How to prepare your plants for autumn

2 min reading time

Four things need to change when autumn arrives: water less, move plants closer to the light, stop feeding until spring, and check for pests before the heating goes on. Do those in September and most houseplants will come through the winter without trouble. The reason is simple. Less daylight means slower growth, and a plant that is barely growing needs far less of everything. Most winter plant losses come from carrying on with a summer routine into October.

Water less, and check before you do

From late September, cut back to roughly half your summer watering. Instead of following a schedule, push a finger two centimetres into the soil and only water if it feels dry. Wet soil that stays wet in a cool room is the fastest route to root rot. Succulents and cacti need the biggest cutback. Once a month is usually enough from October onwards, and some can go through winter almost dry.

Move plants towards the light

Light levels indoors drop sharply between September and November. Move plants a metre or two closer to the window and turn them a quarter every couple of weeks so they don't lean. Two things to watch. Cold windowsills at night can damage leaves, so pull tender plants back in the evening if the glass gets cold. And clean the leaves, since a layer of dust noticeably reduces the light a plant can use when there is little to spare.

Stop feeding until spring

Fertiliser only helps a plant that is actively growing. Feeding in autumn leaves salts building up in the soil that the roots cannot take up. Stop from the end of September and start again in March.

Check for pests before the heating comes on

Warm, dry air from radiators is ideal for spider mites and scale, and they are far easier to deal with before they spread. Look under the leaves and where the leaf meets the stem. Wipe anything you find off with a damp cloth, and keep affected plants away from the others for a few weeks. Also move plants away from radiators. A plant sitting directly above one loses moisture much faster than it can replace it.

Terrariums need the least work of all

A closed terrarium handles autumn almost by itself, since the sealed glass keeps its own humidity no matter what the central heating does. All it usually needs is a spot with indirect light and the occasional trim if growth is pressing against the glass.

Autumn is also when indoor gardening starts up again, simply because there is less to do outside. A DIY terrarium kit is a sensible wet-weekend project, and for terrariums that have run a season or two, a refill kit and a few plant care tools will sort out anything that has got leggy. If your rooms lose most of their daylight in winter, artificial plants keep the green without the effort.

In short

Autumn plant care is mostly about doing less. Half the water, no feed, a brighter spot and one proper pest check in September will get almost everything through to spring.

FAQ

When does autumn start?

There are two answers, and both are correct. Meteorological autumn always runs from 1 September to 30 November, which is what weather forecasters use. Astronomical autumn begins at the September equinox, which in 2026 falls on 23 September.

When do the clocks go back in 2026?

On Sunday 25 October, when the clocks go back an hour and the evenings suddenly get dark much earlier. It's the point in the year when most people notice the change in light indoors, and it's a good moment to move plants closer to a window.

Why do leaves change colour in autumn?

As days shorten, trees stop producing chlorophyll, the green pigment that powers photosynthesis. The yellows and oranges were in the leaf all along and simply become visible once the green fades. Reds are made fresh in autumn, which is why some years are more colourful than others depending on the weather.

When is Halloween 2026?

Saturday 31 October. Most people decorate in the last week of October, and pumpkins are best carved two or three days before, since a carved pumpkin doesn't last long.

How long does a carved pumpkin last?

Usually between five days and two weeks, depending on how warm it's kept. Drying the inside thoroughly after carving, keeping the pumpkin outside in the cold and using a battery light rather than a candle all make a noticeable difference.

Should I carve a pumpkin from the top or the bottom?

The bottom. It keeps the stalk intact, hides the join, and lets you set the pumpkin down over a light instead of reaching in through a lid. It also drains better, which helps it last longer.

What can I do with a pumpkin after Halloween?

If it's still firm, use it as a temporary planter. Line the inside, add a little soil and sit succulents or small cacti in it, since they need so little water that the pumpkin stays firm for weeks. Once it softens, compost it and move the plants into a pot.

Why are my houseplants struggling in autumn?

Almost always because of light, not care. Shorter days mean slower growth, so plants use far less water and any fertiliser just sits in the soil. From late September, water around half as often, stop feeding until March, and move plants closer to the window.

When should I bring outdoor plants inside?

Before the first frost, and earlier for anything tender. As a rule of thumb, bring tender plants in once night temperatures start dropping towards ten degrees. Check the leaves and undersides for pests before they come indoors, since a warm house lets an infestation spread quickly.

How do I make my home feel autumnal without filling it with decorations?

Work with texture rather than seasonal colour: glass, wood, moss, dried stems and linen in a narrow range of greens and browns. Choose one focal point where you actually look, and add a warm side lamp for the evenings. Three well-placed things read better than fifteen scattered ones.