Sunroom Plants · Ridgewood, NJ
The NJ Plant
Seasonal
Calendar
New Jersey's four seasons affect your plants more than most guides admit. This calendar is written specifically for NJ homes — featuring plants from our own collection.
New Jersey · USDA Zone 6b–7a · Bergen CountySpring
Spring
March · April · May — The growing season awakens
March
Buy This Month
Pothos Golden / Jade — vigorous spring growers, very forgiving
Aglaonema — thrives as indoor light returns
Peace Lily — wakes up beautifully in spring
Repot
Check root-bound plants — if roots circle the pot, repot now
Step up one pot size only — no more
Use fresh well-draining potting mix
Care
Gradually increase watering as days lengthen
Resume monthly fertilizing — plants are waking up
Wipe dust off large leaves — Rubber Tree, Monstera, Fiddle Leaf Fig
NJ March: 28–45°F at night. Keep plants away from cold windows. Last frost typically mid-April in Bergen County.
April
Buy This Month
Monstera Deliciosa — peak growing season starts
Fern — Boston, Lemon Button, Bird's Nest — rising humidity suits them
Tradescantia Nanouk — rapid spring growth
Repot
Main repotting month — safe after last frost risk passes
Divide overgrown clumping plants like Peace Lily, Spider Plant
Refresh top layer of soil on large statement plants
Watch For
Spider mites activate in warm dry air — check Calathea, Ferns undersides
Move plants closer to windows as sun strengthens
NJ April: 45–65°F. Light dramatically improves. Safe to move plants back from interior positions.
May
Buy This Month
Alocasia varieties — loves the warming conditions
Begonia Rex / Maculata — perfect spring start
String of Pearls, String of Hearts — start trailing growth
Repot
Last good repotting month before summer heat arrives
Root-prune heavily pot-bound Pothos, Philodendron
Care
Full fertilizing schedule — every 2–4 weeks
Watch for fungus gnats — wet spring soil is ideal for them
Prune leggy winter growth on Pothos, Tradescantia
Once nights stay above 55°F, tropicals can move outside — shade only. Great for Pothos, Monstera, Ferns
NJ May: 55–75°F, increasing humidity. Ideal growing conditions begin. Watch south-facing windows for intense afternoon sun.
Parul's Advice
Spring is when your plants remember they are alive. Do not rush the repot — wait until you see active new growth, then act. A plant repotted at the right moment establishes in weeks. One repotted too early sulks for months.
Summer
Summer
June · July · August — Peak growth, peak heat
June
This Month
Buy This Month
Fiddle Leaf Fig — peak light supports it now
Rubber Tree Burgundy / Variegated — thrives in summer warmth
Kokedama — summer humidity is ideal for moss ball care
Watering
Check soil every 2–3 days — heat speeds up drying
Morning watering preferred — avoids evening root rot
Kokedama: soak ball 10 min, squeeze gently, hang to drain
Care
Fertilize every 2 weeks — peak feeding season
Move plants away from AC vents — cold drafts damage tropicals
Mist Ferns, Calathea, Stromanthe daily if humidity is low
NJ June: 65–82°F, humidity rising. Longest daylight of the year. Direct afternoon sun can scorch most tropicals — diffuse south-facing windows.
July
Buy This Month
Sansevieria / Snake Plant — tolerates AC-cooled interiors
ZZ Plant — thrives on summer neglect
Pothos Marble Queen / Neon — resilient in heat and AC
Watering
Check water needs every 2 days in high heat
Use room-temperature water — cold tap shocks tropical roots
Empty saucers after 30 min to prevent root rot
Watch For
Spider mites peak in hot dry AC air — check Calathea, Ficus, Rubber Tree undersides
Crispy tips on Ferns, Calathea = AC humidity too low — add pebble tray
Drooping despite moist soil = heat stress — move away from windows
NJ July: 72–90°F. AC drops humidity to 30% or below. Ferns and Calathea suffer most — group them to create a humidity microclimate.
August
Buy This Month
Jade — entering active growth phase
Chinese Money Plant — light levels still strong
Anthurium — thrives in late summer warmth and humidity
Repot
Avoid repotting in peak heat — roots are stressed by heat and disruption together
If urgent, repot early morning and keep in shade for 2 weeks
Prepare for Fall
Begin reducing fertilizer toward end of month
Move Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera to best light position before days shorten
Check all plants for pests before autumn begins
NJ August: 70–88°F, still humid. Days begin shortening after August 15. Last month of peak light — position plants accordingly.
Parul's Advice
The enemy of NJ summer plants is not the heat — it is the air conditioning. AC strips humidity to desert levels. Your tropical plants did not evolve for that. A pebble tray with water under your pot costs nothing and changes everything.
Fall
Fall
September · October · November — The wind-down begins
September
Buy This Month
Peace Lily — thrives in lower fall light
ZZ Plant — perfect low-light fall plant
Aglaonema varieties — tolerates shortening days beautifully
Care Shift
Begin reducing watering frequency — growth slows
Cut fertilizing to once a month only
Move all plants away from windows as nights cool below 55°F
Repot
Last chance to repot — early September only
Do not repot after mid-September — plants need stability going into winter
NJ September: 58–76°F. Light drops noticeably after Labor Day. Move Fiddle Leaf Fig, Rubber Tree, Monstera to your sunniest windows now.
October
Buy This Month
Sansevieria / Snake Plant — nearly indestructible in low winter light
Pothos Golden / Jade — forgiving of irregular fall watering
Dracaena varieties — handles low light and drier air
Care
Water only when top 2 inches of soil are dry
Stop fertilizing most tropicals — dormancy begins
Clean windows — every bit of light matters now
Watch For
Overwatering is the #1 fall killer — especially Pothos, Philodendron, Dracaena
Heating systems turning on — humidity drops fast, Calathea, Ferns feel it first
Bring outdoor plants inside when nights drop below 50°F — typically early October in Bergen County
NJ October: 45–63°F. Heating season starts. Indoor humidity drops sharply — use a humidifier or pebble tray near sensitive plants.
November
Buy This Month
Succulents / Cactus — dormant and forgiving of neglect
Bromeliad Guzmania — holds colour through darker months
Christmas / Holiday Cactus — begin budding for December bloom
Care
Water Jade, Succulents, Snake Plant once a month only
Consolidate all plants near your brightest south window
Consider a grow light for plants more than 6ft from windows
Gift Season
Gift cards available at Sunroom Plants — ideal for plant lovers
Kokedama make beautiful, unique holiday gifts
NJ November: 34–52°F. Low light, dry heat. Reduce everything — water, fertilizer, repotting — and let plants rest.
Parul's Advice
Fall is when most houseplants die — not from cold, but from owners who keep watering at summer rates. As your home heats up and days shorten, your plant's thirst drops dramatically. Trust the soil, not the schedule.
Winter
Winter
December · January · February — Rest and resilience
December
Buy This Month
Pothos Golden / Marble Queen — near impossible to kill in winter
Sansevieria / Snake Plant — stores water, handles low light
Peace Lily — one of the best low-light winter plants
Care
Water every 10–14 days for most tropicals
Keep all plants at least 2 feet from cold glass at night
Do not fertilize — plants are dormant
Watch For
Cold drafts near doors — move Ficus, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera back
Yellowing lower leaves = overwatering, very common in winter
Scale insects on stressed winter plants — check stems of Dracaena, Ficus
NJ December: 24–42°F. Indoor humidity can fall to 20–25%. A small humidifier near your collection makes a significant difference for Calathea, Ferns and Alocasia.
January
Buy This Month
ZZ Plant — practically thrives on winter neglect
Jade — semi-dormant, needs almost no water
Aglaonema — colour and life in the darkest month
Care
Wipe leaves monthly — dust blocks precious winter light on Rubber Tree, Monstera
Rotate plants quarterly toward light source
Keep expectations low — minimal care is the right care
Plan Ahead
Visit Sunroom Plants — new arrivals begin February and March
Prepare fresh potting mix for spring repotting season
NJ January: 20–38°F. Only 9 hours of daylight. Most plants need nothing more than occasional water and the brightest window you have.
February
Buy This Month
Calathea — begins showing new growth in late February
Ferns — start planning for March arrival
Monstera Deliciosa — waking up, ready to grow by month end
Signs of Spring
New leaf unfurling = your plant survived winter
Days lengthening after Feb 15 — watch for growth on Monstera, Pothos, Philodendron
One light fertilizing dose at end of month
Repot Prep
Check root-bound status — plan repots for March
Buy fresh potting mix before the spring rush
NJ February: 25–44°F. Light returns — days are 10.5 hours by month end. Plants sense the change before you do. Watch for the first new leaf as your signal to begin spring care.
Parul's Advice
Winter is not a failure season — it is a rest season. The plants that make it through NJ January without being overwatered, over-heated, or moved around too much will reward you with explosive spring growth. Patience is the only skill required.
