8 Tips You Need To Know About Fall Houseplant Care

The season adored by so many! Fall is known for many as crisp, cool days, warm and cozy sweaters, and lots of pumpkin! For houseplant people, the fall season may be considered more of a season of preparation: getting both you and your plants ready for the darker days of winter. Fall is a shoulder season, where the weather tends to change not even just day-to-day, but sometimes even hour-by-hour. Here is how to tackle the fall season with happy houseplants with these fall houseplant care tips. 

Light:

The days are getting darker, the sky is more grey, and your plants will begin to notice this as well. The sun is considerably less strong during the fall season, as the earth’s axis begins to tilt away from it. You may need to gradually begin to move your houseplants closer to windows as the season progresses. You may want to look into purchasing some supplemental grow lights as well as the days become darker.

Water:

With less sunlight, you will notice a that your plant’s soil dries out much more slowly and therefore will need less watering. A large part of fall houseplant care is to change up your watering routine, and monitor your houseplant’s soil more closely to prevent overwatering which can lead to root rot. A moisture meter is a great tool to help you determine the moisture levels in your plant’s soil, if you’re unsure of when to water your plant in the fall season. 

Repotting:

If you are in the school of thought that your plants should only be repotted during the growing season, then it is officially last call! Start checking your houseplant’s roots to see if they are tightly packed, or poking through the soil. If you’ve been busy over the summer and have been putting off repotting your plant into a fancy new pot that you’ve purchased, now is the time! I have a full guide on how to repot your houseplant and how to choose the right pot for your houseplant if you’re looking to learn about all things houseplants and pots this fall season!

Temperature and Humidity:

As I mentioned before, fall is a shoulder season. The weather can be chilly and dark in the morning, heat up by the afternoon, and plummet in the evening once more. The general trend, however, is that the days will become darker, and the temperatures will become cooler. Your tropical plants may need some help adjusting to this. If you moved any of your plants outdoors for the summer, early fall is the time to slowly transition them back indoors. If you are quick to crank the furnace when the temperatures take a dip take note. You may also want to monitor the humidity levels in your home, particularly if you have houseplants that thrive in humid conditions. Here are some great humidity hacks if humidity can be a struggle.

Clean Your Houseplant Leaves:

Have you cleaned your houseplant’s leaves recently? If the summer has been busy for you, there’s no better time than the fall to clean our plant’s leaves. As the sunlight becomes more scarce, your plant will need all the help it can get for photosynthesis. Dust particles will block out the precious sunlight it receives. The fall season, and particularly the winter as well are crucial times to keep your plant leaves clean. For a full guide on cleaning your houseplant leaves, check out this blog!

Clean Your Houseplant Space:

With that said, another important element of fall houseplant care is to clean the space where your houseplants live. If you have been too busy to get your plant space cleaned up during those busy summer months outside, you’re not alone! Most people have a seasonal cleaning schedule, but this is especially important for fall houseplant care for several reasons. Pests love to hide in dusty spaces, so wiping down your shelving, window sills and clearing any dust, loose soil, dead leaves and any other clutter will be beneficial to your plants. Fortunately, there are typically no shortage of gloomy, rainy days indoors in the fall! Set aside some time to brighten up your indoor space for your plants, and for yourself!

Fertilizing:

If you are in the school of thought that houseplants shouldn’t be fertilized through the winter (some people do and some people don’t) then the fall is the time to slowly begin to taper off your fertilizing routine. Your plant’s growth will begin to slow down with the diminishing sunlight. 

Cozy Up and Enjoy Your Plants!

Time to get cozy and enjoy those houseplants! Fall brings us inside the house more, so it is a great time to really enjoy all of that summer growth that happened over the summer that you may have missed while enjoying the outdoors. Some people even incorporate their plants into their fall décor and dress up their space as well. 

Be sure to follow my plant journey on Instagram, @plantyquirkyblogger for new blog updates and more planty tips and tricks. 

Happy Fall plant friends!