November is one of the trickiest months for houseplant care, as the seasons shift and our beloved plants become vulnerable to drastic changes to the indoor growing environment, often resulting in issues like leaf drop.

It's not uncommon and usually just indicates something needs adjusting in your fall houseplant care. While there are some underlying issues that can cause leaf drop, one of the biggest culprits is the combination of lower light levels and cooler temperatures. If these challenging conditions aren't addressed, it could even result in plant death.

But, don't worry. It doesn't mean it's time to give up on your houseplant. I've managed to revive struggling houseplants in fall by making some simple adjustments and nurturing them back to good health. So, with your houseplant care kit to hand (a grow light from Amazon might be particularly handy), this is what you need to know.

While some common indoor plant mistakes and even houseplant pests can also cause leaf drop, houseplants often drop their leaves in November due to the combination of lower light levels and cooler room temperatures.

Light is one of the biggest struggles for houseplants as we move into fall and winter. Not only are the days shorter, but our homes have limited natural light, meaning less light is available for our plants.

With many houseplants needing at least eight hours of bright light (though there are a range of indoor low light plants), it is hard to provide optimal conditions in fall.

This results in the plant not being able to perform essential plant processes, including photosynthesis. This provides less energy to the plant, slowing down its growth and making it hard to maintain existing foliage.

As for temperature, sudden fluctuations in our homes from cold drafts - and indoor heating - can shock tropical indoor plants that prefer consistent warmth. It once again can halt plant processes and reduce the water uptake through the plant's roots, overall weakening it.

Together, these less-than-ideal conditions can cause discoloring foliage, drooping, and eventual leaf drop.

The good news, however, is that you can revive your houseplants and give them better conditions to ensure they make it through the rest of winter unscathed.

How to Fix It

The first thing I do when any of my houseplants are struggling is assess their environment. Looking for things like a cold draft, proximity to heaters, and how much natural light they get can determine what needs improving.

You can then make the adjustments needed.

A grow light (like this one with a timer from Amazon) can boost light levels where daylight isn't sufficient, or you can move your plants closer to bright windows. Houseplant rotation can also aid better light exposure, encouraging more symmetrical growth by regularly turning the plant.

Cleaning houseplant leaves can also keep pores unblocked and allow more light exposure to the leaves. I like to use houseplant dusting gloves (like these from Amazon) which are made of microfiber and pick up layers of dust in a single swipe.

As for warmth, I use a room thermometer (like this from Walmart) to monitor temperatures. It's helpful to do some research into your specific houseplant's needs, but 65-75°F is generally the sweet spot.

You should avoid placing houseplants close to heaters, as it can draw out too much moisture, resulting in dehydration and leaf scorch.

However, if your home is a bit too chilly for your plants, consider using one of the methods to keep houseplants warm in winter. This includes using a breathable material (like this burlap from Amazon) to wrap pots for extra insulation.

Likewise keeping plants away from cold windows and drafts will give them a more stable growing environment. Using a pebble humidity tray (like this from Amazon) can also boost humidity and counter any dry air caused by heating in fall.

As for pruning, removing dead leaves (with these Fiskars indoor precision snips on Amazon) can give your houseplants a boost by removing the material that's draining energy, allowing it to focus on the healthy foliage. However, you should take care not to prune more than a third of the plant because this may cause further shock and weaken your plant even more.

Then it's all about providing gentle winter houseplant care, not overwatering, watching for temperature fluctuations, and checking leaves regularly for pests.

What to Shop

Something else you can do to is wash your windows for houseplants in November. It sounds a little bit strange, but removing dirt and dust from your windows allows more natural light into the home and therefore improves light exposure for your plants.

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