October means cooler nights, shorter days, and a slower growth rhythm for most houseplants. Ready to tune your routine for autumn? Take this quick quiz to sharpen your instincts on pest checks, pruning, bringing plants indoors, and reduced watering.
Autumn Houseplant Care Quiz (13 Questions)
Choose the best answer for each. Mix of multiple choice and true/false.
- ●As days shorten in October, what’s the smartest first adjustment?
- ●A. Move light‑hungry plants closer to bright windows or add supplemental light
- â—ŹB. Increase fertilizer
- â—ŹC. Water more often
- â—ŹD. Repot everything
- â—ŹTrue or False: Most houseplants need less water in October because growth slows and evaporation drops.
- â—ŹTrue
- â—ŹFalse
- â—ŹWhich is NOT a common fall hitchhiker when plants come back indoors?
- â—ŹA. Spider mites
- â—ŹB. Fungus gnats
- â—ŹC. Mealybugs
- â—ŹD. Ladybugs
- ●You’re bringing summered plants inside. What’s the first step?
- â—ŹA. Deep water
- ●B. 10–14 day quarantine plus thorough pest inspection and rinse
- â—ŹC. Heavy pruning
- â—ŹD. Put in direct sun immediately
- ●Which should you avoid hard‑pruning in October (to preserve bud/bloom potential)?
- â—ŹA. Ficus elastica (Rubber plant)
- â—ŹB. Epipremnum aureum (Pothos)
- â—ŹC. Monstera deliciosa
- â—ŹD. Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera)
- ●Reduced watering check: Which signal means it’s time to water most tropicals?
- â—ŹA. Dark, cool topsoil
- â—ŹB. Pot feels heavy
- ●C. Moisture meter ~2/10 or the top 1–2 inches are dry
- â—ŹD. Leaf tips browned from salts
- ●You see fine webbing and leaf stippling after the indoor move. What’s the best first response?
- â—ŹA. Apply leaf shine
- â—ŹB. Isolate, rinse foliage thoroughly, then treat with insecticidal soap or a miticide labeled for spider mites
- â—ŹC. Fertilize heavily
- â—ŹD. Put the plant outside overnight
- â—ŹWhen heating starts, a practical indoor humidity target for most tropical houseplants is:
- ●A. 20–25%
- ●B. 30–40%
- ●C. 40–50%
- ●D. 70–80%
- â—ŹFertilizing in autumn:
- â—ŹA. Increase dose to compensate for less light
- â—ŹB. Keep summer frequency
- ●C. Pause or reduce to 1/4–1/2 strength monthly for active growers; many succulents pause entirely
- â—ŹD. Stop fertilizing all plants immediately
- ●With the lower autumn sun angle at south windows, what’s a smart placement change?
- ●A. Move shade‑leaning plants a bit deeper into the room or add a sheer to prevent scorch
- â—ŹB. Move all plants to north windows
- â—ŹC. Rotate plants less often
- â—ŹD. Make no changes
- â—ŹRepotting in October is generally best when:
- â—ŹA. Always do it in fall
- â—ŹB. Never repot in fall
- ●C. Only if the plant is root‑bound, water runs straight through, or soil is collapsing
- â—ŹD. Only for succulents
- â—ŹOverwintering herbs or peppers indoors works best when you:
- ●A. Bare‑root and switch to water culture immediately
- â—ŹB. Hard prune by 75% and fertilize heavily
- ●C. Inspect for pests, wash foliage, trim lightly (20–30%), check pot size, and provide strong light
- ●D. Store in a dark closet to “rest”
- â—ŹLeaf dust builds up faster in heating season. A good cleaning cadence is:
- â—ŹA. Daily
- ●B. Every 4–6 weeks with a microfiber wipe and gentle rinse
- â—ŹC. Twice a year
- â—ŹD. Never needed
Answer Key
- â—ŹA 2) True 3) D 4) B 5) D 6) C 7) B 8) C 9) C 10) A 11) C 12) C 13) B
Scoring
- ●0–5: Autumn Apprentice — skim the checklist below and retake next week.
- ●6–10: Seasonal Steward — you’re on track; tighten watering and inspections.
- ●11–13: Fall Pro — dial in micro‑adjustments like light placement and humidity.
Quick Autumn Checklist (October)
- ●Bring plants indoors before first frost; pre‑rinse leaves and pots, then quarantine for 10–14 days.
- â—ŹDo weekly pest checks in October: look under leaves and along stems for mites, mealybugs, scale, and fungus gnats.
- ●Reduce watering frequency: let the top 1–2 inches dry on most tropicals; water succulents only when fully dry.
- ●Pruning: limit to light shaping and dead material; avoid hard cuts on holiday cacti and late‑budding plants.
- â—ŹClean leaves with a damp microfiber; remove dust to boost photosynthesis in lower light.
- ●Adjust light: slide light‑hungry plants closer to bright windows; use a sheer if midday sun is harsher at a south window.
- ●Fertilizer: pause for dormant plants; for active growers, use 1/4–1/2 strength monthly.
- ●Humidity: target 40–50% RH; group plants or run a small humidifier near clusters.
- â—ŹSanitize tools (pruners, stakes) with 70% isopropyl before and after use.
- ●Top‑dress with fresh mix if soil has compacted; fully repot only if root‑bound or mix is degraded.
Pro Tips
- ●Bottom‑water sparingly in autumn to avoid soggy cores; always drain excess.
- ●Sticky cards near newly moved‑in plants catch early fungus gnat populations.
- ●Rotate pots 90° weekly to keep growth even in weaker light.
- â—ŹFor big planters, use a moisture meter or lift test instead of the calendar.
- â—ŹKeep a simple log of watering and issues; patterns jump out fast in October.
Feature Spotlight: VerdiVista
VerdiVista helps you care smarter through autumn. Snap a photo for instant Plant Identification, then use Health Diagnostics to flag pests like spider mites or mealybugs before they spread. Ask our AI Expert Chat about pruning timing, reduced watering, or light placement for your exact room. Map your collection in a Virtual Garden to track locations, frost deadlines, and quarantine dates. Water & Fertilize Reminders adapt to October’s slower growth so you don’t overwater.
Try VerdiVista free today on iOS and Android.
Mini How‑To: Fast Fall Pest Checks
- â—ŹUnderleaf scan: tilt leaves toward light; look for stippling, cottony tufts, or honeydew.
- â—ŹStem nodes: run a fingertip or cotton swab along joints where scale hides.
- â—ŹSoil surface: disturb lightly; check for tiny flying gnats.
- â—ŹResponse kit: keep insecticidal soap, neem or horticultural oil, sticky cards, and a soft brush handy.
What to Adjust This Week
- â—ŹMove two thirstiest plants nearer to your brightest window.
- â—ŹCut one watering for each succulent/cactus and reassess with a meter.
- ●Set a repeating reminder for a 10‑minute Friday pest sweep.
Ready to keep your jungle thriving all season? Open VerdiVista and start your October check‑in today.