause:
- Brown, dry leaf tips.
- Crispy leaf edges.
- Curling foliage.
- Conditions that favour certain pests, such as spider mites.
How Can You Improve Humidity Around Your Plants?
Using a humidifier is one of the most effective ways to increase the humidity level in a room.
You can also group certain plants together to create a slightly more humid environment around their foliage.
For many tropical plants, a relative humidity level of approximately 50 to 60% can be a good target, provided there is proper air circulation and your windows aren't developing excessive condensation.
Some varieties are more tolerant of dry air than others, so humidity requirements aren't the same for every plant.
🌿 Roxanne's Tip
A small hygrometer is an excellent tool for measuring the actual humidity level in your home. If you grow plants that appreciate higher humidity, such as many Alocasias, you can also explore our Alocasia care guide.
5. Cold Windows, Indoor Heating, and Temperature Changes
During winter, where you place your plants becomes especially important. Even if your thermostat reads 21°C (70°F), that doesn't mean every area of your home is at the same temperature.
Watch Out for Cold Windows!
Across Canada, and especially in Quebec, winter temperatures can make window glass extremely cold, particularly in older homes or those with less efficient insulation.
Leaves that touch cold glass directly may suffer cold damage. Air leaks and drafts around windows can also cause stress for certain tropical plants.
I recommend keeping enough distance between the foliage and the glass. During periods of extreme cold, don't hesitate to temporarily move your plants away from particularly cold windows.
Be Careful Around Heat Sources Too!
Avoid placing your plants too close to radiators, electric baseboard heaters, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, or heating vents.
Direct heat can quickly dry out foliage and growing media, while also causing significant temperature fluctuations.
Ideally, you want to find the right balance: a bright location, a relatively stable temperature, and enough distance from sources of direct heat or cold.
Is It Safe to Lower the Heat at Night?
Good news! An indoor nighttime temperature between 16 and 18°C (61–64°F) is generally well tolerated by many tropical plants, including Hoyas, Monsteras, Philodendrons, and Pothos, especially if temperatures rise again during the day.
Some plants can also tolerate slightly cooler temperatures, around 14 to 15°C (57–59°F), but these conditions aren't ideal for every variety. More sensitive plants, including many Alocasias, Anthuriums, and Calatheas, generally prefer warmer, more stable temperatures.
The important thing is to monitor the actual temperature around your plants. Even if your thermostat reads 17°C (63°F), temperatures near a poorly insulated window can be much lower, especially during extreme Canadian winter weather.
❄️ Roxanne's Tip
If you lower your heating at night, keep your most sensitive plants away from cold windows and drafts. I also recommend placing a small thermometer near your plant collection to check the actual temperature around the foliage. You might be surprised by the difference between the temperature near a window and the temperature in the middle of the room, especially during extreme cold!
6. Fertilizing and Repotting: Should You Take a Break?
Since many tropical plants slow down their growth during the darker months, their nutrient requirements generally decrease as well.
If your plant is no longer producing new leaves, you can reduce or temporarily pause fertilizing.
On the other hand, a plant that continues growing actively under a good grow light may still benefit from an appropriate amount of fertilizer.
What About Repotting During Winter?
For repotting that isn't urgent, I generally prefer waiting until the plant enters a more active growing period.
This gives the plant a better opportunity to adapt to its new growing medium and environment.
Of course, there are exceptions. Root problems, potting mix that stays constantly waterlogged, or a pest infestation may require intervention, even in the middle of winter.
If repotting becomes necessary, choose a lightweight, airy, and well-draining growing medium. You can explore our potting mixes and substrates for tropical plants, as well as our clear pots with drainage, which are useful for monitoring root development and moisture levels.
7. Slower Growth Is Completely Normal!
Has your Hoya stopped producing new leaves? Does your Philodendron seem to have stopped growing? Is your Alocasia taking a little break?
Don't panic!
Many tropical plants naturally slow down their growth when light levels decrease.
This slowdown doesn't necessarily mean they're unhealthy or missing something.
However, it's still important to keep observing them. Significant leaf loss, rapid yellowing, soft stems, or unusual spots may indicate a problem that deserves closer attention.
The goal isn't to force your plants to grow at all costs. It's to respect their natural rhythm and provide conditions that suit the season.
7 Essentials for Healthy Houseplants This Winter
- Bring sensitive tropical plants indoors before the first cold nights.
- Provide enough light, whether natural or artificial.
- Adjust watering based on the actual moisture level of the growing medium.
- Monitor indoor humidity, especially when the heating is running.
- Keep plants away from freezing windows, drafts, and direct heat.
- Reduce fertilizing and avoid unnecessary repotting when growth slows down.
- Observe your plants and respect their natural rhythm throughout the colder months.
A Little Note From Roxanne 💚
I find winter to be a particularly interesting time to get to know your plants better.
Sometimes, we tend to want to intervene as soon as a plant slows down its growth, when what it really needs is simply a little patience and an environment suited to its needs.
That's also one of the things I love about horticulture: every season teaches us to observe plants differently.
And what a wonderful feeling it is when the days finally start getting longer and those first new leaves begin to appear! After a long Quebec winter, I always find that moment especially rewarding.
Take the time to observe your little indoor jungle. It often has much more to teach you than you might think.
See you soon,
Roxanne 🤍
Want to keep learning? Explore our tropical plant care hub to discover more guides on lighting, watering, growing media, and caring for your favourite houseplants.
