Leftwood said:As with every plant in the entire WORLD, all do best when not overwatered or underwatered. Unless winter is a particular plant's season of growth, it's only normal that their use of water will lessen with lower temps, because chemical reaction rates slow, resulting in less need for water, nutrients, air. (This, given that other factors remain the same.) However, one may find that if relative humidity is drastically reduced, evapotranspiration by the plant and especially direct evaporation from the soil surface increases, somewhat offsetting an expected winter watering regime. This is something each person will learn for themselves in their respective home environments.
Grouping plants together to increase humidity is an entirely different matter. That's a good thing. But no, you certainly wouldn't want to keep the soil watered anymore than at warmer temps. For tropical, semitropical and houseplants, cooler temps favor the growth of pathogens that cause root rot, hence it is safer to let cooler soils go drier, between waterings, than in warmer temps.
This has been my experience also. When it's cold at night, our house can get as low as 50 some nights, but is usually between 55-60 by morning, most days, warming more as the sun helps and the temp outside isn't so much lower. Some plants really shine during this time, just stayin' alive when it's 90+.
African violets are considered more finicky than the average house plant, and maidenhair ferns aren't a common house plant at all, though I'm sure it's possible to keep one as such. I don't know if one kept inside would still go dormant like one outside, or not. If that's just what it does, that's probably what your plant is doing. Unless you're in an arctic zone, that is probably hardy outside, if you have an outside area in the ground for gardening. Being able to put plants outside for summer can help those that really do prefer hot, humid weather. AV's are often an exception for growers though, touting they don't need it, prefer to not be disturbed, and/or are too likely to acquire pests.
Common house plants are such for a reason, they don't mind being in houses, and can handle the fluctuations in temp and humidity, light, within a wide range. Do you like the look of snake plant (Sansevieria,) heart-leaf Philodendron, Pothos (Epiprimnum,) Aglaonema (which come in a wide assortment of leaf designs and colors,) parlor palm, Thanksgiving cactus, ZZ plant? These are ubiquitous indoor sights because they cope with it well. These are just a few of so many plants that don't mind being inside most houses. Trying to coddle fussy/sensitive plants, which don't cope well with conditions I have at the time, has almost always lead to disappointment. It's more rewarding to me to stick with plants that can be reasonably expected to survive the conditions I have.
Being honest about the amount of light is usually the biggest hurdle. For example, would you be happy to just keep a plant alive that you just got hoping it would bloom? Probably not. So if you aren't in love with the leaves of jasmine, and don't have a great window for one so it gets enough sun to make flowers, can't put it outside for summer, you'll likely be disappointed, feel like you're failing. OTOH, a simple wax Begonia might bloom its' head off all winter in the same spot. Having reasonable goals, and not killing with kindness by watering plants that aren't thirsty yet, is the plan I try to have. Plants do die sometimes, under the best of care and intentions. That just means you have room for a new one. If you pick those that aren't challenged by the conditions you have, that should be a rare occurrence.
