Tip: Houseplants Need Fresh Air, Too

Potted plants can’t step out for a breath of fresh air like we can, although they need it every day. A close, stagnant atmosphere will not promote good health nor bloom, and it can lead to all kinds of maladies — leaf-drop, yellowing foliage, spider mites and fungus diseases.

On warm afternoons in April and May, give your plants a healthy thrill by opening every window in the house for a few hours each day. During winter, provide fresh air for a few minutes daily via a door or window in a nearby room; this will permit the air to warm as it travels to your plants.

And that’s my tip for this cold, rainy, Northeastern Tuesday. My plants need fresh air; I need a hot cup of Earl Grey.