As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, a crucial phase begins for owners of tropical plants: preparing them for autumn and winter. To ensure your plants remain healthy and sprout vigorously again next spring, targeted care during this transitional period is essential. Whether indoors or on the balcony – this article will tell you what to pay particular attention to for tropical plants in autumn.
Why tropical plants need special protection
Tropical houseplants originate from regions with year-round warm temperatures and high humidity. There, they experience neither cold nights nor dry air from heating systems, but rather thrive in a consistently humid and bright environment. Native plants, on the other hand, have adapted to the seasons over centuries and cope well with frost, fluctuating temperatures, and short days. However, tropical species such as Monstera , Alocasia , and Syngonium are sensitive even to moderate cold or prolonged lack of light. Dry indoor air in winter can also pose a problem for them. This is precisely why these plants require special attention in autumn and winter to ensure they remain healthy and survive the cold season.
Care during the autumn and winter months
With a few simple measures, you can optimally care for your tropical plants in autumn and winter and meet their specific needs. Of course, care also depends on the type of plant, its size, and the conditions in your home, but some basic rules for healthy overwintering almost always apply.
Reduce watering
During the darker months, tropical plants slow their growth and require significantly less water. Generally, watering them every one to two weeks is sufficient. It's best to check with your finger whether the top layer of soil is dry. Always empty any excess water from the saucer to prevent waterlogging and root rot.
Nutrient break for winter dormancy
As early as autumn, you can begin to gradually reduce the amount of fertilizer so your plant can prepare for its upcoming dormancy period. With shorter days and less light, the growth of many tropical plants slows considerably, sometimes even to a complete growth pause. During this time, they can't properly utilize the additional nutrients, which in the worst case can lead to over-fertilization or weakened roots. Therefore, you can stop fertilizing completely by November at the latest. From spring onwards, when the days become longer and the first new shoots appear, you can very slowly resume fertilizing. It's best to start with a weak dose and at longer intervals, and later return to regular fertilization.
Adapted location
In autumn and winter, place your plants as close to a window as possible, ideally facing south or west, so they can make the most of the limited daylight. Avoid placing them directly in front of or above radiators. The dry air from the heating quickly draws moisture from the leaves, promotes brown edges, and can weaken the plant. A distance of at least 50 cm is therefore ideal to ensure sufficient light while preventing the air around the plant from drying out too much.
Regulating humidity
Due to the dry air from heating systems, the humidity in apartments often drops below 30% in winter. This is a problem for tropical houseplants, as they originate from regions with humidity levels of 50 to 60%. Excessively dry air quickly leads to brown leaf tips, curled leaves, and makes the plants more susceptible to diseases and pests. Therefore, you should actively help: mist the leaves several times a week with soft water, place bowls of water on the radiator, or use a humidifier. However, be careful not to leave the water on the leaves for too long to prevent fungal growth.
Cleaning the leaves
Dust on the leaves makes it difficult for plants to absorb light, and every bit of light counts, especially in autumn. Regularly wipe the leaves with a soft, damp cloth or gently shower your plants. Make sure that water doesn't pool in the soil and that the leaves can dry thoroughly afterward.
Identify problems early
During the winter months, tropical houseplants are particularly susceptible to pests and diseases due to the dry air from heating systems. The low humidity creates ideal conditions for spider mites , scale insects , and thrips , while the plants themselves can be weakened by the reduced light and dry air. Therefore, it's important to thoroughly inspect your plants regularly, ideally once a week. This way, you can detect changes early and intervene before an infestation spreads significantly.
Common problems to watch out for:
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Brown leaf tips/edges: a consequence of dry air or irregular watering.
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Yellowed leaves: an indication of insufficient light or waterlogging.
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Droopy leaves: Too little water or too cold a location
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Tiny black dots or light-colored sucking marks: Thrips
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Fine webs: spider mites
Repotting plants in winter: Yes or no?
Whether you want to repot a Monstera in winter or another tropical houseplant, in most cases winter is not the right time for it. During this phase, the plants are in a kind of dormant period and are more sensitive to stress. Fresh potting mix or a larger pot can then cause problems and, for example, promote root rot due to excessive moisture.
Therefore, it is advisable to postpone repotting until spring. This allows the plants to adapt better to the new pot and fresh soil. Repotting in autumn or winter is only truly necessary in exceptional cases, such as severe pest infestation or when the roots are already bursting out of the old pot.
Safely bring balcony plants into autumn
If you have tropical plants on your balcony, you should take care of their safe overwintering in good time during the autumn. At the latest when nighttime temperatures drop below 10 to 12 °C, most species need to be moved to a winter location. Ideally, this should be indoors, in a bright conservatory, or a frost-free room. If the plants remain outside for too long, you risk frost damage or permanent harm.
It's also important not to abruptly move plants from outdoors into the living room. Gradually acclimating your plants from the balcony in autumn protects them from additional stress. Place your green friends in a sheltered, bright spot first before finally moving them to their winter quarters. This will ease their transition and increase their chances of surviving the cold season healthy.
