Autumn is a wonderful time to spruce up your home. With more time spent indoors, making it a warm and inviting space is essential for our overall wellbeing. Indoor plants can transform a room – they breathe life, inject colour, increase productivity and help purify the air. However, as the season changes, so too do your plant's needs. Right now, plants are beginning to slow their growth and are downshifting for the dormant period ahead. So how should you care for your plants in autumn?
Here are five fool-proof indoor plant care tips to ensure they stay vibrant during the cooler months ahead.
Image credit: The Spruce
1. Ease up on watering
As we enter autumn and the temperature starts to cool off, your potting soil will take longer to dry out between watering. During this time, your plants are getting less light, and they're growing more slowly, so just watch them closely and adjust your schedule as needed. As a general rule, wait until the top inch of soil is completely dry and then soak and let drain.
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2. Forgo fertiliser
When a plant is in its growth phase, organic fertiliser is the ideal way to feed it extra nutrients that help it thrive. However, when a plant is dormant, fertiliser can burn the roots, so you don't want to run the risk of accidentally killing them with kindness. Hold off using fertiliser until springtime, or you can try diluting your solution to see how your plant reacts. However, light and water will sustain them, so you don't need to fuss too much.
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3. Show some extra TLC
As your green buddies adapt to the autumn weather, take stock of what they need; trim and prune and remove any yellowing leaves. Don't panic if leaves start to drop – this is part of their natural life cycle as they cope with being indoors with less light. It's also important to wipe down their leaves with a damp cloth and use neem oil to make them shiny and pest-free. It's imperative to keep foliage clean right now to ensure they're able to soak up as much of the sun's rays as possible and can photosynthesise to the best of their ability.
Image credit: The Spruce
4. Reposition
Plants are creatures of comfort and do not appreciate dramatic changes to their environment. So, although it's time to bring all of your plants indoors (cold night time temperatures can cause your plant some damage), be mindful of their positioning within your home. Keep them away from drafty windows and doors and ensure they aren't close to any heaters, which can wreak havoc on them by drying them out. In autumn, the sun's angle is changing, so take a look and move your plants so they can get adequate light. Pro tip: rotating your plants once a week will ensure they grow straight.
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5. Avoid repotting
As we mentioned, a significant change to a plant's environment can be distressing. So, if your plant grew over the summer and needs a bigger pot, you're best to be patient and leave the job until next spring (the beginning of the growing season) so they have time ahead to adjust to their new planter.
Plants are good at telling us what they need – we just need to listen. If you're looking to add a few new plants to your home but are not sure which ones will do well now that the sun sets earlier in the day, then keep reading for our top Autumn plant picks.
Image credit: Garden Design
Snake plant
Deemed as one of the best air purifying plants, the snake plant (mother-in-law's tongue) helps remove toxins, and it also produces a ton of oxygen at night, making it a great plant to keep in your bedroom. Since it's a succulent, the sturdy leaves thrive on neglect and only needs to be watered every three to four weeks. Just set it and forget it.
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Pothos
The pothos plant (devil's ivy) is known as the "cubicle plant" because it can thrive in less-than-ideal indoor conditions. If you are just starting to test out your green thumb or want a new plant for that dark corner in your home, this green beauty with its trailing variegated vines is an impressive option.
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Zanzibar Plant
With their attractive, dark green leaves, these quirky plants are the gold standard for houseplant beginners. Since they're considered a succulent, they love medium to low indirect light, they're drought-tolerant and only require watering every three to four weeks. Talk about low-maintenance!
Image credit: The Spruce
Philodendron
Philodendrons are known for their easygoing nature. They're a stunning plant with trailing vines and curling leaves that look great on a high shelf or in a hanging planter. The best part is, there are many beautiful varieties available to choose from!
Our team at Merchant & Green offer same-day plant and flower delivery Sydney-wide. Order online or give us a call and we will ensure your gorgeous new blooms or botanicals are delivered straight to your doorstep in just a few hours!