Tips compiled from information via UConn Extension and Urban Resources Initiative.

ANNUALS/PERENNIALS

• Check for frost heaving on perennials during thaws + press back into place. Cover the crowns with extra mulch as needed.
• Start seeds of pansies, dusty miller, browallia, begonias, snapdragons, and delphiniums indoors under lights.
• Inspect stored bulbs, tubers and corms for rot or infestation.
• Discard those showing signs of decay or insect damage.

HOUSEPLANTS

• On frigid nights, move indoor plants away from windows to protect from freezing, or cover panes w/ a shade or cardboard.
• Houseplants with large leaves and smooth foliage, such as philodendrons, dracaena and rubber plant benefit if their leaves are washed at intervals to remove dust and grime.
• During the winter, most homes are too dry for houseplants.
  • Humidity may be increased by placing plants on trays lined with pebbles and filled with water to within one half an inch of the base of the pot.
  • Run a humidifier, or if you heat with wood, keep a pot of water on the stove. The added moisture will be healthier for you, as well as your plants!
• Rotate and prune houseplants often to keep them shapely. Pinch back new growth to promote bushy plants.
• Houseplants will benefit from fertilizer applications once or twice during the winter. Some like geraniums may grow tall and leggy, requiring supplemental tall.
• Check all house plants closely for insect infestations. Isolate and inspect gift plants until you determine them to be safe.

VEGETABLES

• To determine how many seeds to order, map out your garden on graph paper. Allow adequate space between rows room for vining crops like pumpkins and winter squash. Rotate crops.
• Don’t wait until late winter to order seeds, as many popular varieties sell out early. At the end of the month, start seeds of onions, leeks, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower indoors.