When the colder seasons begin and the days become shorter, our houseplants start to slow down too. While it can be tempting to give tired-looking plants a new home and fresh soil, autumn and winter are actually the worst times to repot many houseplants.
‘As daylight fades and temperatures drop, most houseplants enter a slower growth period, and the last thing they need is pot-moving, heavy trauma on their gentle roots and stems,’ explains Paula Ramirez, plant expert at Palmstreet. ‘That extra stress can cause wilting, leaf drop or, even worse, death.’
Below, we share five things to do instead of repotting your houseplants this autumn and winter to help keep them in good health.
1. Improve the soil's aeration
If your houseplant’s soil is looking compacted, you don’t necessarily need to reach for a new pot. Improving aeration can be a much gentler way to help the roots – and it’s easier than you think.
‘Carefully poke vertical holes into the soil with a chopstick, pencil or small gardening fork,’ says Paula. ‘This helps to manually create air pockets and to quickly allow oxygen and water to reach your plant’s roots.’
The simple trick can also improve drainage, helping excess water move through the soil more effectively. Just be careful not to damage the roots as you work around the pot.
2. Hold off on the fertiliser
It might seem logical to give a struggling houseplant an extra boost of nutrients, but autumn and winter are not the best times to reach for the fertiliser.
‘Plants can’t properly absorb extra nutrients during the slower growth months,’ Paula explains. ‘So hold that fertiliser until spring and avoid the dreaded fertiliser burn.’
Too much fertiliser can cause excess salts to build up in the soil, drawing moisture away from the roots. Instead, let your plants rest through the slower months and save feeding until late winter or spring, when increasing daylight encourages them back into active growth.
3. Tidy up your plants
Just as the garden outside begins its seasonal transition, your houseplants can benefit from a little tidying up too.
‘Houseplants have a natural cyclical rhythm, and they rely on you to help maintain it,’ says Paula. ‘Focus on the lower leaves and stems of popular houseplants with abundant foliage, and prune away those that are yellowing or browning.’
Removing damaged or dying foliage helps your plant focus its available energy on healthier growth. It can also help keep your houseplants looking neat and tidy while they spend more time indoors over the darker months.
4. Be careful with watering
One of the biggest houseplant mistakes you can make in autumn and winter is continuing to water them as frequently as you did during summer.
‘Plants need less water, less often in the cooler, lower light months when there’s less evaporation, and too much water can lead to root rot,’ Paula warns.
Rather than sticking rigidly to a watering schedule, check the soil first. Paula recommends watering only when the top couple of inches feel dry. When you do water, use room-temperature water and allow it to drain fully from the bottom of the pot.
5. Keep an eye out for pests
Shorter days aren't the only change your houseplants have to contend with. As homes become drier over autumn and winter, certain pests can become a problem too.
‘Winter dry air can invite unwelcome guests like spider mites and gnats,’ says Paula. ‘Give your plants regular check-ups by peeking under leaves and around stem joints where pests like to hide.’
Look out for webbing, discolouration, sticky residue or any other unusual changes. If you spot signs of an infestation, move the affected plant away from the others to prevent pests from spreading.
When should you repot houseplants?
If your plant genuinely needs a new home, don't worry – you won't have to wait forever. According to Paula, the best time to repot is late winter to early spring.
‘A fresh repot ahead of the growing season helps plants take full advantage of new soil to build strong, healthy root systems,’ she explains.
Waiting until your houseplant is coming back into active growth means it is better equipped to recover from the disturbance and make use of its fresh soil.
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