Text & photos: Laura Pigeon
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The season that all indoor plant lovers dread is approaching: Autumn.
If you are new to the world of indoor plants, you will experience your first autumn with difficulty. In this article, I will give you some tips to help you get through this period without too much loss.
Autumn officially begins on September 23rd. From this period, the days will drastically start to shorten. Fewer daylight hours in a day means less photosynthesis for the plants. This is why some of them will go dormant for the winter.
Lack of sunlight and yellow leaves
I have a lot more yellow leaves than usual, is that normal? Yes! It's one of the main symptoms of a lack of sunlight. Other side effects due to lack of light can also be felt: Leaves paler than usual, leaves spaced out on the stem (called etiolation).
What to do? It's simple, I advise you to add grow lights to your plants. What color should I choose? The colors vary depending on the result you want and the needs of your plants. As a general rule, for indoor plants, I recommend "full spectrum" grow lights, that is, white ones. These lights contain all colors. Otherwise, we often see purple lights which are also good because plants perceive blue and red more than other colors.
Can I leave my lights on all day during this period?
I do not recommend it. Like all living species, plants need a rest period at night. Therefore, I advise you to turn them on for a maximum of 12 to 14 hours per day.
Can I put all my plants under grow lights? Yes! There are no real contraindications. However, some plants might not be used to it and could show signs of burning. This has happened to me with philodendrons, and I decided to move them afterward. You should also be careful not to place the lights too close to the plants.
Repotting in autumn
Is it okay to repot in autumn?
Ideally, you shouldn't do it unless your plant really needs it. The times for repotting are from March to October. However, if your plant really needs it and is suffering, I advise you to do it anyway. It might experience a bigger repotting shock than in the spring, but it's better than losing your plant by not repotting it.
And fertilizer? Should we stop giving it?
As a general rule, we reduce the supply of fertilizer to plants during autumn and winter. But if your plants are still growing, you can continue to give them fertilizer without any problems. If your plant is dormant, let it have its peaceful dormancy. When it starts to produce new shoots, you can give it fertilizer again!
Reducing watering in autumn
Since sunlight is less present, it's important to reduce your watering because the soil of your plants will dry out less quickly. However, when you turn on your heating, the plants that are up high will dry out more quickly. It's really important to check your soil with a finger or a hygrometer before watering.
Here are my little tips for having a nice autumn with your plants!
Tips and advice
