Liven up your home with these winter-hardy houseplants.
But keepinggreenery in your homecan be tricky.
Relatively few daylight hours, fluctuating temperatures, and dry air can create a challenging growing environment.
On a windowsill in a dry room is the ideal location for a succulent collection. They come in a wide array of colors and styles, so you can mix and match to create a unique grouping. “One thing to keep in mind is that temperatures tend to be cooler near windows in northern climates, especially in older buildings. In scenarios like this, it can be advised to almost not water your succulents throughout the winter months,” Hill says. Some succulents may continue to grow during this time, while others will wait at a standstill until spring. When warmer weather hits, you can resume regular (yet still infrequent) watering.Photo: Sprout Home
Still, wedolove our houseplants, so we went in search of varieties best suited to the season.
Even the least experienced gardener can successfully grow a Chinese evergreen, thanks to its hardiness.
Hancock promises this plant “will power through the winter season and look fresh and green all year.”
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In fact, thezz plantwill often do better the more you leave it alone.
Since it can thrive in low-light conditions, the zz plant looks good even during winter’s shortest days.
“It’s virtually indestructible,” says Hancock.
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This low-maintenance plant features bright green stems topped by elegant, long-lasting blooms.
And while the moth orchid is happiest in medium- to full sun, it tolerates low light very well.
And it doesn’t mind if you forget a watering or two.
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“You practically have to kill iton purpose.”
Low light, drought, and insects are no match for this hardy houseplant.
Rubber Plant
There’s a reason rubber plants often rank among themost popular houseplants.
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They so just fine in low light, so they’ll thrive in spots where other plants won’t.
The ponytail palm is resilient, says Hancock.
It’s drought-tolerant, slow-growing, and requires very little care.
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The festive-looking plant has long, narrow, dark-green leaves that form a fountain-like cascade down to its base.
The best plant choices for covered terrariums are mosses, ferns, and fern allies, he says.
A terrarium also adds a stylish conversation piece to your home.
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Try it yourself: Sprout Home offers terrarium-building classes in Chicago and New York City.
Jade Plant
The jade plant is a survivor, and a beautiful one at that.
“However, some plants can tolerate temperature variationsand the jade plant is one of them.”
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And it does just fine near an open window in the winter.
Spider Plant
Another hearty, easy-care plant, spider plants can thrive in typical winter home conditions.
They do just fine in dry conditions, and just need a bit of indirect sunlight to thrive.
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Plus, it’s undeniably low-maintenance.
Philodendrons
The philodendron is afavorite among drought-tolerant houseplants, says de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez.
(Both the split-leaf and monstera varieties are on-trend.)
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So how do you know if your monstera plant is thirsty?
“Get familiar with its typical weight.
Lucky Bamboo
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You don’t even need soil to help this succulent thrive.
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It does well in low light, and just needs a regular top-off of water to keep it growing.
Their happy place is on a windowsill in a dry room.
He advises you to water them sparingly throughout the winter months.
Spider plants like humid spaces and are easy to care for.Lynne Brotchie/Getty Images
This hardy succulent stores water in its sculptural leaves, allowing it to go long stretches between watering.
The only downside is that this plant won’t give you any visual clues if it’s parched.
It’s also super cute.”
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Pothos
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Pothos plants are adaptable to a wide variety of conditions.
By reserving water in this way, the wax plant is always prepared for an unexpected drought.
And its cascading leaves look stunning when suspended in a hanging woven basket.
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(Plus, its spiky, red-edged leaves add a pop of color to brighten your winter.)
It loves low light conditions, and needs slightly moist soil to thrive.
You’ll need to keep them in indirect light, and offer plenty of humidity.
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Bonus: You’ll have plenty of fresh rosemary to enhance yourwinter cooking and baking.
(Bonus; They sometimes bloom with white flowers, too!)
They can also handle longer periods between waterings, especially during the colder months.
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(Think watering once every few weeks!)
It’s the perfect plant to thrive anywhere in your home, all year long.
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African violets are small, safe plants to have around cats.Getty Images/adisa
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