Whether you are new to houseplants or a seasoned expert, houseplants can be tricky to take care of during the winter months. With reduced sunlight and dry air from indoor heating, winter is not a time when your plants will thrive. However, with the right care, they can certainly survive. Below are the best houseplants to enjoy during the winter months.

Birkin Philodendron: Birkin Philodendron is a unique plant with dark green and creamy white foliage. This houseplant is perfect for small spaces and thrives with limited light. Low maintenance and great for beginner plant owners. 

Snake Plant: Snake Plants are one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Their stiff leaves grow in a compact whorl, making a perfect plant for adding height. Snake Plants are an easy and adaptable plant that is well suited to a lower light area. 

Pothos: Pothos is a great houseplant choice for beginners. This low-maintenance plant thrives in low light, and their heart-shaped leaves offer a beautiful display. These plants are perfect for hanging baskets with their trailing leaves. 

Need help? Visit our Greenhouse at Studley’s for expert advice and everything you need to know about houseplants.

In winter, watering your plants less frequently is crucial, as slower growth means they require less water. Follow these steps below for a detailed step-by-step guide on how to keep your indoor plants thriving all season long.

Reduce Frequency: Plants naturally grow slower in the winter; therefore, they do not need as much water. Wait until the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry before watering. This might mean some plants only need watering every few weeks. 

Water Deeply:  When you do water, make sure you are watering thoroughly, until the water runs out the drainage holes. This promotes deeper root growth ultimately helping the plant thrive.

Use Room Temperature Water: Cold water can shock the roots of a plant. Ideally, the water for your plants should sit for a few hours, which will bring it to room temperature and allow chlorine and other chemicals to evaporate. 

Caring for your houseplants in the winter requires extra attention. Be mindful of overwatering and harsh dry conditions to keep your plants looking and growing optimally.

Need help? Visit our Garden Center for expert advice and everything you need to know to keep your plants thriving all season long. 

There are many ways to incorporate houseplants into your space, whether you are new to plant care or a seasonal plant parent. Follow the steps below to add a touch of greenery and brighten up your home for the gloomy winter months ahead. 

Create Different Heights and Levels: When shopping for the proper houseplant for your space, make sure you familiarize yourself with the area. Look for corners, consider empty wall space, and think about incorporating plant stands for height. 

Arrange Plants Strategically: Depending on how many houseplants you are adding to your space, strategically place them in groups. Plant groupings give the individual plants a more cohesive and impactful feel rather than spacing them out across an area. Mix your plants into existing decor, such as bookshelves and furniture, or really any place you feel fits the intended ambiance. 

Enhance Them with Decor: Select decorative pots that compliment your space and color palette. You can incorporate other decorative items, such as lighting, baskets, and books to add a more cohesive look to the space.

Keeping your houseplants outside during the summer months promotes healthier and more vigorous growth. Outdoor settings help plants boost their metabolism, and strengthen stems. However, moving them back inside is crucial for the safety of your houseplants. Follow these quick 4 steps to protect your plants and allow them for maximum growth.

Move Your Plants Inside: Ideally you want to move your houseplants indoors before nightly temperatures consistently hit 50 degrees. In New England, this is generally around late September.

Adjust Light Conditions: Plants need time to adjust to the lower light levels indoors. You can try moving them to a brighter spot or use grow lights.

Slow Down Watering Schedule: Make sure you adjust your watering schedule and stop fertilizing your plants once they are indoors. Plant growth slows down for the winter season.

Check Plants For Pests: Make sure you check your plants for any pests or bugs before moving them indoors. This will prevent these pests from infesting your home or spreading to your other plants.

Fall can be the perfect season to plant new trees and shrubs, as long as you plant them at the right time. The ideal planting window is at least one month before the ground freezes. In New Hampshire, this typically falls between mid-October and mid-November. To give your trees and shrubs the best chance to thrive, aim to plant them by mid-October. That way, they’ll have enough time to establish roots and be well-prepared for a vibrant spring. In addition to planting your trees and shrubs at the appropriate time, follow these 5 steps to ensure they are healthy and blooming come spring.   

Water: Make sure to keep already established shrubs and trees well watered into late fall. Moisture will help them survive the harsh New England winter conditions. 

Apply Mulch: Add a two to four inch layer of mulch around the base of the shrubs and trees. Make sure you are keeping this away from the trunk to prevent rotting. 

Prune: Make sure to prune your plants once they have entered dormancy. Dormancy is when plants growth naturally slows, this typically is triggered by shorter daylight and decreasing temperatures. Due to the dry summer that we experienced plants will most likely experience this earlier this season. 

Protect the Trunk: Consider wrapping your shrubs and trees to protect them from damage. You can use tree wraps or even consider guards for younger trees.

The crisp air, warm colors, and falling leaves set the stage for a seasonal refresh. From planting vibrant mums and ornamental kale to adding decorative pumpkins, there are so many easy ways to embrace the beauty of fall. Start by following these 4 steps for an easy DIY fall container.

Choose a Container:

Select a large pot that can accommodate all of your plants, you can choose from terra cotta pots, olive buckets, or galvanized tubs.

Gather Fall Plants: 

Choose fall ornamentals that thrive in brisk weather. Great options include ornamental kale and cabbage for bold color and texture. Add height and dimension with elements like fountain grass, or muhly grass. For visual additions, incorporate plants with contrasting foliage and color, such as grass, dusty miller, and pansies.

Assemble Your Planter: 

Fill your container with potting soil, for a classic look place taller plants in the center and shorter plants or trailing ivy around the edges. 

Adding the Finishing Touches:

Incorporate decorative branches for added height. To add a nice seasonal touch consider adding small pumpkins, gourds, or fall-themed decor, and finally add mulch to any gaps to fill out the container. 

Your garden brings so much beauty during its peak season, so it only makes sense to give it the care it needs to make it through the winter. Taking the time to prepare now will set the stage for a lush, vibrant return in the spring. Follow these four essential steps below to get your garden ready for the colder months ahead.

Remove Spent Plants: Clear away any annuals and vegetables that have finished producing to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering. For legumes like peas and beans, cut the plants at the soil level and leave the roots to decay. 

Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs: Now is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs like tulips, and daffodils, for an early vibrant spring display. 

Plant Cool Weather Vegetables:   Crops like spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, and swiss chard can handle light frosts and are good to plant now. Focus on varieties with a shorter days to maturity listed on the seed-packet. 

Enrich The Soil: Add a generous layer of compost to replenish nutrients that was lost. You can gently work it into the top few inches of the soil.

Your gardens provide so much pleasure during their peak season, so taking care of your plants to weather the the winter months is a no-brainer. By taking the time to care for your garden now, you’ll set the stage for a lush and vibrant return come spring. Follow the four essential steps outlined below to prepare your garden for winter.

Prepare Garden Beds: As the growing season winds down, blooms beginning to fade is your signal to prepare your garden beds for the colder months. Remove any dead plants, weeds, and debris, then gently loosen the soil to keep it healthy. 

Divide Perennials: Once your soil is loosened, divide any overcrowded perennials to allow for rejuvenation when your plants start to come back to life. Not only does overcrowding diminish each plant’s size, but dividing them creates new plantings for your garden. 

Clean Garden Tools and Equipment: Cleaning garden tools and equipment is critical to maintain a healthy and vibrant garden since this will prevent rust and curb plant diseases. Clean, dry, and sharpen your tools and equipment in fall to ensure they’re in top condition and ready for action when spring arrives.

Collect Seeds: Late summer and early fall are prime times for collecting and preparing seeds for next year’s garden. Harvest seeds on dry days when they’ve matured, dry them thoroughly, and then store them in a cool, dry place for safekeeping.