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Summer houseplant care: 7 essential steps
Summer is here, and you can surely feel the temperature climbing. The air is drier, the days are longer, and you may have already given in to the air conditioning.
Our houseplants feel these seasonal shifts too and caring for your indoor plants in summer should never be a source of stress, even in the middle of a heat wave. Just like us, they can get sunburned, suffer from the heat, or become a target for a few unwelcome guests. Better to prevent than to cure.
Here are the 7 essential steps to sail through summer with peace of mind and keep your plants glowing with health.
Adjust your watering to the heat
Is your usually perky plant suddenly showing soft leaves that droop and point downward?
Don't panic: most of the time, it's simply thirsty. During the hottest months, the water in the potting mix evaporates much faster, and your plant, in its active growing season, drinks more of it. So you'll need to water more often than in fall and winter.
A reflex above all: always check the moisture of the potting mix before watering. Push a finger about an inch into the soil, or use a moisture meter to read the moisture right at the roots at a glance. Water as soon as the surface of the mix is dry. Be careful, though: that same softening can also signal overwatering, which suffocates the roots. So feeling the substrate remains the best judge.
When it comes to timing, water preferably early in the morning or in the evening, when temperatures drop: in the middle of a heat-wave day, much of the water evaporates before it even reaches the roots. Go for room-temperature water, too, it's easier for the plant to absorb than ice-cold water.
Get into the habit of checking your plants regularly: their needs grow as the temperature rises.
Also think about treating your plants to a full shower now and then: watering generously until the water runs out of the drainage holes rehydrates the mix deep down and rinses off the foliage.
While you're away: keeping the mix slightly moist
Going on vacation? Before you pack your bags, consider giving your plants a drink if they need one. You can also set up a self-watering system so you come home to plants in great shape:
- A terracotta water reservoir (such as an Olla): this porous cone planted in the mix slowly releases water right next to the roots, according to the plant's needs.
- The upside-down bottle: fill a bottle, poke a few holes in the cap, and plant it neck-down in the mix, the water is released gradually.
- A drip system: store-bought or improvised, it delivers water drop by drop over several days.
- The capillary wick: dip a cotton cloth or string into a container of water set up high, and rest the other end on the soil. The water travels up by capillary action and keeps the mix moist.
To limit evaporation while you're away, group your plants together and move them out of direct sun. For a short trip of just a few days, you can also partially close your shutters or blinds.
Boost the ambient humidity
Heat, sun, and air conditioning dry out the air in your home, while most of our houseplants, tropical by origin, love good humidity.
When the air gets too dry, leaf tips and edges turn brown and crisp up. A few simple habits can recreate a more humid atmosphere.
- Mist the foliage regularly: a fine spray of soft (low-mineral) water refreshes the plant and gives it a little tropical shower. The effect is short-lived, so repeat it several times a week.
- Group your plants together: as they transpire, they release moisture and create a more humid microclimate among themselves. The most demanding varieties (Calathea, ferns, Maranta…) especially benefit.
- Set out saucers of water: as it evaporates, the water raises the ambient humidity.
- Install a humidifier in very dry rooms or for your thirstiest plants: it's the most effective and longest-lasting solution.
- Treat them to a good shower now and then: running the foliage under lukewarm water rehydrates it, removes dust, and dislodges any pests hiding there.
Protect your plants from sunburn
The summer sun is generous… sometimes too generous. Behind a window, its direct rays are amplified and can literally scorch the foliage:
dry, whitish or brown patches appear, most often on the most exposed surfaces. Once they set in, these marks don't go away.
The fix is simple. Move your plants slightly back from south-facing windows during the hottest hours, or filter the light with a sheer curtain. Only cacti and succulents truly tolerate direct midday sun behind glass; most tropical houseplants, on the other hand, prefer bright but indirect light to harsh, direct sun. Be sure to respect each variety's needs, too: never move a shade-loving plant into full sun, or vice versa.
Keep an eye out for summer pests
No plant lover enjoys finding insects tucked under the leaves. Yet it's a fact: when summer arrives and your plants are thriving, pests are tempted to move into this lush new home. Heat and dry air, made worse by air conditioning, especially encourage two troublemakers: spider mites and thrips.
Spider mites
The spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is a tiny mite that thrives in exactly these hot, dry conditions. You'll spot it by the fine webbing under the leaves and by foliage that becomes stippled with small pale dots before yellowing.
The most vulnerable are the plants that quickly suffer from dry air: Ficus, palms, Dracaena, Calathea, Bird of Paradise, and Alocasia.
Thrips
Just as common when it's hot and dry, thrips are tiny, elongated insects that pierce plant tissue to suck out the sap. They give themselves away through silvery, ochre, or black speckling, dull-looking foliage, and deformed new growth. They're especially fond of soft, decorative leaves: Monstera, Calathea, Maranta, Ficus, Dracaena, Anthurium, Alocasia, Philodendron, and indoor palms.
At the slightest doubt, isolate the plant and treat it without delay: you'll find all our detailed advice in our thrips guide: how to spot them and get rid of them.
Mealybugs and scale
Less tied to summer heat than the previous two but present all year round, scale insects settle in the leaf axils and along the stems. There are two kinds: mealybugs, small and oval, wrapped in a white cottony fluff that forms nests, and armored scale, which look like small, round, brown blisters clinging to the foliage. They readily attack cacti and succulents, Ficus, palms, orchids, indoor citrus, and Bird of Paradise. Remove them one by one with a soaked cloth, then treat.
Natural solutions
Good news: whether it's spider mites, thrips, or scale, the same natural solutions work wonders.
- Organic black soap, which we use every day at Léon & George. This all-natural soap is a formidable contact insecticide against soft-bodied pests (scale, spider mites, thrips…). As a bonus, it makes the foliage shine and supports photosynthesis. L'Original - olive oil black soap is used diluted, as a spray.
- Neem oil, used on its own or alongside black soap. This powerful natural repellent is sprayed diluted, on the foliage and on the surface of the mix, to wipe out the larvae too. Our signature Super Neem Oil formula is ready to use. Avoid applying it to flowering plants kept outdoors, and prefer an evening application so you don't disturb bees and other pollinator friends.
- White vinegar, perfect for dislodging nests of mealybugs and spider mites. Here's a 100% natural anti-pest recipe: for 1 liter of water, mix 5 tablespoons of black soap paste, 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and 10 cl of white vinegar.
The best treatment is still prevention: regularly inspect the undersides of leaves and dust off the foliage.
Manage the stress of air conditioning
When the mercury soars, switching on the AC or the fan feels wonderful. But that cooled air is also dried-out air, which can make houseplants suffer: the foliage dries out and yellows or browns along the edges.
Fight this drying on two fronts. First, keep a close eye on the moisture of the mix, since the plant will draw more from the soil to make up for the dry air. Then, give it back some ambient humidity using the methods above (misting, grouping, clay pebbles, a humidifier). And be sure to keep your plants away from the direct blast of the air conditioner, which dries them out even faster.
Keep your plants away from drafts
Beyond dry air, direct drafts, whether from an air conditioner, a fan, or a wide-open window, can bother your houseplants.
During the summer, make sure to place them out of these direct air streams. Be careful, though, not to banish them to a corner that won't give them the light they need: no shade plant in full sun, and no light-loving plant in a dark nook.
Make the most of summer growth to fertilize
Summer is the peak growing season for most houseplants. So it's the ideal time to support their development with a feed.
A natural liquid fertilizer, diluted in your watering water no more than once a week in spring and summer, provides the nutrients needed for beautiful foliage. Cut back sharply, or even stop, in fall and winter, when the plant goes dormant.
Discover our L'Alchimie Botanique plant care range, formulated and made in France.
In summary
The key to a successful summer for your plants comes down to a few habits: water more often without ever waterlogging, keep up good ambient humidity, protect from direct sun, watch for pests, offset the dry air from the AC, avoid drafts, and make the most of the growing season to fertilize.
And above all, remember that patience is your best ally: like us, plants simply need a little time to adjust to change.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you water houseplants in summer?
More often than in winter, since the water evaporates faster and the plant is actively growing. Rather than following a fixed schedule, check the mix: water as soon as the surface is dry to a depth of about an inch (two to three centimeters). A moisture meter makes this check much easier.
Why are my plant's leaves soft and drooping in summer?
When the foliage sags and points downward, it's most often a sign of thirst tied to fast evaporation and heat. But that softening can also point to overwatering, which suffocates the roots. Always touch the soil before deciding: dry, water it; still moist, wait.
Is it better to water plants in the morning or the evening in summer?
Preferably early in the morning or in the evening, when temperatures drop: in the heat of the day, some of the water evaporates before it reaches the roots. Use room-temperature water, which is easier for the plant to absorb.
How do you keep your plants hydrated while on vacation?
Set up a self-watering system before you leave: a terracotta water reservoir (Olla), an upside-down bottle planted in the mix, a small drip system, or a capillary wick (a cotton cord linking a container of water to the soil). Group your plants together and move them out of direct sun to limit evaporation.
How can I raise the ambient humidity for my plants in summer?
Mist the foliage several times a week, group your plants together to create a microclimate, set the pots on a tray of moist clay pebbles, and, in very dry rooms, install a humidifier. A lukewarm shower now and then also does them good.
How do I protect my plants from sun and heat?
Move them back from south-facing windows during the hottest hours, or filter the light with a sheer curtain. Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect light to direct sun behind glass, which can scorch the foliage.
Is air conditioning bad for plants?
It isn't dangerous in itself, but it dries out the air and creates cold drafts that can yellow or brown the foliage. Keep your plants away from the direct stream, watch the moisture of the mix, and raise the ambient humidity (misting, grouping, clay pebbles, a humidifier).
Which pests should you watch for in summer, and how do you treat them naturally?
Heat and dry air especially favor spider mites and thrips, as well as scale insects. Thrips readily target Monstera, Calathea, or Ficus; spider mites go for Ficus, palms, and Dracaena. Treat naturally with black soap and/or neem oil spray, and dislodge mealybug nests with a recipe based on black soap, vegetable oil, and white vinegar.
Should you fertilize your plants in summer?
Yes: summer is the peak growing season, ideal for a diluted liquid feed no more than once a week. Cut back sharply, or even pause, in fall and winter when the plant is resting.