Q Do you have any tips for keeping my houseplants looking good this winter? My weeping fig loses a couple leaves a day, my African violets stop blooming and the rest of my plants don't look so good.

A Come winter, most Minnesota homes pose plenty of challenges for houseplants. Indoor air is drier, sunlight is weaker, days are shorter and water is icy cold as it comes from the faucet. Since most of our houseplants come from the tropics or sub-tropics, you can see why they may struggle.

Watering plants conscientiously will help make up for dry conditions. Rather than watering on a regular schedule, feel the soil. When it's dry a little below the surface, it's time to water. And when you water, always use water that's room temperature, rather than cold water right from the tap.

It's also a good practice to wipe the stems and leaves of houseplants with a soft, damp cloth so that any accumulated dust won't prevent light from reaching the green chlorophyll responsible for photosynthesis. Giving plants a clean sweep will help them grow better and look better.

Your weeping fig and African violets are probably acting up because the light they receive in spring and summer has been drastically reduced. Try moving them to a brighter location. African violets grow well in an east- or even north-facing window when days are long, but in winter you can move them into a sunny, south-facing window without burning their foliage.

Weeping figs (Ficus benjamina) are notorious for dropping leaves whenever there's a change in their environment. But they tend to put on new leaves as soon as the growing conditions improve.

Even though the rest of your houseplants are losing their leaves, they may not put on much growth until the days begin to lengthen, usually around the end of February. Once you see renewed growth, you can resume monthly fertilizing. Just be sure to mix the plant food to half the recommended strength.

Too early to order? Q I'm starting to get garden catalogs already. It's great fun to read them, but I wonder if it's safe to order so early.

A It all depends on what you're ordering.

It's safe to order seeds and any equipment for starting seeds indoors. In fact, it's a good idea to order early because they're less likely to be out of hot new seed varieties that could be in high demand, short supply or both.

Ordering bulbs or live plants, however, can be a risky business this time of year. A plant could be damaged in transit. Even if you're home to receive the shipment, you have no control over how long the box might have sat in the back of a delivery truck. If you do order plants early, call the company first and make sure they wait until warmer weather arrives before sending your purchase.

Deb Brown is a garden writer and former extension horticulturist with the University of Minnesota. To ask her a gardening question, call 612-673-7793 and leave a message. She will answer questions in this column only.