Exotic plants are some of the most beautiful natural decorations for any home, but they are much more expensive and require much care, especially in the cold season. Originating from warm climates with a high humidity, exotic plants can face with a lot of winter problems, and if you don’t strive to provide the best conditions, it’s possible to lose them.
If you are a beginner in growing exotic plants, we have the best advice for you that will help you get through this wonderful time of year.
Provide them the humidity they need
Maybe you can’t figure it out, but in winter the air in the house can be very dry due to radiators or other heating sources. For exotic plants, dry air is not beneficial at all, so it’s possible to notice that the leaf tops dry out, or that the leaves begin to bloom and have a wilted look.
In this case, you need to provide extra moisture. In the absence of a humidifier, you can try the simplest trick: place a water pot next to the plant. As the water evaporates, it will be absorbed by the leaves.
Provide a well-lit place
In the cold season, exotic apartment plants need more light, especially as the sun’s rays aren’t so “burning” anymore, and the hours with natural light are fewer. Therefore, it’s advisable to place these tropical plants closer to the window. If you don’t have enough space, you can use the fluorescent light lamps.
Let them hibernate or rest
When you buy exotic apartment plants, it’s good to know the ideal conditions for them. For example, some tropical plants, including the orchid, are going through winter hibernation, time when they don’t grow. For this reason, it only needs to be placed in a dimly lit area and rare waterings should be done (only when the soil is completely dry).
Other exotic plants, such as amaryllis, are blooming in the winter around Christmas, so they need more watering and more light.
Transplant them
Winter is the perfect time for transplanting exotic plants. As many of them enter a stagnation phase in which they no longer develop, the stress they will face in transplanting will be much lower than in the summer, when switching from one soil to another can be a strong shock for the roots.
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