key points
- Bring houseplants indoors, check for pests, clean off leaves, and repot before growth slows for the winter.
- Plants require little water, no fertilizer, and occasional extra light or humidity to stay healthy through the winter.
- These seasonal adjustments help houseplants conserve energy and avoid stress.
Autumn marks the end of the growing season This is an important time of year for outdoor plants, but also for indoor plants. As your garden takes over, don’t forget to give your indoor plants a little TLC Help them thrive in winter,
Here are eight important things you need to do to best care for your houseplants now that the growing season is over.
bring plants indoors
When temperatures start to drop, it’s time to prepare plants for coming back inside; Start this process when nighttime temperatures consistently reach the mid 50s.
Take a few weeks to gradually adjust to lower light by moving your plants into shady conditions for a few hours each day. bring plants in for winter Before night temperatures reach below 50°F for most tropical houseplants and below 40°F for most Saras,
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check for pests
Before your plants come inside, make sure there are no unwanted pests. Inspect your outdoor houseplants closely, checking the stems, crowns and undersides of leaves for signs of pests such as spider webs or sticky sap.
Spray the leaves with a strong stream of water from a hose to remove any insects, or treat severe infestations with neem oil or other biological pesticides,
Fill a bucket with water and submerge each plant just below the edge of the pot, letting it soak for about 15 minutes. The water will help drive out insects like fungus gnats that live in the soil.
Repot Houseplants
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If you mean replant any plantFall is your last chance before plant growth slows in winter. When replanting, check for dead or rotten roots, use fresh soil mix, and water the plants thoroughly afterward.
Change your watering schedule
Because houseplant growth slows in the fall, plants generally require less water than in the spring and summer. As the seasons change, check your plants’ soil moisture before watering instead of sticking to a summer watering schedule. This will help you avoid overwatering, one of the most common pitfalls for houseplant lovers.
stop fertilizing
While many houseplants benefit from a monthly or biweekly dose of diluted liquid houseplant Fertilizer during spring and summerIt is important to stop fertilizing in the fall.
Wait until winter, then start again when you see the first signs of new growth in late winter or early spring.
adjust lighting
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Some houseplants – especially succulents, citrus trees, and larger plants like birds of paradise – will suffer in winter without supplemental lighting due to the shortened day length.
Use grow light To give sun-loving plants the boost they need. Give houseplants between 12 and 14 hours of light per day, and consider using a programmable or smart plug to turn them on and off automatically.
check the temperature
A room that was comfortable for your houseplants in the spring and summer may be cold and dry in the winter. If your space regularly stays below 60°F at night, take steps to conserve heat such as sealing cracks around windows and doors or using energy-efficient window coverings.
You can also turn on the heat, but be careful not to expose your houseplants to too much hot, dry air.
add humidity
Cold air naturally holds less moisture than warm air. Combined with the hot air escaping from your heating vents, winter dryness can be a problem for moisture-loving tropical plants.
Group moisture-loving plants together to create a slightly more humid climate by causing moisture to transpire from the plants’ leaves. or you can run a small damp Near your plants. Both methods work best in a small space where you can keep the humidity controlled.
You can also take plants into the bathroom, where they can benefit from the humidity of your shower. soaking leaves with water humidity does not increase,
