Plants do not only live for the sun and mild temperatures. It is a mistake to think that during the coldest months of the year garden and interior plants are going to lose their beauty as they wait for a better and more benign climate. Having said that, it is vital to bear in mind a few rules to ensure pots and vases remain as attractive as possible.

Enemy number one: frosts
There is no avoiding the fact that during winter plants need protection, above all if frost and heavy rains are common. Now is the time to place plants and even the more resistant-looking shrubs next to walls. The most fragile species would be grateful if you cover them in plastic sheeting, as long as you leave them enough space to breathe.

Another important precaution is to ensure that the cold emanating from the floor affects
pot plants as little as possible. It is thus a good idea to insulate them using a porous material (such as wood). If the terrace or garden are north facing and catch the winds from this direction, sheeting can be installed to minimise the effects. In addition, a layer
of straw could be placed over plant buds, which are more fragile and sensitive
to the cold.

Water as little as possible
When it comes to watering plants, it is best to hold back rather than flood them. Excess water added to low temperatures kills the roots. Likewise, you have to make sure that gardens and pots drain properly to prevent puddles from forming, which can be fatal. In order to better protect the roots and renew the soil, it is best to add a layer of earth, ensuring that the lower leaves do not touch it and become damaged by the water.

Decorative plants
The best species for decorating the garden in winter are pansies, which are highly resistant to cold. They come in a wide range of colours, which allows you to make
various combinations without forgetting that you should always leave around 30 cm between the plants and use well-fertilised and moist soil. It is also a good time to plant spring flowers and some varieties of ornamental pulses. You can also plant certain varieties of rose bushes in winter, always bearing in mind that they like the sun and do not require much water.

Caring for indoor plants
If you don�t have a garden, but a good range of indoor plants, the problem is not so much the cold as the dryness caused by heating and the lack of light. To counteract the first problem it is useful to have humidifiers or else frequently spray the plant ensuring you keep it free of dust. You should not water as much as in summer, but make sure you do so regularly. It is important that indoor species receive as much light as possible. A good idea is to frequently change their location and keep them in the most well-lit rooms in the house. They can be placed next to windows as long as you don�t have them next to radiators, heat sources or draughts. Some species, such as the coleophora, appreciate warm surroundings, but others, such as cyclamen and azaleas prefer cooler surroundings. This is the best way of prolonging their flowering period.