Brits urged to keep houseplants warm

With temperatures dropping, Brits are being advised on how to keep their indoor plants warm so they can survive until the Spring.

The gardening experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk have shared how to keep plants thriving during the chilly months.

Although they are kept inside, houseplants are still at risk of temperature changes throughout the day, particularly at night and during the early hours of the morning.

When exposed to the cold, houseplants may turn yellow, white or brown and leaves could curl and drop.

Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress said: “Houseplants are still at danger of temperature drops despite being kept inside.

“Dramatic changes in temperatures can cause the soil to freeze inside and thaw which could result in something called heaving.

“Heaving happens when the soil freezes and expands, pushing the plant’s roots towards the surface.

“When the soil thaws it contracts again, leaving the roots exposed and the plant vulnerable.

“The most crucial thing is to try to keep your plants at a consistent temperature by placing them in a warmer room overnight. In extreme cases where house temperatures fluctuate a lot you may want to wrap plants in bubble wrap, this is another inexpensive solution.

“If you have plants in conservatories where temperatures can easily hit below zero then move the plant to another area of the home.

“Keeping plants on top of the fridge is another surprising way to keep them warm as it produces some heat. This acts as a bit of a heat mat with no extra cost!”

Five ways to keep houseplants warm:

1. Find the warmest room

The easiest way to make sure indoor plants stay an ideal temperature this winter is to find out which room in the house is the warmest. Make sure that this room has a good level of sunlight during the day and rotate the plants every few days to give them an equal amount of sunlight.

2. Bubble wrap

Wrap your plants in bubble wrap to help them contain as much heat as possible. This is an affordable and common way for plant lovers to prevent heat loss in the colder months.

3. On top of the fridge

The top of the fridge produces some heat and can act as a heat mat for no extra cost. Keeping the plant on top will allow it to absorb some extra heat. It may not provide much heat alone so it’s worth wrapping the plant in bubble wrap too.

4. Space heaters

Using indoor space heaters for plants is a more costly idea but provides an effective source of heat to keep indoor plants at the right temperature. If using space heaters, make sure that plants aren’t placed directly in front of the heaters, otherwise they could get too hot.

5. Water indoor plants carefully

Indoor plants are susceptible to over-watering during the winter months, since they don’t need as much water as they do during the spring and summer. Only water when the first five cm of soil is dry. Spraying water mist over the plants is a good way to help them grow whilst avoiding over-watering.