Watering and Feeding
- Continue watering and feeding greenhouse plants, especially those in flower or likely to flower in autumn or winter.
- Be cautious not to over-water or splash water around to reduce grey mold disease.
- Water a grapevine more towards the end of the month to encourage early growth.
- Stop feeding most greenhouse plants and house plants as they enter winter, except those that flower in winter.
Pruning and Training
- Continue to train and side-shoot tomatoes and cucumbers, allowing only existing fruit to develop.
- Prune a greenhouse peach tree when the fruit has been picked, removing most of the shoots that carried flowers and fruit.
- Take the tops off tomatoes to encourage the growth of green fruit already present.
Propagation and Over-wintering
- Take cuttings of geraniums, fuchsias, and other tender plants to over-winter for next year.
- Take semi-hardwood cuttings of deciduous and evergreen shrubs in the greenhouse, using rooting powder and white polythene.
- Pot up some freesia corms when available for a wonderful scent in spring.
Pest and Disease Control
- Check all plants for pests such as greenflies, red spider mites, or whiteflies, as these pests tend to build up unnoticed in winter.
- Keep the greenhouse atmosphere dry by watering only as much as required.
- Tidy up the greenhouse and ensure proper ventilation to minimize the risk of diseases.
By following these tips for greenhouse and house plant care, you can create a thriving indoor garden. Proper watering, feeding, pruning, training, propagation, over-wintering, and pest control are essential for maintaining the health of your plants and maximizing growth throughout the year.
