The leaves are starting to turn red, the temperature is getting colder and the days are getting longer. All of this lets us know that Autumn is here but did you know that your houseplants also know when the new seasons arrive? Just like we need to make changes to our clothes and routines when a new season hits, your indoor plant babies will require some care changes as well!
Keep reading to find out how to adjust to your plants' new needs this Autumn!
Water:
Slowing down the amount of water you give your houseplants is a nice trigger to them that it is time to head into their rest period. As the temperatures start dropping, houseplants will require to be watered less often, plants that required watering twice a week in summer may only need watering once a week or even a bit longer.
If unsure, touch the potting mix with your finger to check if it is dry before watering. If potting mix is still damp, do not water. Overwatering is the most common cause of plant deaths so we recommend you avoid leaving pots sitting in water during the colder months.
Light:
With the decrease in temperatures during autumn, the light levels also decrease. You can move your houseplants closer to windows to compensate for the lower light – especially flowering plants that require more light than foliage plants, this will help to keep them flowering.
Avoid placing houseplants too close to a window as they can get burnt from the sunlight through the glass and as it gets even colder in winter, they can get a chill causing the plant to collapse.
Fertilizer:
Your plants are getting ready to go dormant for the winter, so we recommend not fertilizing them in the fall. However do not stop abruptly, instead, we recommend slowly weaning them off by weakening the dose.
The best system for this is to cut the dose in half when the temperature begins to cool in summer, then slowly weaken the dose so you stop fertilizing by Autumn.
Repotting:
Autumn isn't the best time to re-pot, repotting stimulates new growth, and doing this right before their rest period is not ideal. Wait until spring to feed or re-pot your houseplants when they are actively growing.
However, if your plant is root-bound you should re-pot as soon as you notice this.
Bugs and Pests:
Autumn is the primary breeding time for lots of common indoor plant bugs. Add regularly inspecting your plants leaves and soil into your Autumn care routine, this way you can address any issues that arise immediately.