YOU MIGHT think the dry winter air means you should water indoor plants more. But plants need less water in the winter because there’s less light, says Lauren Delorenze, of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. Knowing the seasonal differences is important because people tend to overwater plants more than they under-water them, she says.

How to know when to water? Eyeballing the surface doesn’t work because soil at the top dries out quickly. Instead, stick a chopstick deep into the soil. If it comes out clean, it’s time to water. But if there’s soil sticking to it, check again in a couple of days, says Megan Cain, owner of the Zen Succulent, an online plant store based in Durham, North Carolina. —Susan Moeller

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