How to Adapt Your Plant Care Routine for the Fall Season

Shorter days, cooler air, and cranked-up heat in the house: fall quietly changes everything for your plants. The good news? With a few changes to watering, humidity, and light, you can keep your houseplants happy all season. Let’s walk you through the practical stuff you’ll actually use (no PhD required), point out common mistakes people make, and show how simple adjustments to your fall plant care can help make the seasonal transition painless.

Quick promise: read this, make 3 small changes, and your plants will thank you with stable growth (and fewer mystery leaf drops).

🪴 Fall Plant Care 101: At a Glance

Water less — plants grow slower in fall; they need less water.
Raise humidity where needed — group plants, use trays, or run a humidifier.
Add light when daylight shrinks — aim for ~12–14 hours of good light (supplement with grow lights if needed).
Keep an eye on pests — quarantine plants you bring inside and inspect often.
Use timers and distance control — set lights on a timer and position them so plants get enough but not scorch.

How should I adjust watering for my houseplants in fall?

Short answer: water less often, not less carefully.

Houseplants are probably killed or injured more often by improper watering than by any other single factor, according to an article from the University of Missouri Extension. When daylight (and therefore photosynthesis) drops, most houseplants slow their growth and need less water. Overwatering is the number one fall plant care mistake— soggy soil + low light = root rot.

How to Water Your Plants In The Fall

Stick your finger 1" into the soil. If it’s dry, water. If it’s damp, wait a few days. Experts at University of Minnesota go into details about this method in their article about watering houseplants.
Still unsure if your plant needs water? Lift the pot. Light = dry soil and heavy = soil is still moist. This simple trick saves people from overwatering.
Empty saucers after watering so pots aren’t sitting in water (otherwise called “wet feet”). David H. Trinklein from the Division of Plant Sciences at University of Missouri Extension says, “Plants with “wet feet” soon look sick — leaves yellow or drop, flowers collapse, and normally healthy white roots turn brown.”

💡 Pro tip: make a “watering day” note on your phone for each plant group (cacti, succulents, tropicals). Your plants should not all need to be watered on the same day; different plants, different needs.

How can I manage humidity when indoor air gets dry?

Fall and winter indoor air often gets dry because of heating. Many tropical houseplants appreciate humidity levels higher than typical indoor air, so raising humidity helps prevent brown leaf edges and stress. Penn State Extension recommends grouping plants, using pebble trays, or running a small humidifier near plant clusters, among other methods to increase humidity.

A pebble tray is a simple way to help boost humidity for your houseplants. Image: The Spruce/Adrienne Legault

Practical Options for Managing Humidity in the Fall:

Pick one or two that fit your life— it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Cluster plants on one shelf or counter. Grouped together, plants can create a mini humid microclimate.
Pebble tray method! Set pots on pebbles over a shallow water tray; evaporation increases local humidity.
Use a humidifier (small bedroom unit is fine) if you’ve got a lot of tropicals. Better Homes & Gardens outline options that are low-effort and effective to create humidity for your plants.

💡 Quick Tip: Good airflow matters. Don’t seal plants into a still, wet environment; that just invites fungal problems.

Do I need grow lights as the days get shorter and when should I use them?

Short answer: probably yes for many plants. Windows aren’t as bright in fall as you think.

A bright window is helpful but often isn’t enough for sun-loving plants once autumn rolls in. For scale, University of Florida Gardening Solutions explains: mid-day window light is commonly around ~1,000 foot-candles (far below direct outdoor sun) and different plants have different light needs. If your plant starts stretching, losing color, or dropping leaves, it’s a light problem not a mystery disease.

The Versa™ Tabletop Grow Light is adjustable, renter-friendly, and allows you to plug in and get growing.

Grow Light Tips for Fall Plant Care:

Aim for about 12–14 hours of usable light per day for most houseplants (some sources, like Iowa State University Extension, give a 12–16 hour window depending on species; 12–14 is a sensible target for home growers). Use a timer so your light schedule stays consistent.
Use full-spectrum LEDs; they mimic sunlight better than other lighting and help plants maintain healthy color and growth. Need help finding the right grow light for your space? Take the Soltech Lighting Quiz!

If you want simple options: screw-in full-spectrum bulbs (like the Vita™ grow bulb) in a lamp, or use a place and plug-in solution (like the Versa™ Tabletop Grow Light). Both are easy and renter-friendly!

💡 Grow Light Note: Soltech grow lights are examples of full-spectrum, warm-white options that blend into living spaces while also giving plants the light they need. Use a timer and you’ll automate the whole process.

How long should my grow lights run, and how close should they be to plants?

Short answer: use a timer for 12–14 hours and position lights close enough for good coverage (but not so close you scorch leaves).

General Lighting Tips for Fall Plant Care

Duration: Most horticultural sources like University of Iowa Extension suggest ~12–14 hours of supplemental light daily for houseplants; 10–12 hours can suffice for low-light species, while seedlings or high-light crops may need more. Don’t run lights 24/7 — plants need a dark rest period.
Distance (general rule): many full-spectrum LEDs work best within about a foot or so of the foliage for houseplants; check your light’s manual as fixtures vary. If you’re not sure, place the light closer (about 8-12 inches) and then keep an eye out for signs of heat stress like browning leaves. If so, move the grow light further away.

How to Start Using Grow Lights in the Fall:

Start with lights 8–12" from the canopy for small to medium plants. (Always refer to the grow light guide, placement instructions should be included.)
Run 12 hours on, 12 hours off to begin. Use a timer.
Watch leaves for signs of too little or too much light. Pale, stretched leaves = closer/more light; browned leaf tips = move the light away or dim it.

Should I change fertilizing, repotting, or other routines in fall?

Short answer: yes, slow down feeding and avoid major repotting unless necessary.

Because growth slows in fall/winter, plants need less fertilizer. Many experts recommend reducing or pausing fertilization until spring when growth picks up. Also, avoid big repots in late fall unless your plant is rootbound. Repotting stresses plants and they recover better when growth restarts.

Quick Fertilizing & Repotting Checklist:

Fertilizer: cut back or pause until spring.
Repotting: postpone unless rootbound or soil is degraded. If you must, give extra gentle care afterwards. For a deeper dive and tips on repotting, University of Missori Extension has a great article you can reference.

How do I prevent and handle pests when bringing plants inside?

Short answer: inspect, quarantine, treat early.

Outdoor conditions can hide pests that explode indoors in the dry, warm winter. Penn State Extension horticultural experts recommend inspecting plants before bringing them inside, quarantining newcomers for a few weeks, and treating visible infestations before mixing them with your collection. Simple methods like wiping leaves, rinsing foliage, or using insecticidal soap work well for small problems.

Your Practical Fall Pest Care Routine:

Inspect leaves (especially undersides) and soil before you bring a plant inside. Use a magnifier if you have one.
Keep new plants separate for ~2–3 weeks. Treat any pests during quarantine.

If you find pests later, isolate the plant, rinse foliage, and use targeted treatments (insecticidal soap, neem oil). If you need help with houseplant pests and how to treat them, check out our blog post about it!

What’s a simple fall routine I can actually stick to?

Make it tiny and consistent. Here’s a 10-minute weekly routine I use and recommend:

Quick leaf check – look for yellowing, pests, or dust.
Lift pots – if light, water; if heavy, wait. (Or use the finger test to check soil moisture, advised by University of Minnesota Extension)
Adjust lights – glance at timers and height; tweak if plants are stretching or getting burned.
Group plants if humidity is low; run a small humidifier a few hours if needed. Dive in deeper and learn about increasing humidity for plants in this article by Penn State Extension.
Log any changes — did you move a pot? Did you change the watering? A note helps next season.

Do this once a week and you’ll stay ahead of 80% of seasonal problems.

Where can I get help choosing the right grow light or plant care info?

If you want a quick match for your plants and your space, try Soltech’s Lighting Quiz (it’s 2 minutes and makes life simple). If you want species-level care, check the Plant Guide for lighting and care recommendations per plant.

We also wrote a blog post on how to choose the best grow light for your indoor plants, check it out!

Quick Fall Plant Care Myth-Busting

Let's debunk some autumn plant-care myths that you've probably heard before.

“My plants need more water in fall.”

Usually false. Most plants need less because they grow slower.

“Grow lights are only for winter.”

Nope. Use them whenever your indoor light is insufficient. This can be year round, but fall is a common turning point.

“More humidity = fungus.”

Both extremes are bad. Raise humidity sensibly (grouping + humidifier) and keep good airflow as Penn State Extension recommends.

Fall Plant Care Troubleshooting Guide

Plants not necessarily thriving this fall? Here are some common problems, the likely cause of it, and what to do to get your plant back on track.

Problem	Likely Cause	What to Do
Leggy, stretched plants	Not enough light	Move plants closer to a window or grow light; increase light hours to 12–14.
Yellow leaves, mushy stems	Overwatering / poor drainage	Let soil dry before watering; check pot for drainage holes.
Brown, crispy leaf tips	Low humidity or too much fertilizer	Raise humidity (group plants, use pebble tray, or humidifier); reduce feeding.
No blooms (flowering plants)	Too much artificial light at night / short days	Ensure 12–14 hours of consistent light, then provide 10–12 hrs darkness for bloomers.
Pests (aphids, mites, mealybugs)	Brought inside from outdoors	Quarantine plants, rinse foliage, and use insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Final Thoughts

A little extra TLC as we transition to shorter and colder days will keep your plants happy and thriving all through fall. Small adjustments to watering, some extra light, and a humidity boost, and your plants will stay as vibrant as they were in the summertime.

If you need more plant-specific care tips, check out our Plant Guide that includes over 100 common houseplant species. Happy plant parenting!