Winter is a tough time for gardeners and plant lovers as the cold temperature and short daylight hours means the selection of plants that can grow during winter is limited.
However, there are still great plants that can grow indoors during winter.
Whether you want to get a jump start on your outdoor garden or you want to liven up the home, this guide is cover which plants are able to grow indoors during winter.
Surprisingly, there is a large variety of plants that can grow indoors in the winter. Whether you decide to grow houseplants, vegetables, fruits, herbs, or even flowers, there is a plant that will grow indoors during winter in your region.
Let’s cover what plants that can grow indoors in the winter so we can all liven up our winters.
In most cases, you’ll need to ensure that you have a window that lets in a sufficient amount of light for the plant.
You also should make sure you’re taking steps to ensure your plant is appropriately watered and roots are protected.
Houseplants That Grow Indoors During The Winter
There are various houseplants that are great candidates for indoor winter gardening. Here are some common and popular houseplants that thrive during the winter and year round.
Snake Plants
Snake plants are a beginner friendly houseplant that are resilient to light and watering changes.
Whether snake plants receive indirect light or full sun, they thrive. Minimal watering is necessary so occasionally forgetting about this plant will not harm it.
Cacti
Cacti require even less watering than snake plants making this another beginner friendly house plant for winter.
Place cacti next to a window so they can soak in as much sun as possible during the winter months. Make sure to give you cactus love from a distance otherwise they will prick you!
Jade Plants
Jade plants are winter friendly since they require very little water. Not to mention these plants thrive when exposed to indirect sunlight which is perfect during winter.
Whether you bonsai your jade plant or let it grow into a big bush, these plants can grow up to 100 years so they can keep your home green for a very long time.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is the most demanding plant on this list. Aloe Veras do need more sun so they should be kept near a window that has the most amount of light.
Typically a south facing window receives the most amount of sunlight so place these plants in those windows.
As long as the aloe vera plants will last through the winter as long as they receive enough sunlight during the remainder of the year.
Edible Fruit, Vegetable, and Herbs For Winter Indoor Growing
Having fresh produce from the garden is one of the best parts of having a garden.
Winter doesn’t have to be any exception since there are plenty of edible plants that can grow indoors during winter.
Herbs, greens, microgreens, sprouts, and citrus fruits are all indoor, winter-friendly edible plants that you can grow at home.
Growing Herbs Indoors During Winter
Herbs like cilantro, parsley, basil, mint, sage, thyme, and dill can all grow indoors. Ensure that you place them near a window so that they get as much direct sunlight as possible.
Try to ensure they get at least 6 hours of sunlight.
Below I have grown cilantro indoors using just tap water and a net cup to hold the plants. The cilantro plant will grow taller and healthier once I add nutrients to the water but this was a fun experiment to show that herbs can grow indoors during winter.
Checkout this guide to learn more about starting seeds and growing plants without soil and just water.
Place the herbs in a southern facing window if possible so they receive the most amount of direct sunlight.
The window in the picture is north facing which only receives about 4 hours of direct sunlight during winter.
Once your herbs start growing you can enjoy fresh herbs year round!
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like kale, arugula, and lettuce are winter-friendly if you harvest them as baby greens.
They do need at least 10 hours of sunlight though, so a southern facing window is ideal. Otherwise, you’ll need to obtain an artificial grow light to have them to grow in the winter.
Microgreens
Microgreens are great plants to grow indoors during winter since microgreens are just baby greens harvested even earlier.
Typically you want to plant a lot more seeds in the same space since these will be harvested when they just start sprouting.
Microgreens can be grown in trays, bowls, pots, or any other small container.
Keep the microgreens by a sunny window for optimal results and supplement with an artificial grow light if needed.
Sprouts
Sprouts are really easy to grow because all you need is a jar with a perforated lid and water.
Seeds like mung beans need to soak for a day or two. While they need to be rinsed twice per day, they don’t need direct sunlight which is great during the winter months.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like lemons and limes can ripen indoors during the winter although they need a lot of light. You’ll need to acquire dwarf citrus and plant the seeds or plants in a large pot of soil.
It’s recommended that you have a southern facing window to provide as much natural light as possible for these citrus plants.
Flowers That Grow Indoors During The Winter
Some flowers are actually winter bloomers, which means its possible to have beautiful colorful flowers during the winter. A few examples of winter bloomers are Orchids, Christmas Cactus, Poinsettias, and Rieger Begonias.
Orchids
Orchids are beautiful and live for a very long time, which is why they are such a popular gift. Not to mention orchids can also grow without soil (i.e. hydroponically) which make them a fun hobbyist plant as well.
For orchids to thrive during the winter, they should be kept in the sunniest room in your home away from drafts and dry heat.
Poinsettias
Poinsettias are the ultimate winter indoor plant. Poinsettias only need indirect light for a minimum of six hours a day. Not to mention this plant embodies the spirit of Christmas and winter.
During the winter, you can place your poinsettia a little closer to the window than you normally would to ensure it soaks in all the sunlight it can.
Christmas Cactus
Christmas Cactus typically blooms around Christmas which is how it gets its name. This succulent requires dry soil in order to produce beautiful yellow, pink, or ruby blooms.
Ensure that you are getting a typical Christmas Cactus rather than a hybrid which will bloom at another time during the year.
Rieger Begonias
Rieger Begonias are winter-flowering wonders with beautiful blooms. These flowers are sold as annuals but can grow year round if propagated properly.
West or east facing windows provide optimal sunlight for Rieger Begonias.
How Cold Is Too Cold For Indoor Plants?
The ideal temperature for houseplants is generally between 65°F and 75°F. Temperatures below 50°F are usually too cold and will start to cause issues with indoor plants.
Typically most homes do not drop below 50°F due to insulation and climate control systems such as heaters.
Final Thoughts
While it may seem intimidating or hopeless to grow plants indoors during the winter, it’s actually straightforward and exciting when you choose the right plants.
Generally speaking, you want to ensure the plants have a space next to a window where they will receive enough sunlight. South facing windows usually provide the most amount of sunlight while east provides morning light and west provides evening light.
Start small with one plant and add more plants as you get the hang of it. Similar to growing plants outdoors for the first time, growing plants indoors during winter requires a little trial and error.
Before you know it – you’ll grow flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruit during winter to keep your green thumb busy!
