With summer winding down and the days becoming shorter, it’s time to prepare our indoor plants for the months ahead. Check out these tips for getting your plants ready for Fall.
Bring Your Plants Indoors
If your indoor plants have been outside enjoying the warmth and humidity of summer, it’s time to bring them inside once nighttime temperatures begin to dip below 10°C. While chillier temperatures still above freezing won’t kill most houseplants, they can cause leaf drop and signal your plant to go into dormancy.
To check for any little critters that may have taken up residence on your plant, be sure to look closely at the top and underside of the leaves as well as the stems. Remove any debris, like dead leaves, that has gathered on the soil surface where critters typically like to hide. If you happen upon any insects, remove them by wiping down the leaves thoroughly. If you find an infestation, an organic neem oil spray can be used to help deter the pests.
Give Your Plants a Shower
At the turn of each season, give your plants a thorough shower with a gentle spray of lukewarm water. This is the perfect time to leach any salt build-up out of the soil by letting the water run freely out of the bottom of the pot. The shower will also clean off any dust that has collected on the foliage. Not only will your plant look nice and clean, but it will also be better protected from insects that like to lurk on dusty leaves.
If you find dust still lingering on your plant’s leaves post-shower, wipe them down with a microfibre cloth to remove any remaining dirt or dust.
Feed Once More Before Winter
After their shower, take advantage of the damp soil and recharge with nutrients for the last time this year. Be careful not to overdo it—we suggest using a water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer mixed at half the recommended strength.
Trim Aged or Unsightly Leaves
To continue cleaning up your plants, take care to trim any yellow or browning leaves with sharp, clean plant shears. Be sure to disinfect the shears with rubbing alcohol after each snip in order to minimize the spread of bacteria or any disease from plant to plant.
Find The Best Lighting
As the days get shorter, the sun is lower in the sky, changing the way sunlight enters your space. If you have nearby shade trees that drop their leaves come fall, this can also allow more direct light to enter your space. Where you placed your plant in the spring and summer may not be the best lighting scenario for it during the fall and winter. Take note of how the light enters your space and adjust your plant’s placement according to their lighting preference.
In the case that you find your plant isn’t getting sufficient light, consider incorporating a grow light into your space.
Repot When Needed
Has your plant outgrown its pot? To check, gently lift your plant out of the pot and observe the roots. If the roots are coiling around the bottom of the pot, or even growing through the drainage holes or out of the top of the soil, then it’s time to size up and repot in a larger planter.
Don’t know how to go about repotting your plant? Check out our post about repotting rootbound plants.How To Repot Root Bound Houseplants Like A Pro