If you’re reading this, you’ve probably developed an interest in your green thumb and maybe already have a few plants. But now that summer is ending and fall is coming, you may be unsure of what to do to help your plants make the transition from one season to the next. 

In this article, we'll discuss fall plant care so your houseplants will adapt to the changing seasons without missing a beat.

Consider the Temperature

As summer says goodbye and fall moves in, you'll no doubt notice that the temperature will start dropping. Instead of having a relatively steady temperature for days and nights, there will be a greater difference in temperatures between the day and night.

This won’t be a problem for some plants, even if they’re being left outside to soak up what’s left of the summer sun. But for the majority of them, you'll have to start bringing them indoors if you were letting them stay outside. A general rule of thumb is you should begin to move them inside when the temperature gets to around 55 degrees at night.

If your plants have been outside, you should check them for common garden pests before bringing them in. Pests and diseases can spread quickly indoors, and your plants will be sharing close quarters for a while, so make sure they’re healthy and pest-free before bringing them inside, or you may wind up with an autumn infestation on your hands. 

Accommodate the Changing Light

In addition to changing temperatures, fall also brings along with it shorter days. The angle that the sun hits will change as well. Changing sunlight patterns mean you need to be extra aware of how your plants are oriented, especially those that need a lot of light to thrive.

Take a day to notice how the sunlight hits various parts of your house throughout each hour. You can then make an informed decision on how to reconfigure your plants’ location to ensure they get an adequate amount of sunlight in the fall and even winter. 

To ensure plants get enough sunlight, you may also want to consider rotating them more often, so they don't end up growing lopsided. 

Change Your Watering Schedule 

Indoor air is notoriously dry, especially in cooler weather or when central heating systems are used, depending on where you live. This means that it's a lot less humid indoors than what it was over the summer. 

Lower humidity has two major implications for your plant care regime: plants need less water, and most plants will need increased humidity. 

Due to cooler temperatures, water won't evaporate as quickly, meaning that plants should be watered less frequently. Instead of adhering to a strict watering schedule, let the soil tell you when it needs watering. Some plants need to be kept consistently moist, whereas others like the soil to be completely dry before another watering. Stick your finger an inch or two into the soil, or invest in a moisture meter, to help you determine when its time to water.

Help With Humidity

Lack of seasonal humidity can be a real concern for some plants, especially tropical varieties that need high humidity to thrive. 

Depending on the type of plants you have, you may need to take some steps to increase the humidity. The easiest and most fool-proof option (which is also the most expensive) is to purchase a humidifier. This can help you control the exact level of humidity, and has the added benefit of making your living environment more comfortable, especially if you get dry skin, coughs, or other symptoms of low humidity during the fall and winter. 

Low-tech options for increasing humidity include putting plants in a tray filled with water, with added pebbles or stones to keep pots out of the water. As the water in the tray evaporates, it will create a higher-humidity environment around your plants. 

Misting regularly throughout the day with a fine spray of water can also increase your plants’ local humidity levels.

To increase ambient humidity in a room with radiators, try placing a bowl of water on or near the radiator. As the water heats and evaporates, it will increase the humidity. Avoid this trick with electric radiators, or if you have pets or small kids at home that might knock the bowl over. 

In a pinch, try moving your humidity-loving plants to the bathroom. It sounds unorthodox, but the high humidity level created after a shower may be just what a tropical plant needs to stay happy in a dry home. Just make sure they’re also getting sufficient sunlight as well. 

Stop Feeding Your Plants

Cooler temperatures and less sunlight mean slower growth. Slowed growth during the fall and winter is perfectly natural and nothing to be concerned about. But it does mean that if you were giving your plants fertilizer over the spring and summer growing seasons, you can stop now. 

Instead, focus on health maintenance, not supercharging growth. Turn your attention toward factors like temperature, humidity, and water. Save the fertilizer for next spring, when plants are growing faster and can make better use of it. 

What Plants Are Good for the Fall and Winter?

There's only so much you can do to help your plants thrive across seasons. Depending on where you live, you may want to look for plants that can tolerate cooler temperatures and shorter days better than others. 

Here are a few plants that generally tolerate the transition from summer to winter pretty well: 

Spider Plant

The spider plant is an excellent plant to have in just about any environment. It doesn't need much care, is super hardy, and is pretty to look at, too. 

All this plant needs is some indirect sunlight, and it'll pretty much be happy. You can even put a spider plant in your bathroom, as it loves humid conditions (but doesn’t necessarily need them), and can manage quite happily with the lack of natural sunlight that most bathrooms receive. 

Golden Pothos

Would you like to have some vines hanging from your living room ceiling? Or maybe you'd like to have them draped across your cabinets?

Whatever you wish, the golden pothos is a perfect trailing plant that can handle the cooler months. It has heart-shaped, speckled leaves and long vines, which will transform any room into a jungle.

You can put it in indirect sunlight, and it does well in average home humidity. This makes golden pothos ideal for parts of the country with colder fall and winter seasons.

Pencil Cactus

This quirky little Pencil Cactus is one tough customer when it comes to seasonal transitions. Plus, it has a uniquely wild appearance you won’t find in many other plants.

It does well in very dry homes with low humidity or forgetful owners who don’t always remember to water. It does like plenty of sunlight though, so keep it near a south-facing window or let it spend mornings in an east-facing window to soak up the sun. 

Monstera Deliciosa 

If you want a big, dramatic plant in your home, try the Monstera deliciosa. It has big leaves that can grow up to 2 feet wide, which can be quite lovely when placed in the corner of a room.

It does very well in low light because it's from the floor of Mexico’s jungles, which don’t get nearly as much light as the tree canopy. Although they grow big, they grow very slowly, so you won't have to worry much about plant maintenance or frequent repotting.

Use Our Fall Plant Care Tips to Look After Your Houseplants

Now you're well-equipped with the right knowledge to carry out proper fall plant care. You’ll need to be more aware of where they're sitting, how often you're watering them and making sure they have the right level of humidity.

No matter what fall and winter have in store for you, LEAFY has the right plant for your home. We now ship across the continental US from our home base in the San Francisco Bay area, so you can enjoy lush LEAFY plants delivered right to your doorstep! 

Check out our collection of healthy, locally grown plants, our carefully curated selection of designer planters, and order online for a stress-free plant buying experience. 

Want some in-person help? Check out our stores in Palo Alto and San Jose to meet the plants and the awesome LEAFY team members who can help you choose the best plants for you.