Winter Maintenance of: Indoor Tropical Plants

Expert in gardening Home Hardware
www.markcullen.com

Have you noticed how gardeners don't seem to get the winter blues? The reason is that we grow tropical plants indoors throughout the winter months. When we surround ourselves with living plants - nature's 'clean air machines' - we also add moisture to the air. This helps your breathing and makes your skin look younger, especially during the cold, dry winter that most of us experience in Canada.  

Clean Air Machines

All plants filter toxins out of the air and most do so more efficiently than anything plugged into a wall. They are silent. They are clean. They never complain or need spare parts (a new pot perhaps!). There are no filters to replace on plants, though wiping the leaves with a clean cloth sprayed with neem oil from time to time helps keep the pores open. The few insects that enjoy indoor plants are easy to take care of with a dose of non-toxic insecticidal soap or by wiping the leaves with neem oil.

Winter Watering

Nine out of ten indoor plant problems are connected with overwatering. Often my advice to plant owners is to take a vacation for a week or so. When you return many plants will actually have improved in appearance! Many others will rehydrate quite nicely. This does not always work so take a moment to learn the water requirements of your plants before you choose to ignore them. To learn more about watering your tropical plants, visit www.markcullen.com. Search the library for helpful information. You can also send your questions and photos to the groundskeeper@markcullen.com  

Repot Now

Now is a great time to repot your indoor plants. Most of the tropical plants in Canadian homes go into a dormant state for the winter months and slowly emerge from dormancy as winter closes and the days lengthen.

Indoor plants are ready for repotting when the roots are growing through the soil at the top and out of the bottom drainage holes.

When you are ready, lay down some newspaper because you are about to make a mess. Acquire a pot one size larger than the one that the plant is currently growing in.

For example, if it is in a 10 inch (25 cm) diameter pot, get a 12 inch (30 cm) pot for the new home. You'll also need some quality potting soil such as Home Gardener Premium Potting Mix. This mix retains plant nutrients necessary for the proper development of your plants.

The number one problem to avoid is pockets of air that get trapped in the soil around the inside wall of the new pot. These air pockets accumulate moisture and can cause root rot over time. You can avoid this by ramming - and I mean RAMMING - the new soil into contact with the roots and the pot using a paint stir stick or a short wooden ruler. Take your frustrations out on this job ... go for it!

One more important tip: if the roots of your tropical plant are twisted in the shape of the pot, be ruthless with them too. 'Scarify' them by pulling out at least one third and if that doesn't work, use a sharp kitchen knife to cut about 20 percent of them. This will send a message to the plant that basically sounds like this, in plant language: "Grow some new roots! You are in a new home and now is the time to put down nice white feeding roots that will wick up the nutrition that you will need to get off to a wonderful new start!"

Have fun and be sure to toss any waste including old soil into the compost.