Autumn guide to looking after your houseplants

Knowing what your plants need during the coming months will help ease their transition as the seasons change

Although you’ll be spending less time watering as we move into autumn, it’s no excuse to neglect your plants. There’s still work to be done to maintain their condition; not only is this part of being a ‘plant parent’, but losing them due to poor maintenance or disease can be heartbreaking and affect your confidence in your nurturing skills. Houseplants are expensive and replacing them all in the spring can be costly as well as unsustainable.

Increase light exposure

It sounds obvious, but the amount of daylight in the colder seasons is hugely reduced. With light being one of the fundamentals for your plants’ health and survival, it’s important to make sure they are getting enough. So consider repositioning them to a spot where they will receive enough for their individual needs. This is something you will need to pay careful consideration to for sun-loving plants like succulents and cacti. Plants that enjoy a bright position may also need to be moved closer to a window to ensure enough daylight.

Adjust your watering routine

During autumn and winter, the cooler weather means soil dries out slower than in spring and summer, so it’s important to adjust watering accordingly. The best way to check when your plant needs water is to monitor the level of moisture in the soil, using your finger.

Common houseplants such as Swiss cheese, rubber, palm and prayer plants that are watered weekly in the spring and summer can probably go at least three or four days longer between watering. Succulents are fine with a monthly water (instead of weekly) and cacti can go even longer, sometimes two months, or more, will be enough. Remember to use the soil as your guide – and for succulents and cacti the soil must be completely dry before you water. Give them a thorough drenching when you do though, and allow the water to fully drain.

Watch the temperature

There is nothing houseplants dislike more than fluctuations in heat. It’s important to keep your green leafy friends away from extremes in temperature during the cooler months. Radiators, underfloor heating and draughts from sash windows are the main culprits, so you may need to reposition your plants over the winter. Look at this an opportunity to restyle your home rather than a chore.

The ficus family of plants, which includes rubber plants and fiddle-leaf figs, particularly dislike extremes in temperature and being moved around too much. If at all possible, try to find a spot for these varieties that will suit them all-year round.

Care & maintenance

Trim away any dead leaves and freshen up the soil. Your plant won’t see much growth during this time so only repot if it has become too big for its container. The best time to repot is in spring, but do it now if you think your plant is looking squashed.

Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to allow them to breathe; keep a regular lookout for pests as well as discolouration of leaves.

Dilute or stop feeding during winter. Your plants are in their dormant period now and will have a significant reduction in growth; this is normal and you risk overfeeding. Adding a fresh layer of compost is a safer way to give them nutrients.

WORDS: ANGELA MAYNARD