Winter Winners

5 plants that do *ok* in winter

The initial title of this article was ‘winter casualties’ but that seemed a bit morbid, PLUS I think it’s more helpful to have a list of plants that can do fine in cold weather.

By the way, few tropical houseplants do WELL in winter. They’re not equipped to deal with it and the things they need to do stuff (light, warmth) aren’t in plentiful supply do it’s expected that growth will slow or stop when the days are short and the temperature low.

Firstly, let’s discuss the conditions. My house is cold and draughty and we’re pretty frugal with the heating. Sure, the uk doesn’t get *that* cold compared to much of Europe and North America but it’s very much NOT tropical for a good four months of the yea.

Secondly, let’s just reiterate that I’m not claiming that any of these plants thrived under these conditions. They’re just plants that I walk past and think ‘whoa, you’re looking well considering’.

I would have taken photos, but it’s dark when I leave for work and when I get home. Just trust me ok 😂

So in first place:

1 . Cebu Blue Pothos

10/10. No notes.

What a trooper! It still looks full and lush and is growing well DESPITE living in decidedly medium light. I think the key here is light volume over intensity - it’s a good 10 feet from a window but it’s equidistant between two so it gets long hours of below average light.

2. Philodendron Verrucosum

It’s kept growing all year which is definitely an achievement, though growth was pretty small and ‘wintery’.

The main reason it ended up in second place despite small growth is that it DIDN’T get spider mites. Rare for verrucosum and incredibly impressive.

3. Monstera deliciosa

It was chopped back HARD in December due to thrips. Like, a lot. Back to the soil. It wasn’t a haircut so much as a decapitation. It’s already sprouting sprouts!

4. Peace Lily

Grew all throughout the winter as if nothing had changed. Flowered in January. Well done, mate.

Despite being picky about most apects of their care, they don’t seem to mind the cold

5. Hoya (various species)

My Hoya usually resider in a south-facing window but I moved them into a dark corner for winter. Sure, the window would have been a bit chilly over winter, but the main reason I moved them was that I wanted to be able to open and close my blinds and curtains (layers for the win!) unencumbered.

They also wouldn’t have appreciated being bashed by said window dressings twice a day.

They did fine! No dropped leaves and even some growth!

Honourable Mentions

Smaug (P. Golden Dragon) - he’d probs grow outside in Antarctica though. He’s decide to start growing perfectly vertically and one of his leaves looks a lot like a bat when you’re lying in bed at 2 am. That wasn’t terrifying AT ALL.

Maidenhair fern - though tbf they do grow in colder climates in the wild. I think I’m just bragging that I haven’t let it dry up. See also: fittonia.

Strings of hearts prop: the new growth is teeny tiny, but it’s trying so hard!

Casualties

Anthurium clarinerveum - this also got a sever haircut and…it reeeally didn’t seem to like it. Oops.

Alocasia dragonscale - kinda par for the course when it comes to Alocasia but my Amazonica is doing fine in a smug kind of way.I don’t think there’s a reason one’s fine and the other dropped all its leaves (last year the dragonscale was fine and the Amazonica really wasn’t), I think it’s just a case of luck.

Over to you! Any successes or casualties to report?