Why Autumn Plant Care Matters

Autumn brings shorter days, cooler nights, and big changes to your plants' environment.

Light levels decrease, temperatures fluctuate, and indoor heating dries out the air.
These shifts affect how your plants grow and what they need to stay healthy.

With a few simple adjustments, you can prevent common problems like root rot, pests, and dropped leaves — setting your indoor jungle up for success all winter long.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through five essential steps to keep your plants thriving as the seasons change.

1. Adjust Your Watering Routine

During summer, plants grow quickly and drink a lot of water.
In autumn, growth slows, and so does their water uptake — meaning the same watering schedule can suddenly be too much.

Why overwatering is dangerous

• Slower growth = roots use less water.

• Excess water sits in the soil, depriving roots of oxygen.

• This creates the perfect environment for root rot, one of the most common causes of plant loss in autumn and winter.

How to water correctly in autumn

• Check before you water:
  The top layer of soil may look dry, but deeper down it can still be moist.
  Stick your finger into the soil or use a moisture meter for accuracy.

• Use The Pot Lift Technique:
  Lift the pot — a light pot means it’s time to water, a heavy pot means wait a few more days.

• Water deeply, but less often:
  When you water, do so thoroughly so the entire root ball gets hydrated.
  Let all excess water drain completely.

💡 Pro Tip: If your pot doesn’t have drainage holes, consider repotting into one that does before winter.
Proper drainage is the best insurance against root problems.

2. Feed Your Plants Until Late October

While growth slows in autumn, most plants are still active in early fall — especially while days are mild and bright.
This is your last chance to give them a nutrient boost before winter dormancy sets in.

Why fertilizing now is important

• Strengthens plants before the challenging winter months.

• Helps them store energy for spring growth.

• Supports late-season leaf development and root health.

How to fertilize in autumn

• Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–3 weeks until late October.

• Reduce the dosage by half compared to summer strength to avoid fertilizer burn.

• Stop feeding completely once you notice very slow or no new growth.

💡 Plantlovers tip: A final feed in October gives plants a strong foundation to survive winter and bounce back quickly in spring.

3. Support Climbing Plants for Bigger, Healthier Leaves

Plants like Monstera, Philodendron, and many other tropical species naturally climb in the wild, anchoring their aerial roots to trees or mossy surfaces.

Without proper support, they can:

• Grow leggy and unstable.

• Produce smaller, immature leaves without splits or fenestrations.

• Become prone to breakage or drooping.

How to support your plants

• Add a coco fibre pole or moss pole to mimic their natural growing conditions.

• Insert the pole firmly into the pot while the plant is young.

• Secure stems loosely with plant ties — avoid tying too tightly.

• Gently guide aerial roots toward the pole to encourage attachment.

🌱 Moss pole tip: If you’re using a moss pole, keep it slightly moist so roots can grow into it more easily.

Result:
A supported plant will grow stronger, more upright, and reward you with larger, mature leaves that show off the plant’s true beauty.

4. Watch Out for Pests Before They Spread

Autumn creates the perfect storm for pests:

• Dry indoor air from heating systems.

• Less ventilation as windows stay closed.

• Plants grouped closer together after summer outdoors.

These conditions make it easier for pests like thrips, spider mites, and fungus gnats to multiply quickly.

Common pests to watch for

• Thrips: silver streaks on leaves, distorted new growth.

• Spider mites: fine webbing, yellow speckles, leaf drop.

• Fungus gnats: tiny black flies hovering around soil.

Early detection is key

Inspect your plants weekly:

• Check undersides of leaves and leaf joints carefully.

• Look for tiny moving dots or any unusual spots or patterns.

How to prevent outbreaks

• Introduce predatory mites like Swirski Ulti-Mite or Spical Ulti-Mite proactively.
  These beneficial insects keep pest populations under control naturally.

• Use sticky traps to catch flying insects early, especially fungus gnats.

• Quarantine new plants for at least 2 weeks before adding them to your collection.

💡 Pro Tip: Early action saves time and money. Once a pest population explodes, it’s much harder to get rid of them.

5. Create the Ideal Indoor Environment

As the seasons change, so do indoor conditions — and not always in ways your plants like.

Humidity

• Many tropical plants need 60% or higher humidity.

• Group plants together to create a microclimate.

• Use a humidifier if possible, or place pots on pebble trays with water.

• Avoid placing plants directly next to heaters or radiators.

Light

• Shorter days = less natural light.

• Move plants closer to windows to maximize available light.

• Clean dust off leaves and windows to improve light absorption.

• Consider a grow light for low-light spaces or rare, light-hungry plants.

Temperature

• Keep plants away from cold drafts (windows, doors) and direct heat sources.

• Most houseplants thrive between 18–24°C.

• Sudden temperature swings can cause stress and leaf drop.

Putting It All Together

By adjusting watering, feeding, and environmental conditions while staying vigilant for pests, you’ll set your plants up for success through autumn and winter.

These small changes make a big difference — keeping your indoor garden lush and healthy, ready to burst into growth when spring returns.

Autumn Essentials for Healthy Plants

To make seasonal care easier, here are our favorite products: