When seasons change, your management decisions determine the outcome
The time when houseplants are most likely to become unwell is
not in the middle of summer or winter, but
during the change of seasons.
Around the time the temperature starts to change slightly,
at the moment when people feel, "It's about time."
At this time,
whether you move them or not
that decision pretty much determines their subsequent health.
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My basic rule is "don't move them"
To start with the conclusion,
I basically
do not move them immediately even when the season changes.
The reason is simple:
plants are
more sensitive to seasonal changes than people.
By the time people feel cold or hot,
plants have already
started to switch their growth mode.
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Three signs to look for before deciding to move them
Still, there are times when you need to move them.
I make that decision
not based on the "season",
but based on the plant's signs.
1. Has the growth of new shoots stopped?
• Stopped completely
• Movement has slowed down
This is one indicator that
the environment is no longer suitable.
2. Has the quality of the leaves changed?
• They have become thinner
• They have lost their firmness
• They have lost their color
I check if it's just a seasonal change
or an environmental mismatch.
3. Has the way the water dries changed?
• It is clearly drying out slower
• Conversely, it is drying out faster
The drying of water is
like a cross-check
for environmental changes.
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"Moving them a little" is the most dangerous thing
At the turn of the season,
the thing people do most often is:
• Change the sunlight exposure slightly
• Change the location for just a few days
This half-hearted moving.
From the plant's perspective,
it is the most stressful action.
If you are going to move them,
make up your mind and do it only once.
If you are not going to move them,
leave them exactly where they are.
I stick to these two choices.
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The timing when I actually "move" them
I only move them at times like these:
• When the minimum temperature has clearly crossed a line
• When the daylight hours have clearly changed
• When the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors has become large
Not when I think "it's about time,"
but when I can judge that "it won't go back."
I believe this is the point
where human perception
and plant perception intersect.
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Things I never do after moving them
After moving them,
what people tend to do for peace of mind is:
• Water them more
• Add fertilizer
• Increase the frequency of touching them
But here, you should do the opposite.
Create a period where you do nothing.
At least one week,
preferably two weeks.
Moving is in itself
a major environmental change,
so no further stimulation is needed.
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Changing seasons is a "test of patience"
Management during the change of seasons
is less about technique
and more about patience.
Suppress the urge to move them,
and wait until the plant shows a reaction.
Once you get through this period,
they will become surprisingly stable.
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Finally,
if your management falls apart every time the season changes,
what you should do
is not "find the right place,"
but perhaps reduce the number of times you move them.Houseplants are creatures
that get used to their environment.
Don't move them before they get used to it.
Just by doing that,
the change of seasons
will become much easier.