If your indoor plants look a little crispy in winter… you’re not imagining it. Once the heat kicks on, indoor air can get dry fast, and plants that were perfectly happy in fall suddenly start showing signs like: * brown, crunchy leaf tips * curled edges * buds dropping before they open * “mystery” leaf loss (especially on fussier plants) The fix often isn’t more watering, it’s more humidity (or at least a little boost around your plants). Let’s break down three super common humidity helpers: pebble trays, mini humidifiers, and domes. We'll also look at when each one is actually worth using. 𝟏) 𝐏𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐬 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐰-𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬: A shallow tray filled with pebbles + water, with the plant pot sitting on top of the pebbles (not in the water). 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫: ✅ a small humidity boost in a very small area (like a windowsill group) ✅ plants that just need a little help (not rainforest-level humidity) ✅ people who want “simple and cheap” 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: * Use a tray wider than the pot (more surface area = better evaporation) * Fill with pebbles so the pot sits above the water line * Refill as needed (winter air drinks it up!) * Works best when you group a few plants together on the same tray 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤: Pebble trays help, but they’re subtle. Think of them as a “comforter,” not a full heating system. 𝟐) 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 “𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬” 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬: A small humidifier running near your plants — tabletop size is perfect. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫: ✅ plants that really sulk in dry air (calatheas, ferns, begonias, some orchids) ✅ keeping leaf tips from crisping ✅ making an entire plant corner happier (not just one pot) 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: * Place it a few feet away — don’t blast the leaves directly * Run it during the driest times (often overnight or when heat is running) * If you see constant wetness on windows or leaves, back it off a bit * Clean it regularly (this matters more than people realize) 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤: If you’ve tried everything and your plants still look like potato chips… a little humidifier is often the missing piece.

A Year-Round Guide for Potted Garden Society Members Most people toss their poinsettias out after the holidays… but not container gardeners. Your poinsettia can become a beautiful year-round plant that re-blooms again next December, if you know the secret steps. Poinsettias can re-color spectacularly, but the timing and routine are everything. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, month by month, so you can proudly show off your “I kept it alive for a whole year” Christmas plant. Let’s get your poinsettia ready for next holiday season! 🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐈𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 (𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 – 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡) Right after the holidays, your poinsettia is still in its prime. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬: * Bright, indirect light * Water when top 1–2 inches are dry * Temperatures 65–75°F * Keep it away from drafts and heat vents Let it finish blooming naturally and don’t prune yet. ✂️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥) In April, your poinsettia will start looking a little tired. This is normal as it's time for a spring haircut! 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝟒–𝟔 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥 This: ✔ encourages bushier growth ✔ prevents legginess ✔ sets the stage for fuller plants next winter Don’t worry, it grows back fast. 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥: Repot into a slightly larger pot at this stage if needed. 🌤️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 (𝐌𝐚𝐲 – 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫) Once nighttime temps stay above 55°F, your poinsettia can go outside. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧: * Bright shade * Morning sun only * A protected patio or porch Direct afternoon sun is too strong and will scorch the leaves. 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞: * Fertilize every 2–4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer * Pinch back new growth every 4–6 weeks (This keeps it compact and full!) * Water consistently, but don’t let it sit in soggy soil Think of summer as the “rebuild and grow” phase. 🍂 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 (𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫) Before nighttime temps dip below 55°F again, your poinsettia needs to come back inside. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭: ✔ Bright, indirect indoor light ✔ Steady temperatures

January can feel a little… beige. The garden beds are sleeping, the patio pots are quiet, and even the sun seems to clock out early. But here’s the good news: 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰-𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬. They don’t need blooms to look stunning. In fact, the right leaves can make your home (or plant nook!) look like you hired a designer. Below are some “𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞” foliage plants that look polished even on your most tired winter day. Plus quick tips to keep them looking their best. 𝟏) 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬 (𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐍𝐞𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: trailing vines instantly soften shelves, bookcases, and corners. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: give it a bright window if possible, but it handles medium light well. Let the top inch or two of soil dry before watering. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: put it up high and let it spill down — instant “plant stylist” vibes. 𝟐) 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 (𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝:: upright, sculptural, modern. It’s basically living decor. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: water sparingly (seriously). It’s happier a little dry than a little wet. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: looks amazing in a simple pot with a clean shape (white, black, or terracotta). 𝟑) 𝐙𝐙 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: glossy, structured leaves that always look freshly wiped. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: low water + tolerates lower light better than most plants. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: a ZZ plant on a side table = instant “grown-up” plant corner. 𝟒) 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 (𝐀𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: gorgeous patterned leaves — silvers, greens, and even pinks/reds in some varieties. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: one of the best options for medium-to-lower indoor light. Keep it evenly moist (not soggy). 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤:: use it as your “color plant” when everything else is just green. 𝟓) 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧 (𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟, 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥, 𝐞𝐭𝐜.) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: lush, soft, and elegant — like pothos’ slightly fancier cousin. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: bright indirect light is best; water when the top inch dries out. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: it looks stunning in a hanging planter or in a pot on a plant stand.

Seed starting? Pests? Herbs? Container setups? Indoor plant care? Tell us your #1 goal for your garden in 2026 so we can cheer you on (and share tips!).

It looks like I have a garden task already this year. I have to replace the water pump in mt Elfsys. That is my hydroponic garden I use to start my plants in. Now at 81 I have to figure out how to safely get down on the floor to do that, and then , get back on my feet.. lol