UK households urged to move houseplants off windowsills

Houseplants need to be moved from windowsills in November, experts have warned. November brings changeable weather for people across the UK. For gardeners, they might be busy preparing their lawns and outdoor plants for a cold winter ahead. When it comes to indoor plants, there are also certain measures you should take. As homes can get cold before the heating is turned on, your houseplants might suffer.

Where you put your houseplants can majorly affect how well they do in the winter months, when they will get limited sun exposure and natural warmth. As November arrives, experts have listed the jobs that anyone with plants, whether indoors or outdoors, should get done. As always, Gardener's World has completed a comprehensive list of the jobs to get done in the garden and in homes throughout the coming month, including the new placement of houseplants.

The gardening experts have urged UK households to move their houseplants away from cold windowsills in the month of November, especially at night. They revealed: "Water house plants less frequently and move them off particularly cold windowsills at night."

This is to protect them from fluctuations in temperatures as the weather gets colder and more unpredictable outside. Houseplants enjoyed a plethora of warm days over the summer months as the UK experienced record temperatures.

But the Met Office has predicted a cold and harsh winter ahead, so houseplants might need extra protection. Additionally, they should be given extra humidity to combat the effects of central heating systems.

Meanwhile, you should maximise the amount of sunlight your houseplants get by moving them to optimal spots. While this might be a bright windowsill, you may need to move them at night, as these spots will get the coldest the quickest.

The experts also say November is a good time to repot any house plants that have become top-heavy or pot-bound into larger containers. Plus, you should still regularly check your houseplants for pests such as aphids, thrips and scale insects.

Households should also feed house plants once a week with liquid fertiliser, continuing throughout autumn.