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Autumn Houseplant Care Guide

Autumn Houseplant Care Guide

How to Keep your Houseplant Gang Happy throughout Autumn

As the nights get longer and everything turns golden brown, we welcome the falling leaves. But only outside. We might love swaddling ourselves in knitwear and crunching through the leaf litter, but it's the last thing we want for our houseplant pals. Here are a few easy tips that will help keep your plants happy and healthy during the colder months.

Houseplant Heaven at Utility Gift Manchester

1. Soak up the Sun

As the days get shorter, your plants need to soak up as much sun as possible (we can relate). Rearrange your indoor jungle and move your houseplant babies closer to the window. They need sunlight throughout the year to photosynthesise and keep those leaves lush and green. Having them clustered together will also help create a humid microclimate that they'll love!

Houseplant in the Hay Plant Pot & Saucer

2. Cut Back on Water

Who doesn't love to overindulge in the hazy summer months? We might intend to go on as we started, but it's time for our houseplants to cut down on the drink. Water less frequently and in smaller quantities. Let the soil dry out before you top up and use rainwater if possible. See our carefully curated selection of watering cans here.

The Elephant Watering Can by Sass & Belle and a tiny Houseplant

3. Forget the Fertilizer

The growing season is over and your green gang are getting ready for their winter rest. Feeding plants during autumn and winter forces unhealthy, spindly growth that will leave your plants looking weak and leggy. Put the bottle away until early spring!

The Hay Watering Can with 2 Litre Capacity

4. Have a Spring Autumn Clean

Keep your plants looking pretty by pruning any dry or damaged leaves.
Gently wipe foliage with a damp cloth, removing dirt and debris. Dust blocks sunlight and can prevent your houseplant from photosynthesising properly, so this is a crucial care step!

The Hay Watering Can Hanging out in the Sun.

4. Wrap up Warm

We're not the only ones who need to throw on an extra layer in September. If you live in a cold area and have plants from tropical climates, they're going to need a little help. One of the cheapest and simplest ways to keep them warm over winter is with a houseplant pot poncho! Repurpose some used bubble wrap and cover the circumference of the plastic pot. Be careful not to block drainage holes, and place inside an outer pot to hide the mess. Take a look at our collection of fun and funky plant pots here.

Homemade Houseplant Poncho

5. To Re-pot or Not?

It's been a long, hot summer and a good growing season. Your plants might look like they're about to pop out of their pots, but leave them as they are. Repotting outside of the growing season means your houseplant lovelies won't be able to send out root growth and establish themselves in their new soil. It's safer to wait until Spring!

The Hay Flower Pot & Saucer in Grey

Time for more? Top 10 Houseplants| Why Books Make Great Gifts | How To Unleash Your Inner Eco-Warrior!

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