Winter is always a depressing time for plant lovers and very few people know

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that plants need special attention during winter. It’s during winter that many plants die or pick up diseases. To protect our favourite plants from frost and fog, we prefer to keep them inside the house. But we often find that even if they manage to survive, they somehow do not look as lovely as they were outside.

The greens somehow look lifeless. “Simply moving the plants indoors doesn’t help. They need special care,” says Runjhun Sinha, a Delhi-based housewife.

“Chose the right light. All plants require light, but some need more light than others. Place light-loving plants in front of a sunny window or even under a lamp,” she says.

Kamalpreet Khanna, who runs a nursery in Chandigarh says, “Whether outdoors or indoors, whether summer or winter, plants need proper watering.” It probably will not be raining in your house, so you will have to use a watering can to care for your plants indoors. “Proper watering is important during winter months, and each plant has different requirements. Only cacti go dormant during the winter and, therefore, require less water, she adds. Khanna suggests a list of dos and don’ts for plants that have been shifted indoors:

Fertilisers: Potted plants, even those kept outside homes, need a regular dose of fertilisers; because they are unable to acquire nutrients from the hard soil during winter. This means they depend on you for their food. Using a good, water-soluble fertiliser once or twice a month will keep your plants well-nourished.

Check soil level: Soil actually dissipates over time. If you notice that the soil level has actually dropped in a pot, just top the pot off with some good potting soil. This helps the root system by giving it more room to spread out.

Remove any dead material from your plant: You do not want a plant to waste its energy trying to send nutrients to dead parts, so get rid of any dead leaves or stems.

Check humidity level: Heated homes tend to be rather dry during the winter months, and most plants do not like this. Usually grouping several plants together is enough to increase the humidity around them.

You can also create a humidity tray by placing stones in a shallow tray or saucer. Cover the stones with water, and place the potted plant directly on these stones.

Winter lasts only a few mon­ths. Your plants can be placed outside the home after the winter is over. But as long as they are inside, keep them happy!