For many, quarantine was a time to get creative and find new hobbies. Some of those hobbies could include sprucing up your space with plants. As the warm days come to an end, your plants may start to shed leaves or turn brown, but no need to panic, this is totally normal and there are steps you can take to keep your greenery healthy in the winter. Find areas in your home that typically get more sunlight, but avoid putting plants too close to drafty windows or radiators.

Different plant species can vary in their winter care needs, so always do a little research to learn those particular needs for your plants first. Supplies that will help you get started with your plant journey are plant misters, room humidifier, watering can and supplemental grow lights (if needed.) In general, try to mimic the plant’s natural outdoor winter habitat to the degree that you can!

Below is a list of ways to properly care for your houseplants this winter:

- Adjusting the watering routine: oddly enough because the winter air is drier, plants often experience a slower rate of growth during the colder months; therefore, plants need less water during the winter. Note that overwatering can lead to root rot! It is also important to remind that different plants do have different watering needs – like drought tolerant cacti and other succulents may not need watering all while some tropical plants require more watering.

- Altering humidity levels: this can be one of the biggest hurdles houseplants must overcome during the winter. Humidity levels can drop anywhere from 10 to 20 percent in winter and plants need 50 percent. A good tip is to cluster your plants in groups because they naturally release water through their leaves so grouping them will put that moisture to good use!

- Pay attention to temperature: most plants, like humans are comfortable in day time temperatures between like 65- and- 75 degrees Fahrenheit and night time temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your plants away from both cold drafts and heat such as radiators, ovens and fireplaces as fluctuations in temperature can increase the likelihood of killing the plant.

- Put those houseplants on a diet: most of the time, houseplants do not need any fertilizer during the winter months because they are not growing as actively, so when you DO start to see new growth or existing leaves appear to be greening up, resume fertilization to give them a boost!

With all the tips and tricks of how to properly take care of your houseplants during the winter months…here are some of the best winter houseplants to keep your home bright this winter!

- Snake-Plant Laurentii: known for being “nearly indestructible” is one of the most low-maintenance winter plants and are the perfect plant for beginners and can also survive in windowless rooms.

- ZZ Plant: while being easy to take care of, this plant is also incredibly adaptive to less than ideal conditions. This plant is very drought-tolerant plant landing next to the cacti and the beautiful part about this plant is that it maintains a shiny, waxy leaf, always leaving it looking happy.

- Pothos: like both the snake and ZZ plant, this is another plant that doesn’t require a lot of direct sunlight and it can handle many forms of light levels.

- Hawthoria: Because succulents and cacti’s generally range as low-maintenance plants, Hawthoria is of no exception either. This plant does need to be around drafty windows since they do require a good amount of sunlight but can tolerate the cold better.

- Cast-Iron Plant Aspidistra: these plants have a really elegant shape to their leaf and acclimate well to drier environments during the winter months making them another low-maintenance plant!