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Winter Hurdles Get over your winter gardening hump and boost your green-thumb track record with a few DIY tricks for navigating the winter chill  The Beauty is in the Balance: Keep in mind the importance of balancing the three key elements of winter gardening indoors – light, heat and humidity. Image courtesy stock.xchng The air is overheated and dry, surfaces are parched and the sun's rays barely make it past the windowsill. No wonder winter takes a toll on indoor plants. The lack of light can stunt plant growth; the dry air can cause leaf tips to "burn" or brown and the heat can wilt some, though not all plants. You can compensate for winter's ravages and keep your greenery thriving, say the experts. But don't overdo it. Just like humans, many plants like to go into hibernation mode this time of the year. Here are some steps to take to adjust for a lack of sunlight and humidity or too much heat. Light Don't worry too much about limited sunlight until you know what your plant requires, says William Moss, a spokesman for the National Gardening Association, South Burlington, Vt. For example, African violets and cyclamen need winter light to bloom. A rubber plant, by contrast, is fairly dormant in the winter, so it requires less light, according to Moss. When arranging plants for optimal light, place on the sill of a southern-, southwestern- or western-facing window. "A plant two feet from the window gets half the light of a plant on the sill," says Moss. Artificial lights are another option, says Mike Hibbard, horticultural advisor for Bachman's Floral, Home & Garden in Minneapolis. "New [plant] spotlights timed for 14 hours a day are very beneficial. Check the package to see where the light should be placed," says Hibbard.Humidity "[Lack of] Humidity is the biggest obstacle for most plants," says Hibbard, author of "Don't You Hate it When: How to Solve a Gardener's Little Irritations" (Pinkham Publishing, 2006) You can easily remedy this by placing a group of plants on a bed of gravel, rocks or marbles in a tray with an edge. Add enough water to keep the gravel wet. The set-up will keep the air around the plant more humid, according to Moss. A small humidifier will also add moisture to plants.Heat Again, a plant's requirements depend on the variety. If you're not sure about the appropriate temperature, check with a local plant retailer. Azaleas, ivy and cyclamen prefer cooler temperatures. Philodendron plants don't mind indoor warmth, says Hibbard. Heat often isn't a problem. However, its drying effects can be damaging. Check plant soil regularly. If the surface dries out and looks crusty, take a fork and scratch the surface before you water the plant, says Hibbard. Be judicious when watering plants, says Moss. "People over-water during the winter. The plant can't use the water, gets root rot and dies," says Moss. As a general rule, if a plant is actively growing and blooming, give it water. If the plant is dormant, as rubber plants tend to be during the winter, keep it on the dry side, Moss says.
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Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
