Houseplant Care in February
February is when you start seeing new growth tips on the plants that survived January. Wait for it before you change anything else.
Hold the line on January’s reduced watering. New growth tips signal it’s safe to start a half-strength fertilizer cycle. Repot prep starts now.
Light in February
Daylight is lengthening but the sun angle is still low. Window-side plants will start showing more vigorous new growth by late February in zones 7+.
Watering in February
Still on the winter schedule. Don’t pre-emptively water more "because the days are getting longer" — wait until you see growth pickup.
Pests and problems to watch in February
Continued spider mite risk. Missouri Botanical Garden: weekly leaf inspection prevents 80% of infestations.
What to plan now
Source aroid mix ingredients (orchid bark + perlite) before March. Pick up a moisture meter if you don’t have one. Start thinking about which plants will need repotting come spring.