When I think of winter in Burlington Vermont, I think of beautiful snow-capped mountains in the distance, hitting the slopes, ice skating, snowman building, and enjoying the views of our quaint snow-covered city. But, what also comes to mind is the unforgiving cold temps and crispy dry air that can wreak havoc on our indoor plants. Recently, this has made me think to cater my indoor plant choices to ones that will thrive in all seasons of the year- without having to go through the extra effort of spritzing the leaves and setting up the humidifier near our high maintenance, winter hating plants. The top five indoor plants that thrive throughout the winter season are:
Aloe
Having an aloe plant is a great choice for the wintertime! As long as your indoor temperatures are regulated, the cooler temps outside should not bother this common household succulent. The dry winter air and lots of bright sunlight allow it to flower all year round. Aloe has so many things to offer other than providing a fun and exotic style to your home. It is actually one of the most studied plants for natural medicinal purposes. It is found to be extremely nutrient-dense and moisturizing for the skin. The aloe gel, found on the inside of the leaf, can penetrate three epidermal layers of the skin, locking in a high level of moisture. It is also more commonly known for its cooling properties. Applying a thin layer of aloe gel to sunburns, small kitchen burns, and itchy bug bites can help soothe and heal them quickly.
Snake Plant
What makes a snake plant so awesome is that it’s virtually indestructible. For anyone who was not blessed with a green thumb, a snake plant is a great plant to start with. While it’s not recommended, it can go up to 2 weeks without being watered! The snake plant comes from Madagascar, Africa, and Southern Asia so it is very used to both harsh and consistently changing climates. It prefers dry, sandy soil. According to the Platerina, “Snake plants are on the top of the list of air-purifying plants. Something unusual they do is actually release oxygen at night through a process called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (cam). They only open their stomata at night, to avoid dehydration. They capture co2 and release o2, during the day they use the stored organic acids for use in photosynthesis.”
Orchid
Orchids produce a beautiful flower that can uplift the spirits of any person or space it’s around. They are so welcoming and come in many varieties. They are actually the largest family of flowering plants and come in more than 25,000 different species. Orchids are great for the wintertime because they enjoy filtered light and moderately moistened soil, so they do not need a lot of water. One of the best ways I know to water an orchid is to slip 1-3 ice cubes into its pot, once a week and let them melt. They are easy to grow and can bloom multiple times a year depending on the species you choose.
Dragon Tree
Not only does the dragon tree have a super cool name it is also a super cool plant! They are drought intolerant which makes them very hard to kill and creates a very easy-going maintenance plan for you. Dragon Trees do not like their roots to get too wet, so a well-draining pot is best. They do very well in a wide variety of temperatures making them perfect for a year-round house plant, even if you live somewhere with harsh winters. The one downfall to having this plant indoors is if you have pets. If ingested, the dragon tree is toxic to dogs and cats.
Philodendron
Last but certainly not least, the philodendron! This lively, trailing plant is very easy-going. The philodendron is commonly mistaken for a monstera plant even though there are many different species that look very different from one another. The best way to differentiate the two is by looking at the leaves. The leaves of the monstera are a similar shape to the philodendron but the monstera leaves have lots of open spaces and holes. The philodendron prefers moderate to direct sunlight and a temperature range from 60-78 degrees. A perfect range for indoors during any time of the year. It does very well in a hanging basket and is commonly seen with its leaves draping down the sides of shelves, walls, and bookcases. It creates a statement piece for your living space all on its own.
And there you have it: The top five best indoor plants to keep throughout the winter months of the year. Time to get to work and watch them thrive in your own home.
