Despite colder temperatures and snow outside, the plants in your sunroom will help maintain a bright and cheery spring-like atmosphere in your home. However, houseplants have some additional needs during the winter to ensure they stay healthy. Follow these tips to keep your sunroom plants in the best shape all winter long.

How to Care for Your Sunroom Plants This Winter

1. Provide Maximum Light

For plants, light is both food and energy. It sparks metabolic processes that create nourishment, and it supports growth and reproduction. However, daylight hours are limited in the winter, and the plants in your sunroom may not get the exposure they need. Make sure all the windows are clean and the window coverings are open throughout the day. Depending on the direction the windows face, you might need to rearrange the plants so they receive maximum exposure when the sun is out.

2. Keep Leaves Clean

With windows and doors closed throughout the winter, there's less air circulation in the home. All the dust, dander, dirt, and other particles in the air need to go somewhere, so they'll accumulate on surfaces, including the leaves of your plants. This buildup can prevent them from absorbing precious sunlight, and it can make a plant more susceptible to diseases. Every few weeks, gently wipe down the leaves with a soft cloth to keep them dust-free.

3. Avoid Overwatering

During the winter, most houseplants enter a state similar to hibernation, where they use their stored nutrients for sustenance. This means that, while they'll still need some watering, they won't need as much as they do at other times of the year. In fact, overwatering can be lethal for houseplants. Before giving your plants a hearty drink, press your finger into the soil. If it's still moist about an inch under the surface, it doesn't need watering for now.

The right sunroom will serve as the perfect showplace for your houseplants all year long. Since 1982, Patio Solutions in East Rochester, NY, has been providing sunroom installation and design services for homeowners throughout Monroe County. They also offer a comprehensive selection of awnings and shades. Call (585) 385-9999 or visit their website to learn more about their products today.