The winter season means spending much more time indoors, which reduces the feel-good effects of being around Mother Nature. But you can boost your mood and brighten up your living space with beautiful winter-loving plants that thrive indoors.
Plants aren’t just pretty to look at; they’re also beneficial to our health. In fact, according to Peidmont.org, plants improve air quality, boost our well-being, and reduce stress. So, having these winter-loving plants can be a mood booster and bring your home to life.
If you enjoy being around plants as much as we do, check out this list of plants our gardening experts recommended growing inside.
Cyclamen
“You may not know their name, but you will most certainly recognize these brightly-colored houseplants with their white, red, and pink blooms. They begin showing up in florist shops, nurseries, and even your local grocery stores in the fall,” says Horticulturist and botanical designer Nathan Heinrich.
If you live in a mild climate you can use these flowers for a pop of color in planters outside your home, but they also thrive indoors. You want to keep them away from hot stoves and fireplaces, and try to find a nice bright spot near a window where they will get plenty of natural sunlight. These flowers do not like to sit in soggy soil, which can cause them to rot and die. So, make sure to water them thoroughly when they have nearly dried out to avoid overwatering them.
Orchid
Heinrich says Orchids are one of the most popular houseplants in the world. They bloom in the winter and all year long, and with proper care, they can last for years in your home.
“Orchids have very unique water requirements as they are native to rainforests and have root systems that are adapted to cling to the mossy trunks and branches of trees. Imagine the dappled indirect light under a rainforest canopy, and that’s the type of light orchids require,” he explains.
While these flowers flourish in sunlight, avoid placing them in a very hot window that gets intense reflected afternoon sun. Instead, pick a bright location on the north side of your home or in a window that has a tree shading it for the perfect balance of light. You’ll want to mist these flowers regularly with distilled water to keep the leaves hydrated. You can also add a couple of ice cubes to the growing media each week to add moisture without causing too much water retention.
Adenium
Anastasia Borisevich, a plant expert at Plantum, says Adenium is another lovely plant to add some color to your interior this time of year. Even better—given the right conditions, it can bloom all year round!
“Taking care of Adenium is generally a breeze, as it doesn’t require much of your time or effort. Its talent to thrive in harsh environments has even earned it the nickname desert rose,” she says.
This is the perfect plant for those that tend to forget to water their flowers. A little neglect of postponing a drink for a day or two is generally fine, while waterlogging may cause root and stem rot, eventually killing your plant. You also want to make sure to keep your Adenium away from pets and children since it’s toxic.
Azalea
This lush plant comes in rich white and red colors and is another whimsical winter bloomer. Azaleas require regular watering and high humidity; they prefer cool conditions and should be placed away from heaters.
Borisevich warns that you should be careful when handling them, as these delicate beauties are toxic to humans and pets.
African Violets
Heinrich says that these lovely velvety-leaved houseplants have been staples of horticulturists for hundreds of years. Violets come in a range of colors from deep purple to pale pink, and grow best in bright indirect light. They need regular watering but must be allowed to nearly dry out between waterings.
“To keep them blooming through the winter months, feed occasionally with a quality water-soluble African violet fertilizer,” he advises.
Bromeliads
According to Heinrich, these flowers are similar to orchids and are native to tropical climates and rainforests. However, they require regular watering and a bright location in your home. Ranging in colors from blue and pink to orange and yellow, these colorful low-maintenance plants add an exotic pop of color to your home during the winter months.
“Interestingly, pineapples are in the bromeliad family, and you can even grow mini pineapple plants as houseplants. These beautiful plants make a great option for kids to learn about growing things or anyone who claims to have a black thumb,” he says.
Kalanchoe
“Kalanchoe is famous for its variety of colors—it comes in red, pink, white, orange, and yellow. It likes sunlight and moderate watering, especially when it goes dormant after flowering,” says Borisevich.
This is one plant you need to be careful not to overwater or store in a space that’s too humid, or else you risk losing it. Other than that, Kalanchoe is pretty easy to care for which is great for people with busy schedules.
Amaryllis
If you’re looking for a burst of color to add to your home, you should take a closer look at Amaryllis. If you plant the bulbs six weeks before the desired flowering date, you’ll be able to admire its large, vibrant flowers all winter.
If you want these flowers to come back again, reduce watering and keep the plant in a dark, cool place for 2–3 months once your it’s done blooming. This is when the leaves will start to die off, at which point you should trim them. Then, 8 to 12 weeks after the dormancy, bring the plant back into the sunlight and resume your watering routine.
Poinsettia
Poinsettias come in a wide range of colors and can make lovely houseplants all year long. Since they are native to Southern Mexico, they flower in the tropical winter weather of their native habitat, which is why they can thrive indoors.
“My grandmother has a cream-colored variety in her home that she has had for years. By keeping your poinsettia in a bright location, away from cold or hot drafts, and watering regularly while allowing the soil to dry out between waterings, you can enjoy this winter bloomer for years to come,” Heinrich says.
Schlumbergera
Most know this plant as the infamous Christmas cactus. “Unlike its desert cousins, other cacti and succulents, the Christmas cactus comes from the tropics, which makes it more demanding in terms of watering than the rest of its family,” according to Borisevich.
“If you want your Christmas cactus to flower, you’ll have to keep an eye on a few other things, too. From around mid-October, try to maintain the temperature range at 59–65 degrees Fahrenheit. At this time, it’s also important that the sunlight exposure doesn’t exceed 8 hours, and the lighting should be bright but diffused.”
It’s best to avoid moving the Christmas cactus around during this period of bud formation and at the time of actual flowering, as the plant may shed its beautiful blooms after being placed in a new location.
Succulents
Succulents are one of my favorite plants that can thrive inside. While some succulents may be less tolerant to cold, there are many species that are hardy to frigid temperatures. Plus, these plants are known to be low-maintenance too, which makes them a top pick for beginner growers.
Most succulents are drought-tolerant because they store water in their leaves. So they don’t require daily watering, and it’s best to wait to water them when the soil is dry. When you water, you want to make sure to saturate them, but you shouldn’t water them too frequently.
As far as how much light they need, will depend on the type of succulent you decide to grow. You can check the care tag when you purchase your chosen plant to ensure you provide the proper care.
Geraniums
If you want to bring some cheer to your place then you should grow Geraniums indoors. The flowers come in a variety of colors including coral, pink, white, purple, red, and more. Although these beauties typically bloom from spring to fall, you may be able to get them to bloom during the winter if you provide enough light and the right conditions for them.
These flowers prefer warmer temperatures, which makes them ideal for bringing indoors during the bitter winter season. Since they enjoy lots of light, you can put them on a sunny windowsill to ensure they get enough direct sunlight throughout the day.
Snake Plant
Although this is a warm weather plant, it thrives indoors even during the winter months as long as you keep your home between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Snake plants are resilient, drought-tolerant, and even improve air quality. They also have the ability to have a long life-span. In fact, my mom has a snake plant that is 25 years old, and is almost 7 feet tall!
These plants prefer indirect sunlight and can go without water for a couple of weeks. It’s best to wait until the soil is dry before watering.