Six ‘effective’ methods to keep houseplants warm this winter

Houseplants that are 'impossible to kill'

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Despite being inside, houseplants are still vulnerable to drastic temperature changes throughout the day such as draughts and central heating. According to experts, this can cause the soil to freeze and thaw. This process could result in heaving, which is where the roots become exposed, which puts them at risk of disease, withering and even dying.

A spokesperson for Garden Buildings Direct said: “Whilst we try and keep ourselves warm this winter, don’t forget to also care for your indoor plants as the colder temperatures set in. Whether you are moving some plants from the outdoors in, or caring for indoor succulents, it’s important to keep them warm this winter. 

“There are several budget-friendly ways to keep your plants cosy, like using some of that bubble wrap you might have lying around. Wrap it around your plant pots and the air in the bubbles will keep the heat in. 

“Of course there are also options which are more expensive, but also very effective. Investing in heat maps or space heaters will keep your indoor plants warm year-on-year. 

“Unusually, keeping plants on top of the fridge can also help preserve heat, and of course chasing round the sunlight in the warmest room in your house is another great tip for this winter.” 

1. Find the warmest room

According to the gardening experts, the easiest way to make sure houseplants stay at an ideal temperature throughout winter is to find out which room in the home is the warmest.

This should be one which gets a good level of sunlight during the day, making sure to move the plants to the warmest, best lit spot in the room.

The experts also recommend rotating the plants every few days to ensure the whole plant receives an equal amount of sunlight.

2. Bubble wrap

Garden Buildings Direct experts explained: “Another simple trick to keep indoor plants warm is to wrap layers of bubble wrap around the plant pot to contain as much heat as possible around the plants. 

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“Bubble wrap is an effective and affordable way for horticulturists to prevent heat loss during the colder months as the layer of air in the bubbles acts like a double-glazed window.”

3. Heat mats

Although a little more expensive, heat mats are a great option for keeping indoor plants a little warmer as the weather gets colder. Heat mats are thin sheets of plastic which have heating elements inside of them.

According to the experts, the mat is plugged in and the surface heats up. Houseplant owners can simply put any indoor plant on top of the heat mat to keep them warm.

4. On top of the fridge

The pros added: “This may seem an unusual idea to keep plants warm – but in fact electric fridges act as heat maps themselves. 

“The top of the fridge often produces some heat, so keeping plants on top of the fridge will allow the plants to absorb some heat for no extra cost. It’s also a good idea to wrap the pots in bubble wrap too as the top of the fridge likely won’t provide enough heat alone.”

5. Space heaters

Using indoor space heaters for plants is a more costly idea to keep plants at the right temperature. If using these, the experts recommended making sure the plants aren’t placed directly in front of the heaters, otherwise they will get too hot.

6. Water indoor plants carefully

The gardening experts noted: “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. 

“Obviously the plants will still need watering, especially if they are in a humid room. Spraying water mist over the plants will help them grow in the dry air whilst avoiding over-watering. A good tip is to push about 5cm deep into the soil – if it is completely dry, then it needs more water.”

For outdoor plants, the experts recommended using bed sheets as well as mulch to protect garden plants from any frost damage.

Placing a lightweight bed sheet over plants can help to prevent any gaps of cold air from seeping into leaves and flowers. The pros added: “Make sure not to leave the sheets for the whole day, otherwise they won’t receive any energy from sunlight to convert into nutrients.”

Gardeners should keep on top of regular mulching in the winter months as it can help to keep various different plants and shrubs warm. 

To do so, scatter thick material around the plants, which will help to keep the moisture in the ground and prevent the likelihood of any frost from appearing.

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