Are you looking to recreate the warmth of your garden inside your home this winter? Here are a few of our favorite houseplants to brighten up your living spaces from now until spring.
Western New York winters can be cold, hard, and colorless. The days get shorter and the nights get darker—but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a few bright spots inside your home this winter.
Here are three of our favorite houseplants to warm up your home this winter.
Snake plants are derived from temperate climates, such as the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia—but do they have what it takes to flourish indoors during the winter? The answer is yes! In fact, the snake plant is one of the most tolerant indoor plants you can grow at home.
We recommend snake plants as houseplants during the winter—not just because they’re so easy to manage.
Fun fact: In Ancient China, the snake plant was believed to represent the “eight virtues”: long life, intelligence, art, beauty, poetry, strength, health, and prosperity.
Place your snake plants near windows or other parts of your home where low light and warm or humid conditions are prominent. A steady light is okay, too. Near a window in your bathroom, for example, is an excellent place for your snake plant to thrive.
For this plant, you’ll need a loose, well-drained potting mix or sandier soils. An all-purpose cactus potting soil will work perfectly. During the winter, you need to water the snake plant only once per month. Be wary of overwatering, though, and always check the soil to make sure it’s dry so you don’t overdo it.
There are at least six different types of snake plants, all of which grow upward and outward with varying degrees of leaves. Some are short and squat. Which snake plant is right for you? Drop by Lockwood’s and we’ll help you pick one out!
From the Lockwood’s staff: “Snake Plants are great for air purification and are a great option for people beginning to get into house plants.”
Bromeliads are bright, long-lasting houseplants that will give your home the vibrant energy of a tropical paradise. Their orange, magenta, and golden plumes plus green leaves are enough to spruce up any kitchen, living room, or home office. If you’re looking for a lovely, low-maintenance houseplant to brighten your spirits all winter long, this plant is for you.
To create the best environment for bromeliads inside your home, put them where they will receive medium to bright light. If bromeliads get too much sun, they can get sunburn spots, so keep an eye out for any discoloration or irregularities there. Generally speaking, though, sun-splashed countertops or tabletops are safe spaces for bromeliads to grow.
Fun fact: Did you know that the pineapple is a bromeliad? Yep, and it’s the only bromeliad to produce fruit. Will your bromeliad produce pineapple?! Sadly, no. But if you’re keeping your bromeliad in the kitchen, its Central American roots might inspire you to be more creative with your cooking this winter!
Bromeliads are built to withstand droughts, so they do not require much watering. In the winter, a healthy watering once or twice a month should do just fine. But be careful! Bromeliads do not like to be submerged in water, so don’t fill your flower pots up to the brim with water.
There are a few different beautiful varieties of bromeliads. Choose your favorite plant at Lockwood’s today.
From the Lockwood’s staff: “After bromeliads bloom, they send out new shoots that can be taken off the plant to make new plants! One plant can send out as many as six new bromeliads.”
Ferns are one of the best indoor houseplants for folks with a creative spirit or flair for interior design. With the option to pot or hang these luscious plants in your home, you have more freedom to experiment with where you put them. However, humidity is helpful to ferns, so you’ll want to avoid placing them where the air will be hot or dry. In other words, do not put your ferns near heating ducts or air vents.
Bright bathrooms and kitchens are the best places for ferns to flourish. With the rich humidity of these areas, plus the medium to bright light from nearby windows, will help the ferns preserve their verdant exuberance.
While ferns should generally be moist, they should never be soggy. To measure how well your ferns are doing, judge their color and texture. If the leaves are bleached or the plant is sopping wet, you’ve overdone it one way or the other.
Fun fact: Ferns are some of the oldest plants in the world, going back about 360 million years ago! in some cultures, the fern is believed to guarantee happiness and eternal wealth.
From the Lockwood’s staff: “Our favorite varieties include ribbon and tri-color ferns. Add supplemental humidity around the fern. However, the fern should not stand in water.”
Not sure which size or how many plants you need? Head into Lockwood’s and we’ll help you find the perfect plant for your home! Or give us a call at (716) 649-4684 and we’ll be happy to help!
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