We are growing different plants all year long in the Piedmont foothills, in the heart of North Carolina’s Zone 7b, and we have outdoor/indoor growing tips just for our area. 

If you’re like me, you’ve got a soft spot for nature, and you’re always lookin’ for ways to bring a little more life into your home, especially in those bleak grey cold Carolina winter months! Having a variety of houseplants make the perfect roommates during those cold days. Indoor plants are quiet, easy to please, and they can provide aromas and visual interest when the gardens outdoors have little to offer.

I started going crazy with houseplants a few years back, my first winter in North Carolina, we had one cold winter where the ice stuck around for weeks. I started growing a few plants into the house, around a full spectrum LED,  for a bit of vacation from the cold. Well, wouldn’t you know it—they thrived! In our part of North Carolina, even  a window with a bit of bright, indirect light can do wonders during the coldest months. Supplementing with LED lights in the winter can extend your plants daylight hours to keep from going dormant. 

I accumulated four lime trees that lived indoors from October to April. They started to get bigger, and it got me thinking about the steps I needed to turn my garage into a winter greenhouse. I started growing small pots of everything i could, from pothos and calatheas to monsteras and miniature trees. In the dead of winter, I had a whole indoor jungle that not only survived the winter but downright flourished…in a room with no windows and little insulation. 

Here are some top tips for all you beginners wantin’ to dip your toes into houseplant care:

Light

In zone 7b, our days can be shorter come winter, but there’s plenty of Southern sunshine the rest of the year. Seek out windows that get a gentle touch of morning or late afternoon light. If you’ve got a spot that sizzles with direct noon sun, consider a sheer curtain to protect plants from scorching. The indoor grow light technology has advanced so much in the last 10-15 years with LEDs, that a small grow light can do wonders for your indoor plants in any room. 

Water

Houseplants need a drink, but not everyday. Even less in the wintertime. Feel the top inch of soil; if it’s dry, it’s water time. But if it’s still wet, your plant needs to sit longer before the next watering. You can also pick up the pot when you water it, to feel how heavy it should be. In between waterings, the pot will become very light and that is an indicator as well. 

Humidity & Temperature

Even though our summers can be mighty humid, once you crank up the heat indoors during winter, the air can get dry. Group your plants together to create a mini humidity pocket, or set them on trays filled with pebbles and water to keep the air around them nice and moist. A humidifier will also work. Make an effort to keep the house in that sweet spot of 65-75°F, and they’ll be happy. 

Potting Mix

Go for a quality, well-draining soil blend. Plants like succulents or cacti like soil that drains faster, so pick a mix specially formulated for them. An all-purpose indoor potting mix does just fine for leafy plants like philodendrons or peace lilies. Some plants do fine with all-purpose, some plants are more sensitive to their mediums. Be sure to get this part right when transplanting. 

Nutrients

Plants need good nutrition, but you don’t want to overdo it. In zone 7b, they’ll have natural cues from daylight to grow more in spring and summer—give a gentle fertilizer every month during their active growing seasons. In winter, lay off the feed—let them rest up. If you want blooms in the winter time, you will need to provide some nutrients and supplemental light.  

Pests

Keep an eye out for tiny critters like spider mites or mealybugs. Wipe down the leaves regularly and use a gentle insecticidal soap if you spot any unwanted visitors. Winter temps below 50 degrees usually wipes out the insect issues making indoor grows easier to manage. 

Best Beginner Plants

If you’re just starting, look for these low maintenance champs:

• Snake Plant: Low-light friendly and durable to missed watering.
• Pothos: Grows like a vine, survives when you forget the occasional watering.
• Peace Lily: Grows in low light. Tough, if you forget, the plant will start to wilt to tell you they need a drink.
• Succulents/Cacti: Forgives plenty of watering missteps, needs lots of light.

Now, what’s truly special about North Carolina zone 7b is that you can get double-duty out of many houseplants— they can grow outside in the summer, then come back in for the winter, adding flexible decorating ideas for you year-round. 

Growing some new plants in your living room, kitchen windowsill, or bedroom nightstand can be a great mental escape from the winter months in North Carolina. You can keep your houseplants smiling all year and it could become one of the most rewarding parts of your day.