Why Your Houseplants May Need a Different Spot as Summer Ends
For houseplants it’s an easy season in the summer. Longer days means more natural light and many plants benefit from warm, sunny conditions and will grow rapidly. But as summer draws to a close, the amount and angle of sunlight that filters into your home changes. Your windowsill plant can turn out to be a less useful plant a few weeks later. Plants can cope with fall relatively easily by making a few simple adjustments to watering and overall care, along with a change in their position.
How Seasonal Light Changes Affect Houseplants
One of the most important factors affecting the growth of an indoor plant is the amount of light it receives. As the season of autumn nears, the day gets shorter and the sun moves across the sky in a different manner. This may affect the amount and length of daylight in natural light spaces within your house. Extension advice indicates that in fall, light levels in the house drop off and plant growth and water needs also slow down.
Shorter Days Mean Less Natural Light
The first thing to be understood is that plants do not react to light as much as humans. What appears to be a well-lit room may seem quite dark for a plant. It is possible for a plant to get fewer hours of light each day even if it has not moved.
This is especially critical for plants that have a high growth rate in summer. They may have grown more rapidly in the past due to better and longer sunlight, but when fall conditions are not optimal, this growth rate can be significantly reduced. University extension resources suggest watching plants more than a set plan, because as the seasons change, so do the needs of plants.
The Sun’s Changing Position Matters
Seasonality also affects the sun’s position, so that light enters into your home differently. A window that gets a lot of sun in summer, may not get as much in the autumn. Sunlight can penetrate further inside a room at certain times of the year and be less abundant or predictable in others, depending on the orientation and other buildings of the window.
That’s why it’s not always possible to just say a plant goes by a window. The distance from the window is also a factor. Plants close to a bright window will also get more usable light than those a few feet further away.
Signs Your Plant Is Not Getting Enough Light
One of the best ways to know when it’s time to move your plants is by telling you. A very good indication is a plant that is leggy or lanky, as new stems become very long in an attempt to reach a light source. Additionally, one may see that new leaves are smaller, growth slows down or leaves are paler than normal.
The older leaves of some plants may also drop if the conditions are altered. But it’s not the only possible cause, so don’t straighten a plant that is struggling by placing it right in the sun. Similar symptoms can develop from watering and temperature, pests and environmental factors. However, if a healthy plant starts to become weak and elongated in the light, its position should be carefully examined.
Finding a Better Window for Your Plants
Begin by scanning around your home to find spots that get more sunlight. Morning sun will be helpful from an east window, and south windows will often be flooded with sunlight. Bright windows to the west may also be suitable, though the increased afternoon sun might not be ideal for all plants. North facing windows generally get less light and may be better suited for plants that can grow in lower light levels.
Consider Distance From the Glass
Don’t forget the area between the plant and window. Moving a plant just a little farther into the room will dramatically cut back on its lighting. Iowa State University Extension notes that the farther light is placed from windows the quicker the light level may drop.
However, do not think that the nearer you can get, the better it is. Some plants may not tolerate direct sun or temperature extremes close to glass. The aim is to locate a spot that will allow the optimal balance for that species.
Move Plants Gradually
Seasonal moves don’t have to be drastic. When moving your plant from one location to another, try not to move it from a fairly dim space into direct sunlight. Sudden changes of light intensity may cause stress such as leaf damage and/or loss of leaves in some plants.
Rather, make gradual adjustments, if possible. Consider shifting the plant to a window that gets more light or placing a sheer curtain in front of bright windows. Plants with a greater light requirement may require supplemental light.
Check Your Windows Before Moving Plants
First check the window itself before it’s time to move a plant. The amount of light that reaches the room can be influenced by dust, fingerprints, screens, curtains and exterior build up. When you want to get the most light into the windows, regular window cleaning with clean glass is beneficial.
Homeowners looking for window cleaning near me Tampa FL can find help for the exterior and hard-to-reach windows. If the windows are already dirty, that won’t make a dim room bright, but it’ll help get rid of the excess clutter and maximize the light in the room.
Protect Floors and Furniture
Plants also make practical household issues when they are moved around: water. Even a pot that is completely dry on the outside may have water on a windowsill, table, floor or wooden surface after watering.
If the plant is being moved, make sure to inspect the drainage holes and put a proper saucer or waterproof tray under the plant pot. For larger pots, a plant stand with a base to shield the pot, particularly placed over wood floors or furniture, can be more helpful. This small step will help you avoid water rings, stains, and damp patches, and will help you water in the future.
Rethink Your Watering Routine
If the plant is moved from one place to another, so will be the watering schedule. Typically, plants grow slower during the fall when the light levels are lower and the home environment is cooler, but their water requirements may be lower. What that doesn’t mean is that everyone should drop a certain watering amount on a certain schedule, rather, it means to recognize soil and plant condition when watering.
The best way to do this is to not water just because it’s the normal day of the week. Because watering requirements are dependent upon plant type, light, humidity and temperature, it is recommended that the soil be monitored for watering requirements in Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Check Soil Before Watering
Use a finger or moisture meter to check the potting mix or plant and see if it needs water. If the soil is wet more than in summer, make the necessary adjustments. It is important not to give a plant water because it was watered that much during July, since it may be too moist as growth slows.
Various plants also have very different tastes. Succulents and cactus do not require watering nearly as often as many of the tropical plants do, and frequency changes from season to season should always be determined on a plant-by-plant basis rather than by a calendar.
Make Fall Plant Care Easier
Toward the end of summer, it’s a good time to perform a thorough review of your houseplants. Check for pests, prune away any damaged leaves if necessary, sweep off dusty leaves and check pots for drainage issues. Be sure to check plants thoroughly before permanently placing them indoors if they have been placed outside for part of the summer as outdoor plants may introduce pests into the house.
Then take a step back and view your home from the plant’s point of view. How much daylight makes it to which rooms? Are there any curtains or outdoor vegetation obstructing the windows? Do plants have hot vents, drafty doors or unusually cold windows next to them? Some thoughtful modifications can make fall and winter care of plants quite easy.
Conclusion
When summer is over, you don’t need to completely transform your houseplants, but their growing conditions may shift enough to warrant a new spot. Fewer daylight hours, varying sunlight direction and the cooler indoor environment may limit light and growth. Look for stretched growth and waning plant leaves, clear away window dust, handle plants with care, prevent watering on floors, and water on soil moisture. Just a bit of seasonal care can help your plants get from bright summer to fall.
FAQs
- Why is it that I need to move my houseplants at the end of Summer?
As the seasons go by, the quantity, intensity, and direction of sunlight that reaches your house change. The same location that was successful in the summer season can be less successful in the fall season.
- What are some indications that a houseplant requires additional light?
Symptoms include elongated or leggy plants, reduced growth, reduced leaf size, paler leaves and possibly leaf drop. These symptoms can also be caused by other factors such as watering, temperature and pests though.
- Can I plant plants right up to a window?
Not always. In general, plants near windows get the most light, although some species are sensitive to direct light or temperature changes. Select the location according to the light needs of the plant.
- Do I need to reduce the amount of watering for houseplants during the fall?
There is no standard watering schedule as many plants require less water when growing slower or at lower light levels. Be careful that soil moisture is not the only factor before watering; other factors are species, temperature, humidity and new location.
- Do dirty windows have an impact on houseplant growth?
Dirty glass can lessen the amounts of natural light that enter into an indoor space. Plants can use the natural light better in the room if the windows are relatively clean.