A Guide to Caring for Indoor Plants in the Fall

Your indoor plants are responsible for adding incredible beauty to your home. They bring a touch of the outside in, and they’ve been known to do everything from lift spirits to purify the air. It only makes sense to include one or two in your living space, if only for the pop of natural greenery that they bring. For some, cultivating a thriving indoor jungle may be the more sensible alternative, particularly if you have a green thumb and a fondness for gardening, but not much room to do so in your own yard.

As the weather cools down, however, it’s important to be mindful of the effects that fall might have. At a bare minimum, basic indoor plant care involves monitoring moisture levels, determining adequate levels of light exposure, and nourishing with fertilizer when the time is right. Since fall brings both changes in indoor temperatures and fluctuations in light, it’s critical to readdress the way that you tend to your plant life during the final months of the year. Here are a few points to keep in mind.

Focus on Temperature

You’re likely to turn the heat up in your home when temperatures outside begin to drop significantly. The warmer it is inside, however, the more that your houseplants may suffer if you don’t make some changes to their situation. That’s mainly because plants don’t necessarily love exposure to heat for extended periods.

Moreover, all that heat in your home can also cause dry air to develop. Since many houseplants thrive on moisture, it’s critical to take steps to reverse that environment so that they don’t suffer premature failure. The heat and dryness also affect the way in which the plants take in water, so you’ll also have to reconfigure how often you give moisture to your plants. Some may require less water overall during the cooler months, while others may benefit from more frequent care.

As you would at other times of the year, test the soil by tapping it with your finger. Wait until the first inch or so is completely dry before you water. Do so evenly until you see water streaming from the openings at the bottom of the container. Don’t add more moisture unless the soil dries out — to be safe, test it every couple of days.

It’s helpful to be mindful of signs that indicate the plants aren’t necessarily loving all that heat and lack of humidity. Check the leaves. Do they have a yellowish tinge, or have unsightly brown marks? Are they curled along the edges? Those are both signs that the plant is in a state of potential spoilage.

If you have zoned heating and cooling in your home, you can easily designate a comfortably temperate environment where you can be certain that your plants will thrive even when it’s cool outside. You can also add a humidifier to the space to ensure that the plants receive enough moisture throughout the season.

Consider the Lighting

Changes in the lighting situation, too, can have an enormous impact on the health and longevity of your indoor plants. Since the days are shorter in the fall, less natural light is present to nourish them. Base your decision on how much light they typically need during spring and summer. Light is what plants absolutely need for the photosynthesis process, and without it, they’ll quickly diminish and lose their luster.

To resolve this concern, you can set the plants on windowsills to ensure they receive adequate lighting at specific times of the day. Another option is to add artificial lights to your indoor garden. These are most useful in cases where there’s little other choices — either because you don’t have available windowsill space or you don’t want to take a chance in a smaller space where lighting may be minimal.

Provide Their Nutrients

You also need to assess the nutrients that your plants receive during the cooler months. As a general rule of thumb, aim to feed them at least every fourth time that you water them. They generally don’t need as many nutrients during this dormant period. Keep an eye on their condition, however; some signs that they might require additional fertilizer include sluggish growth and a greenish-yellow tinge to the leaves.

With a little bit of time and care, you can ensure that your indoor garden continues to thrive even during the coolest months of the year. It’s well worth your attention to give this green space the TLC it deserves. You’ll love the way that they brighten up your home in the fall!