January gardening diary: attend to houseplants

House Plant

published 20 January 2014

The days are short and often gloomy, so many houseplants are in the doldrums. Work through each one, removing decaying tissue cleanly. Make sure there is plenty of natural light available, ideally on a north-facing windowsill, and that temperatures are not too warm for a plant that's essentially dormant. Draughts are usually disastrous, so keep plants away from doors in frequent use. Water only sufficiently to prevent wilting, as growth is at a minimum and sitting in the wet is an unwelcome prospect. Resist the temptation to feed. For now, things should just tick over.

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