8 Ways to prepare your houseplants for autumn

Helpful tips to get your Houseplants Ready for Autumn and Winter

 

The summer months are drawing to a close, and now it’s time to prepare our houseplants for the cooler months. Now is the perfect time to adjust your plants’ environment so they are ready for the dormant season. Here are my top tips to prepare your houseplants for the cooler months.
   
  

IT'S TIME TO PREP

 

 

1. REPOT

Your houseplants have just gone through a growth season, and there’s a good chance that they have outgrown their nursery pots. The best way to know if they need repotting is to look at the bottom of their nursery pots. If their roots are sticking out, or if you notice your plants’ growth has slowed, it's time to repot.

 

 

They won’t grow much through the winter, but will be ready for action in the new growth season the following spring. It’s worth mentioning that some plants like the ZZ plant “Zoe” [zamioculcas zamiifolia) and Lily our Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) prefer to be root-bound (they like their roots to be tightly packed) and may not need to be repotted.

 

 

 

2. FERTILISE

Most houseplant owners will use fertliser every month between April-August. The main purpose of fertiliser is to help your plants grow. Now that they’re going into dormancy, you will no longer need to do so every month. Think about doing it one last time before it’s no longer needed.
  
  

3. PRUNE

It’s time to cut the dead weight! Now is a really good time to prune and snip those leaves that have dried and died out. This will help in the winter months as your plant won’t be using any extra energy on a dying leaf.
 
 
  
  

4. DUST

Dusting is something that will benefit your plant year round, but it's especially important in the winter months as sunlight will be limited and you want to make sure your plants' leaves absorb as much light as possible.
Plants like the Kentia Palm (Howea Forsteriana) and Rubber plant (Ficus Elastica) are quite fussy when it comes to dust, so make sure to give these guys a little extra attention.
As the amount of daylight will change, it's a great idea to give your windows a clean so your plant is getting as much light as possible.
  
  
 
  
  

5. REPOSITIONING

It's time to move your plants to the best places in your home where they’re going to get the best light, heat and humidity.

 

Light

Daylight will be limited and you will want to move your plants to the sunniest parts of the home. If you have a conservatory or a room with larger windows, this will be a great spot for your green friends to get as much light as possible.

A lot of our house plants such as the Snake Plant Sansevieria (Sammy) Cast Iron Aspidistra (Ian) and Golden Pothos (Eddie) are happy in the shade. These guys will be happy no matter where you put them.

 

Heat

We naturally want to warm up our homes. One thing you might not have thought about is how close the radiator is to your greenery. All houseplants will really struggle next to radiators. The extra consistent heat is too much for them no matter how often they get watered.

The same goes for underfloor heating. Give some extra thought to how your home is adapting to the change in climate so that you don’t give your plants extra stress. Plants don’t like drastic changes in temperature.

 

Humidity

Continue to keep the air humid in your home over the winter. When the central heating is on, the air will become dry. Your humidity-loving plants like the Monstera, Calatheas and Dumb Cane will get brown tips if they aren’t misted enough.

A great tip is to put your humidity-loving plants next to a humidifier. They will absolutely love it!

CLICK HERE TO GET A MISTER

 

 

Draughts

Most houseplants can be very sensitive to drafts and will shed their leaves or freeze if they get too chilly. When the weather gets cooler outside, your houseplants should be moved away from any windows, doors and air vents.

 

6. CHANGE YOUR WATERING SCHEDULE

In the Autumn and Winter months, your houseplants will need much less water than in the summer. They will go into their dormant period and will only need watering once or twice a month. If you continue to water your plants on a summer schedule, this may cause root rot or yellowing in the leaves.

 

7. DON'T PANIC

Rest assured, a lot of your houseplants will naturally lose leaves in the winter. The main reason that plants shed their leaves is for self-sufficiency so that they have less foliage to manage when there's less sunlight.

When you move your plants away from radiators and draughts, they will naturally lose their leaves. They do this when they are adjusting to their new environment. Keep calm and don’t panic! This is perfectly normal and new growth will appear the following spring.

 

 

8. ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION

Don’t let the cold stop you from adding to your collection. Here are my three best suggestions for plants to buy in the winter. These three beauties are very low maintenance and will be happy in low light which is perfect for cooler months

 

Cast Iron Plant - Aspidistra elatior (IAN) 

An unstoppable plant, he will be happy in low light, minimal water and isn’t fussy about humidity. A very easy plant to look after in the winter and a great beginner plant. CLICK HERE FOR OUR CAST IRON PLANT

 

Snake Plant - Sansevieria Zeylanica (SAMMY) 

A very easy beginner and perfect for the winter. In the summer she only needs watering once or twice a month. In the winter you’ll find that she’s even lower maintenance. She’s happy in the shade and won’t need much water or misting. CLICK HERE FOR OUR SNAKE PLANT

 

Parlour Palm - Chamaedorea Elegans (MAYA) 

This plant was extremely popular in the Victorian times as the palm thrived in low light. So, naturally she was perfect for the miserable overcast days of Victorian London. CLICK HERE FOR OUR PALM

FINALLY, IT'S TIME TO SMILE!

It can be overwhelming as a new plant parent. We all want to do the best we can for our green friends. I hope these tips can provide some comfort to you as we get ready for winter.

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