Get Your Plants Ready for Autumn Indoors
That’s it! Summer is finally over and now gives way to the season of colors and pumpkin spice lattes. For us plant lovers, it’s especially time to prepare our home to welcome our indoor plants that have been sunbathing outside over the past few months.
The change of season brings some challenges in terms of caring for your plants. Indeed, the plants will start to prepare for winter with the reduction in the number of hours of sunlight in the day as well as the general drop in temperatures. You will therefore have to adjust your watering.
Below are the 5 most important elements to take into account to properly prepare your plants for fall.
Inspect your plants before bringing them inside
The key to ensuring your plants survive the winter is to inspect them carefully once it’s time to bring them indoors. This inspection is essential to avoid introducing harmful insects into your home that could spread to other plants.
Here are the different steps of the inspection:
- Leaves: Check the undersides of the leaves to spot insects that could be there, such as scale insects.
- Stems: Look for discoloration or signs of pests, especially at the intersection of the leaves and stems (the internode).
- Roots and soil: If possible, remove the plant from its pot to check for signs of disease or small insects in the soil.
A good tip is to perform the inspection in bright light and use a magnifying glass if necessary. Pest insects are often very small and difficult to distinguish from dust and dirt.
Free up space near windows to maximize natural light
Given the drop in natural light that the fall season brings, you must do everything you can to maximize the natural light that your plants will receive. It is therefore important to clear the spaces around the windows to let in as much light as possible so that your plants can continue their photosynthesis.
To start, you can remove or reposition furniture and objects that block light near the windows. Later, you can group plants that like bright light, such as cacti and succulents, in these sunny areas. To optimize this space, you can vary the heights with shelves or stools to maximize the areas exposed to direct light.
Be careful that your plants do not directly touch the windows to avoid them being directly exposed to the cold. In addition, remember to regularly rotate your plants so that each side receives enough light.
Invest in LED grow lights if natural light is insufficient
During fall and winter, some rooms may not receive enough light for your plants to maintain their growth. In itself, this is not the end of the world because it is normal for plants to fall dormant during the cold season. However, if you want their growth to continue during this period, we advise you to provide supplemental light to your plants, especially for cacti and succulents.
LED (light-emitting diode) lamps are the best solution. On the one hand, they have low energy consumption and a long lifespan compared to traditional grow lights. In addition, they are easy to install and do not heat up too much, which protects your plants.
You will see that there are many different models. There is no point in taking a model that is too big, it would only cost more in energy for nothing. Choose the size of the lamp according to the number of plants you have. As for setup, place your grow plants about 30 cm (12") away from the plants and use timers to simulate the day and night cycle. 12 hours of light is plenty to keep your plants in vegetative growth.
Adapt your plant pots and saucers to your interior decor
Now is the time to let your creativity run wild to integrate your plants into your decor as harmoniously as possible! Make sure that the planters and saucers not only fit in with your decor, but also that they are practical for drainage.
Several choices of materials are possible. Ceramic pots and planters are perfect for giving a modern and refined style to any room. On the other hand, rattan and wood will offer a warm and autumnal interior. Finally, metal and terracotta will add a rustic touch while protecting your furniture.
Moreover, to avoid damage, check that the saucers are large enough to collect excess water after watering. In addition, to avoid marks on the furniture, we always use self-adhesive pads under the saucers and planters.
After bringing your plants inside: the importance of regular monitoring
Now that the warm season is over, it is time to adopt new habits when it comes to caring for your plants. Unfortunately, a significant portion of plant mortality in our homes occurs during the change of seasons.
On the one hand, it is important to regularly monitor your plants for harmful insects. Even if you did not see any when you brought them in, it is possible (or even probable) that insects in the egg or larval stage are there. The first 21 days are the most crucial because this is the length of the life cycle of many insects. If you do not detect anything beyond this period, you can take the initiative to space out your inspections.
On the other hand, you will have to adjust your watering compared to the habit you had during the summer. Most plants will require less watering during the cold months because they will dry out more slowly. This is especially true for cacti. A good tip is to use a hygrometer to measure the humidity of your cactus soil because it will be less obvious if the soil is completely dry than in summer. Observe the signs of wilting or yellowing of the leaves of your plants and adjust your watering accordingly. Note that an adjustment of the lighting may also be necessary.
Finally, it is not necessary to fertilize your plants between October and April.
Conclusion
Like for us with the start of the school year, fall is a transition period for our plants. By taking the time to find them an ideal location, inspecting them carefully and regularly, and adjusting watering according to these new conditions, you ensure a smooth transition for your green companions. With a little planning, you can turn this period into an opportunity to redecorate your interior!
Remember, each plant has specific needs. If you need help, our team at Cactus en ligne is here to support you.
Cactus en Ligne Team