How To Care For your Houseplants This Summer
Summer-proof your houseplants
Summer can leave your plants burned, bleached and crispy. Think faster drying soil, stronger light, hotter rooms, and the occasional pest party.
Here’s how to keep your indoor jungle looking fresh through the hottest months.
Stay on top of your watering
Due to hotter temperatures and lower humidity, your soil dries out much faster. Your plant can also be quick to respond to these harsher conditions.
- Expect more notifications. Smaller pots, terracotta, fast-draining mixes, and thirsty plants (like big leafy aroids) will need a drink more often than the cooler months.
- Deeply water your plants. Slowly soak the pot until water runs out the drainage holes, then let it fully drain. This wets the whole root zone and reduces “water racing down the sides” in dry, shrunken potting mix.
- Empty drip trays. Roots sitting in leftover water are far more likely to rot in hot weather.
Keep temperature steady
Plants cope better with consistent warmth than fluctuations of hot-cold.
- Avoid direct aircon blasts. While it’s a welcome relief for us, it’s not so helpful for your plants. Cold, dry air dehydrates leaves and stresses your plant.
- Improve airflow. Windowsills, enclosed sunrooms, and bright corners with no airflow can cook plants surprisingly fast. A gentle fan in the room can reduce heat stress and help prevent fungal issues.
Light changes when the sun shifts
Summer sun is stronger and it often hits different angles through windows. You may start to notice that perfect spring spot now has your plants colour fading, bleaching or even burning.
- Use a sheer curtain or step plants back. A small shift away from glass can make a huge difference. This is especially true for those in a south-facing window with harsh afternoon sun. Pale patches, crispy brown spots, and “bleached” areas are common signs of scorching.
- Rotate weekly. It keeps growth even and stops plants leaning like they’re chasing a bus.
Repot only if there’s a real reason
“Summer repot” is not a universal rule. Repot because the plant needs it.
Repot if the roots are circling the pot heavily, water runs straight through, or growth stalls despite good light and feeding. If you do repot, go one size up, use fresh mix, and water thoroughly.
Don’t repot if it’s already stressed from heat, pests, or inconsistent watering.
Feed lightly while they’re actively growing
Summer is the prime growing season for most common houseplants, which means they are calling out for a nutritional boost.
- Use a balanced, diluted fertiliser. More is not better. Overfeeding can burn roots, especially in hot, dry conditions.
- Skip fertiliser if the plant is stressed. If it’s wilting, sunburnt, or recovering from repotting, stabilise first, feed later. In extreme or prolonged heat, plants go into survival mode and fertiliser can further stress them.
- Be careful with pesticides and oils as they can easily burn and crisp your plant in bright summer sun. It’s best to add any oils at night so your plant has time to absorb.
Bonus summer heads up, pests love the party
Heat plus faster growth can attract spider mites, thrips, and mealybugs. Check leaf undersides weekly. Early detection saves your plant and your sanity.