It’s National Houseplant Week UK: Give Your Indoor Plants Some attention!

National Houseplant Week UK is back! Running from the 8th to the 14th of January 2025, it celebrates our green, leafy friends and all their benefits.

January is notorious as one of the darkest months in the calendar. Those of us in the northern hemisphere really could do with all the positivity we can get! Not to worry though, because some fresh indoor foliage is going to brighten up your month.

Why should I bring houseplants into my home?

When it comes to houseplants, most people are now more aware than ever of their health. Bringing the outdoors in has been proven to improve mental health for those suffering with anxiety and depression. Caring for houseplants has also been known to help those who’ve experienced trauma.

At The Plant Parlour, we’re on a mission to contribute to ‘urban greening’, one houseplant at a time.

What is urban greening?

Essentially, urban greening is an environmental initiative to introduce more foliage and greenery to buildings and streets in towns, cities and urban areas. Introducing more foliage and shade to towns and cities contributes to urban cooling, reducing the overall temperature of the ground. A 2024 report by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology reported that "Botanical gardens can cool the city air by around 5 degrees Celsius during heatwaves".

According to a 2024 report by the Royal Horticultural Society, "More than four fifths of the UK population live in urban areas, often with limited access to nature." Not everyone has a garden, courtyard space or balcony to garden, but we all have indoor spaces. Single-handedly adding a handful of plants to your home may not reduce global warming, but if everyone filled their homes with foliage, the world might be a much greener, healthier place.

So, next time you’re unsure about adding that houseplant to your shopping basket, just remember that in Greta Thunberg’s words, you’re “Never too small to make a difference”, and neither is your plant.

How do I keep my houseplants alive?

Adding houseplants to your home is one thing but keeping them alive is something else! Here’s a couple of things you can look out for in winter to make sure your plants are happy and healthy throughout the shorter, colder days.

1)        Adjust your watering schedule. Houseplants need less water in winter because of the shorter daylight hours, so reduce your watering schedule. The best way to check if your plant needs watering is to use the finger trick! Pop a finger in the soil and test for moisture. If the soil is wet 1.5-2 inches below the surface, you don’t need to water. Only water if the soil is dry at this depth.

2)        Move plants closer to a light source. With shorter days here in the depths of winter, plants may need extra light compared to the rest of the year. Move your houseplants nearer to windows to make sure they get plenty of sunlight. If window space is a premium where you live, then consider adding a grow bulb to an ordinary light fitting and leave it on 8-12 hours a day.

3)        Hold off from repotting until spring. Winter is cold and dreary and most plants don’t grow as much. With this in mind, it’s best to hold off on repotting until the spring months when the days get longer, and houseplants start to grow more.

4)        Check regularly for signs of pests. Houseplant pests are generally pesky little insects. If your plant has leaves that suddenly start turning yellow, then check them for insects. The most common winter pests are thrips, spidermites, and scale insect. You can prevent pest build up by regularly wiping leaves with rubbing alcohol, which helps remove tiny insects. If you have fungus gnats then reduce your watering and add yellow sticky traps to all your pots to catch them!

5)        Keep indoor plants away from draughty doors, windows and radiators. Hot and cold air currents can hugely affect some houseplants. Keep them away from cold, draughty spaces near doors and poorly insulated windows. Make sure your plants are also kept at least a metre away from radiators as these can dry out the foliage and cause leaves to go crispy.

For more tips on Winter Houseplant Care, stay tuned for another article drop next week. To make sure you don’t miss it, subscribe to The Plant Parlour at the bottom of this page.

Houseplant Trivia - Did you know these houseplant facts?

1) The most popular houseplant in the UK is the peace lily. Also known as ‘white sails’, this South American queen charms plant lovers with its white spathes and glossy green foliage. It’s a great plant for beginners because it gets dramatic when it needs a drink, its leaves and blooms flopping over the pot. Not to worry though, it’ll perk up within hours if it gets what it needs!

2) The most thrown away houseplant in the UK is the calathea. Native to south American rainforests, calatheas thrive in very high humidity with a strong indirect light source. It’s extremely difficult to replicate their natural environment in a house, so they don’t make great houseplants. The calathea is closely followed as the most thrown away houseplant by the Ficus Lyrata, aka The Fiddle Leaf Fig. (If you’ve had one – you know!) Fiddle leaf figs prefer very bright light that’s difficult to provide in the northern hemisphere.

3) The most absurd query about houseplants on google is: “Why are millennials suddenly so obsessed with houseplants?” I don’t know Barry, but maybe it’s because we’d rather invest energy into endorphin-releasing dogs and plants rather than having a family. Perhaps millennials and Gen Z-ers also love plants because we’re more environmentally conscious than older generations and we feel closer to nature – just a thought.

4) The UK’s easiest houseplant is the Snake Plant. Also know as ‘mother-in-law’s-tongue’, this slithering succulent has thick-cuticled leaves that create movement in waves as it grows towards the light. This incredible houseplant can withstand extreme heat in deserts, but also very cool environments. It does best in bright sunshine but can survive in the lowest-light areas in your home, making it a great all-rounder.

5) The most bizarre houseplant is Lithops. Also known as ‘living stones’, these unusual little succulents resemble tiny pebbles. Native to South Africa, they grow in clumps on the desert floor, thriving in bright sunshine with very little water. Lithops are relatively easy to keep alive as houseplants because they do best when neglected. They're perfect for you if you forget to water!

Do you still need more? This January I’m offering 25% off Online Consultations

I'll answer your houseplant queries and guide you through the toughest months of plant parenting. Online Consultations start from £45* and last from 30-60 minutes. You can ask for specific advice to help you give your houseplants the care they need. I’ll even follow up our call with an email linking any sources or products I suggest! To book, head to the services page now and quote ‘HELPMYHOUSEPLANTS25’ for a discount.

*With 25% discount applied. To redeem the offer, enter the coupon ‘HELPMYHOUSEPLANTS25’ when you pay for your booking. This offer is valid until 31st January 2025 on all Online Houseplant Consultations and can only and can be used once per customer.