Winter Care Guide
Read Time: 5 MinutesWinter is a slower, cozier season for both people and plants. While you might feel the urge to give your houseplants a “fresh start” with new pots and soil, winter is actually the worst time to repot most indoor plants.
Here’s why you should wait until after winter to repot, plus a basic winter care guide and simple tips to keep your plants happy through the colder, darker months.
Why You Should Wait to Repot Until After Winter
Most common houseplants– like pothos, philodendrons, hoyas, monsteras, and snake plants– sync their growth with light and warmth. In spring and summer, they’re in active growth mode. Longer days and brighter light fuel photosynthesis, warmer temperatures speed up metabolism, and plants have the energy to push out new roots and leaves. When you repot during that time, they can usually bounce back quickly from the stress.
Repotting, even when done carefully, is a disruption. Roots are disturbed, the soil environment changes, and the plant has to divert energy into healing and re-establishing itself. In winter, the opposite of that lush, active energy is happening. Many houseplants are semi-dormant or just growing very slowly. They’re getting much less light, dealing with drier air from indoor heating, and experiencing occasional drafts from windows and doors.
In that state, a big change like a repot can push them into shock. You might see prolonged drooping, yellowing or dropping leaves, and growth that stalls well into the following season. Because the plant isn’t using much water, a bigger pot with fresh soil can also stay wet for too long, increasing the risk of root rot.
That’s why a good general rule is this: if it’s not an emergency, wait to repot until late winter or early spring, when the days start to get noticeably longer and your plants naturally wake back up.
When It Is Okay to Repot in Winter?
There are a few situations where repotting really can’t wait until spring. If you discover severe root rot—mushy, black, or foul-smelling roots—it’s important to intervene quickly. Leaving the plant sitting in rotten, soggy soil can cause the problem to spread and may eventually kill the plant. Similarly, if you’re dealing with a serious soil-based pest issue that isn’t improving with surface treatments, like persistent fungus gnats or soil mites, a controlled repot with fresh, clean mix might be part of the solution.
Another exception is a plant that is extremely pot-bound and clearly suffering—roots wrapped tightly, water running straight through the pot, and the plant constantly wilting despite regular watering. In that case, a small repot may be kinder than leaving it cramped and stressed all winter.
If you do have to repot in winter, think of it as emergency surgery rather than a makeover. Go up only one pot size, or even reuse the same pot with fresh, well-draining soil. Remove only obviously dead or rotten roots, keep the plant in the same light it’s already used to, and avoid adding extra stress like sudden location changes or heavy pruning at the same time.
Basic Winter Care for Houseplants
Winter is naturally a rest period for most houseplants, so the goal isn’t to push lots of new growth—it’s to keep them stable and comfortable until spring. That mainly comes down to three things: light, water, and environment.
Light is often the biggest challenge. Shorter days and a lower sun angle mean even bright rooms can feel dim. Moving plants closer to windows (without letting leaves touch cold glass) helps, and south- or west-facing windows usually offer the best winter light. Rotate pots occasionally so they don’t lean, and consider a simple grow light for high-light lovers like hoyas, succulents, and some prayer plants.
Watering needs to slow down. Plants grow more slowly in winter, so soil stays wet longer. Instead of watering on a strict schedule, check the soil first. For most tropicals, let the top inch or two dry out; for cacti and succulents, let the mix dry almost completely. When you water, let excess drain and don’t leave pots sitting in full saucers. If you’re unsure, it’s usually safer to wait than to overwater.
Dry indoor air is another stressor. Heaters lower humidity, which can cause crispy edges on sensitive plants like calatheas and ferns. You can help by running a small humidifier nearby, grouping plants together, or using pebble trays (with pots resting on top of the stones, not in the water).
Temperature stability is key as well. Most houseplants are happiest around 65–75°F (18–24°C). Avoid cold drafts from doors and windows and keep plants a few inches away from very cold glass or blasting vents and heaters. If you wouldn’t be comfortable standing in that spot all day in winter, your plant probably wouldn’t either.
Pause fertilizer entirely until spring. If a plant is still actively growing, a light, occasional feed at half strength is plenty. Too much fertilizer in a rest period can cause salt buildup and root burn. Winter is also a good time to keep an eye out for pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and fungus gnats—do a quick leaf and soil check whenever you water, isolate any problem plants, and treat gently with soapy water or an appropriate spray.
Winter Houseplant Care Checklist
Use this quick checklist to guide you through the colder months:
☐ Avoid repotting unless it’s an emergency like severe root rot, a serious soil pest issue, or extreme root-bound stress.
☐ Plan cosmetic or size-up repots for late winter or early spring instead of mid-winter.
☐ Move plants to the brightest safe spots in your home and consider a grow light for very dim rooms.
☐ Check the soil before watering and reduce frequency so plants don’t sit in constantly damp mix.
☐ Keep pots out of standing water by emptying drip trays after watering.
☐ Boost humidity with a small humidifier, grouping plants together, or using pebble trays.
☐ Protect plants from cold drafts, icy window glass, and hot air from vents or space heaters.
☐ Pause or reduce fertilizing until you see regular new growth again.
☐ Inspect leaves and soil regularly for pests and isolate any problem plants quickly.
If you follow these steps and let your plants take it easy, they’ll be much better prepared to burst into fresh growth once the light returns. Winter is less about doing more and more about doing the right small things—and giving your indoor jungle permission to rest right alongside you.
