Caring for Your Indoor Plants

My aunt readily admits to being the kind of person who begins to think about spring on Dec. 22. Last week, I received a package in the mail—a pot of lily-of-the-valley and bluebells from her backyard bundled up tight with plastic wrap and tissue. Hours after they had taken up residence on my kitchen table, they were beginning to grow at an almost alarming rate — brightening my table and reminding me that the snow can't last forever.

In the spirit of making winter a little sunnier, About Town recently spoke with Kyle Wells, owner of the , to get some tips for keeping your indoor plants healthy through the winter months.

"The biggest thing I recommend is fertilizing every season, once each quarter," Wells told Patch."When you bring [outdoor plants] inside for the winter, try to get them in early. They do go through a transition, but fertilizer can help."

While windows can seem like the perfect sunny location, you may want to think twice about placing house plants close to windows and doors.

"You want to avoid drafty areas," Wells said. "Many common indoor plants are tropical plants ... the cold can be hard on them."

Wells also warns against overwatering, one of the most common mistakes that people make when caring for their plants. Orchids, often considered to be difficult to grow, can thrive with infrequent watering. For most plants, what matters most is keeping a regular schedule and a consistent environment — with the right care, many indoor plants can continue to thrive indoors for years.

"I have a customer with gardenias that are over 30 years old," he said. "She has an entire room devoted to these plants. With tropical plants, you really can start them out small and they'll continue to grow year after year."

Can keeping indoor plants through the winter really better your quality of life? Turns out that yes, they really can.

"Indoor plants help clean the air," Wells said. "A house with plants is a much cleaner and fresher environment."