Days Are Getting Longer: Adjust Your Houseplant Care for February's Light Shift
Sunlight begins to shift dramatically in February. Make sure your houseplants are ready for the change.
Mid-February quietly adds 40 to 80 minutes of daylight across the US, depending on location—enough to wake houseplants from their winter slowdown. They notice first, shaking off dormancy with sudden new leaves and thirstier soil, often catching owners off guard while everything outside still looks bare.
February drags on with gray skies and days that still feel too short. Houseplants coasted through the darkest weeks in low light, growth basically stalled, but mid-February the 10-hour light trigger starts to flip almost everything for many spots across the US.
Plants sense day length through receptors tucked in leaves—pretty reliable little sensors. Once daylight stretches consistently past 10 hours, dormancy can start to crack open. Knowing how light affects the growth of plants helps explain why indoor favorites suddenly push fresh shoots even while outside stays bare. The shift comes fast—northern areas pick up the most minutes through February, while southern spots hit the threshold earlier with smaller jumps. January care routines stop working and it is time to shift care as the light grows.
The 10-Hour Light Trigger
Most houseplants use day length as their main seasonal signal, not temperature. Once daylight hits roughly 10 hours, something triggers inside them. Dormant buds activate. Metabolism speeds up.
This varies by species some, but 10 hours is the average tipping point for common favorites like pothos, philodendrons, and snake plants. By mid-February, even northern states get 10-plus hours. Plants near windows catch these changes immediately.
What to Watch For
New leaf buds show up at stem tips. Small bumps or unfurling points that weren't there before. Growth happens quick once it starts—a bud can become a full leaf within days on vigorous plants.
Existing leaves look brighter or stand more upright as chlorophyll production ramps back up. Plants that drooped slightly during winter perk up without watering changes. Stems stretch between leaf nodes, creating visible elongation. Some plants flower unexpectedly. African violets, and certain species of orchids often bloom from increasing light rather than specific temps.
Care Changes to Make
As your houseplants begin to wake up, your care routine needs to shift with their changing needs. Here are the adjustments you need to make as the light returns this February.
Watering Changes
Winter watering schedules stop working once growth resumes. Dormant plants use minimal water. Growing plants need way more. Soil that stayed moist two weeks in January might dry completely in five days come late February.
Check soil every few days instead of following a rigid schedule. Stick a finger 1-2 inches (2.5-5cm) down, or use a meter like this 4-in-1 from Amazon. Dry at that depth means water thoroughly until it runs out the bottom.
Don't wait for wilting since that stresses plants during early growth. Increase watering gradually as new growth appears. Plants near south or west windows need more frequent water than dimmer spots.
Feeding Changes
Resume fertilizing once new growth shows, not before. Feeding dormant plants wastes fertilizer and can burn roots not actively absorbing nutrients. Wait for actual leaf development or bud swelling.
Start with half-strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Full strength can shock plants coming out of dormancy. Increase to normal strength by March once growth is vigorous. Miracle-Gro indoor plant food from Amazon is convenient and effective.
Light Position Changes
Windows that barely worked in December might offer too much by late February as sun angle changes. It is important to assess light levels for your houseplants. South-facing windows especially shift from winter's low angle to spring's more direct hit. Plants can sunburn from sudden intensity.
Watch for bleaching, brown spots, or curling edges. Move sensitive plants back from glass or add sheer curtains to create indirect light. North-facing windows might need plants moved closer to capture increasing light. Rotate plants weekly so they don't grow lopsided from directional window light.
Humidity Changes
Heat from the increase in sun combined with your furnace running can dry out air even more than earlier in the winter. New plant growth is more susceptible to dry air than mature leaves resulting in crispy edges or stunted development when humidity drops too low.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to humidify your houseplants in winter. Group plants together to create localized humidity. Place pebble trays under plants or use humidifiers like a Levoit cool-mist humidifier from Amazon to maintain 40-50% humidity.
Issues to Avoid
Overwatering kills more plants during this shift than underwatering. People see new growth and panic-water too often, drowning roots that haven't fully activated yet. Let soil dry slightly between waterings.
Repotting too early stresses plants just starting growth. Wait until late March or April when growth is vigorous. Ignoring the light shift entirely is the biggest mistake though. Plants that don't get adequate water and nutrients to support growth prompted by longer days end up stunted or dropping leaves.
February Care Essentials
This watering can features a long, thin spout for precise watering of your houseplants.
These linen blend sheer curtains will filter any harsh sunlight to protect plants. And they look great!
This humidity tray comes filled with decorative pebbles. Just add water for perfect humidity!
Light keeps increasing through March and April, accelerating growth further. Adjustments made now set patterns for the whole growing season. Establish monitoring routines—checking soil, watching new growth, adjusting water and food—rather than waiting for stress signs.
Some plants respond immediately to the 10-hour mark. Others lag a few weeks behind. Figure out your plants' individual patterns so February care becomes anticipatory instead of reactive.
