It’s that time of the year when summer has come to an end, the days get a little less long, the heat drops a few levels, and the leaves begin to fall. Goodbye summer wear and hello cardies and cosy time at home. For your indoor plants, the entry into Autumn also brings about a change in your care routine.

In short, its about watering less, ensuring sufficient light, stopping the fertiliser and only repotting, if you absolutely must.

Ease up on the watering

Your houseplants growth will begin to slow and a reduction in temperature and light means your soil will dry slower than in the warmer months. All of this provides the perfect environment to love your plant(s) to death. Cut back on the frequency of your watering.

Put a stop to the fertiliser

Fertiliser during spring and summer is great to replenish a plant’s nutrients but when foliage growth starts to slow during autumn, you’re more likely to cause damage through root burn than you are to help your plant. Save the consumption of comfort food to yourself.

Consider plant positioning

As the days get shorter, it pays to keep an eye on how this impacts the levels of light and temperature your plant receives. The sun shows itself less and the angle in which light enters your house will also change. For a brighter outlook, consider moving some plants closer to a window to catch more light. Just be mindful of strong or particularly cold drafts as plants don’t like extreme changes in temperature. As such, you may also need to shift some plants away from a windowsill.  

Time for a spruce up

Some wayward growth or leggy vines may have appeared through summer. With the change of season, you might also witness some leaf-drop or yellowing of leaves. This is normal behaviour as your plant adjusts to less light and subsequently less energy to sustain all their foliage. In each scenario, take the time to trim and prune any unsightly foliage and wipe down the healthy leaves with a damp cloth to assist with catching light.

In spending a bit more time indoors, now is the time to play designer and install those floating shelves, hanging baskets or wall or ceiling hooks you’ve always talked about.

A new mix of beautiful, cheery plants are also just the thing to brighten up the décor and the outside gloom. Check out these 6 low-light plants perfect for autumn.

Marble Queen Pothos

Brighten up your room with the Marble Queen Pothos. This easy-to-care plant thrives in medium to low-light, and even better, it grows quite quickly! Perfect for a hanging planter or cascading from a shelf or desk.

Snake Plant

A popular choice for modern spaces, the snake plant is perfect for even your darkest corner. The Snake Plant can be placed in a spot that receives anything from bright indirect light all the way to low light (not no light), so consider it one of the most versatile plants for your home. 

Bird's Nest Fern

Happy pet, happy life. The Bird’s Nest Fern is a great pet-friendly option that’s also suitable for bright indirect to low light spots. Your fern can benefit from warmth and humidity so you may like to position it near your shower or bath or even kitchen for added moisture.

Philodendron

Some of the most popular plants out there and for good reason. It’s easy-going nature and quick growing trailing vines make it the perfect addition for vertical space this autumn. Add it to a hanging planter or to a shelve in bright indirect to low light. Not feeling a vining variety, go for the Rojo Congo or Pink Princess for some colourful foliage.

Pilea Peperomioides

In need of an autumn-friendly plant for your window and windowsill, look no further than the Pilea Peperomioides aka money plant. This easy-care can plant grow in east-, and west-facing windows and even some north-windows (during cooler months when afternoon sun is less extreme). With its round, saucer-like leaves on long stalks, this cute little plant looks as if it landed in the living room from outer space.

ZZ Plant

Not only can the ZZ plant survive weeks (even months) of neglect and still look as dashing as the day you brought it home, it’s perfect for Autumn as it only requires moderate, indirect light and minimal watering. Don’t know a thing about plant care, this could be your starting choice.