With the arrival of autumn, we may notice that our indoor plants are slowing down their growth, or on the contrary, that they are growing faster because the temperatures are more pleasant, not so hot. And this season, depending on where you live and, especially, how warm or cold your home is, may or may not become a second spring for them.
But what we must be very clear about is that we must continue to pay attention to our pots in order to keep them looking beautiful. So, Let's see how to care for indoor plants in autumn.
Is your home cold or warm?
Before you start, you must first answer this question, because depending on it you will provide them with certain care. For example, the house where I live has very wide exterior walls, about 40 centimetres. This means that, even though there are several windows on both the ground and first floors, there is at least a 2-3 degree difference inside both in summer and winter.
To this I have to add the environmental humidity, which is very high throughout the year, so The thermal sensation makes us feel cold during the winter season, and hot in the summer.. We may literally need to wear a (thin) jacket at home during the fall, and have to take it off when we go outside. And we are not the only ones who feel the cold or the heat.
The plants we have inside the home also suffer or appreciate (depending on the season of the year) the consequences. to live in these conditions. Thus, while in spring and autumn they grow at a good rate, in summer and winter their growth stops.
To better understand what I mean, you should know that most indoor plants are native to tropical climates, so Its ideal temperature range is between 15ºC minimum and 30ºC maximum.. When it is lower or higher, it is then that we will notice that they do not grow as much as before. Also, you must take into account that they need high environmental humidity, hence if the environment is dry (and I repeat: only if it is dry; if for example I did it, they would immediately be affected by fungi) it is recommended to spray them with water daily.
If you have any doubts, you can resolve them by typing “environmental humidity of X” into the browser, replacing the X with the name of your town. Or even if you go out early in the morning and see that the windows and grass are wet every day – and it’s not because of the rain – you will know that the humidity is very high.
What are the care requirements for indoor plants in autumn?
Now that I have told you about the importance of knowing the humidity and temperature levels at home in order to provide the best care for your indoor plants in any season of the year, let's now focus on the things we have to do for them during the fall. As I said before, this season can be something like a second spring for them, if the thermometer shows a maximum of 25ºC during the day and a minimum of 15ºC at night; or it can be a proper fall, with temperatures between 20 and 10ºC or lower.
Care varies a little, but don't worry because I'm going to explain to you how to take care of them regardless of the case.:
Irrigation: frequent but less and less
Temperatures are a little lower than in summer, so the soil takes longer to lose its moisture and dry out. For this reason, We have to start spacing out the waterings, more and more as winter approaches.It is important to keep inserting the stick all the way to the bottom of the pot if you are unsure about when to water, as this is a great way to know when is the best time to water. Also remember to empty the saucer after each watering so that the roots do not rot.
Fertilizer: can be done, but only if the winter is mild
It is often recommended to fertilize plants only in spring and summer, and this is for a very simple reason: it is not worth fertilizing in autumn if there is going to be frost in winter, because if we did, the new shoots that the plant has produced will die as soon as the temperature drops. This also happens if the house is cold. For this reason, If you live in a warm climate like me, then fertilize in the fall as well, but if not, stop fertilizing in late summer.
Pruning: necessary in certain cases
Fall is a good time to prune indoor plants, but You only have to do small pruning, such as removing dry leaves or dead stems.The most severe pruning will be carried out in spring, as this is when they will be able to recover without too much difficulty.
Urgent pot changes
Transplants should be carried out, whenever possible, in spring. However, they can also be done during autumn if we have a newly acquired indoor plant and we see that its roots are coming out of the holes in its container, or if we have one that could have some infection or pest in its roots. Also It should be done in those cases where over-watering has occurred., changing the land for a new one.
Cleaning leaves and stems
Although it is not a care that we have to do only in autumn, I do not want you to forget about it in this season. Cleaning indoor plants is crucial so that they can look beautiful, and also so that they can perform their vital functions (such as breathing) without impediments. To do this, You can use a small brush, cotton or paper, but in any case it must be dry..
With all these tips, your indoor plants will surely look great during the fall.