Winter care: what to change when the heating comes on

From November most houseplants slow down. They drink less, grow less and want the brightest spot you can give them.

• Water less often. Check the soil before every watering, not the calendar.
• Move plants closer to the window, but keep leaves off cold glass.
• Group plants together to raise humidity, or stand them on a tray of wet pebbles.
• Stop feeding until new growth appears in March.

Brown, crispy leaf edges in winter are almost always dry air. A small humidifier in the room fixes most of it.