Why do houseplants slow down in November?

In November the days shorten and houseplants get less light, so they grow more slowly and drink less. The most common mistake now is to keep watering at the summer rhythm: the soil takes longer to dry and the roots sit in wet compost.

This Saturday read is a little different. I didn’t chase a news story: I went after something that happens to all our plants, every year, around now. The clocks went back across Europe in the last week of October 2026, and plenty of people suddenly felt the afternoons darkening earlier. Plants feel the same, except they have no clock to reset.

What changes for houseplants in November?

Almost everything comes down to light. According to K-State Research and Extension, plants need less water and less fertiliser as the days get shorter, and it is easy to overwater when light is limited. Michigan State University Extension gives the reason: in winter plants photosynthesise and transpire less, so they use less water.

The Royal Horticultural Society puts it in its own way: lower light and cooler temperatures mean less growth, and that is what reduces the need for water. Some writers call it “dormancy”, but several guides point out that most indoor plants don’t truly go dormant; they simply slow down. It’s a useful difference: the plant is still alive and working, only more slowly.

Why is overwatering the winter mistake?

With less sun and a cooler house, the soil stays wet for much longer. According to University of Illinois Extension, more houseplants die in winter from too much water than from too little. Roots that spend weeks in soggy compost run short of air, and it shows in the leaves: yellow, soft or brown.

That’s why the extension services keep repeating the same idea: water by the soil, not by the calendar. The finger test, a couple of centimetres into the pot, is still the most reliable. If it’s still damp, wait. Lifting the pot helps too: when dry, it feels much lighter.

And what about light, does it drop too?

Here there’s a nuance. The need for water falls a lot, but the need for light stays roughly the same, while the light on offer shrinks. NC State Extension notes that the lower winter sun can leave north- and east-facing windows too dim; Illinois points out that a window once shaded by a tree can turn into full sun when the leaves fall. The RHS suggests, for that reason, bringing plants closer to the window over winter.

You don’t need to rearrange everything. Look at each plant and ask whether today’s light is the same as September’s. If not, move it a little closer, or further away if the sun now hits it head-on. Our guide to plants for low light helps if your home is dim.

How do three common plants react?

The ZZ plant stores water in its rhizomes and, in low light, barely grows: in November it asks for very little. The pothos keeps producing leaves, but more slowly, and tells you when it’s thirsty. The snake plant is among those that suffer most from wet soil on short days. In a north-facing window, the same ZZ plant in the same pot waits 18 days between waterings in October and 24 in January (the app’s sums, for a 16 cm plastic pot).

Where it lives	In July	In January
South- or west-facing window	7 days	13 days
East-facing window	8 days	15 days
North-facing window	12 days	24 days
Hallway or corner with no window	18 days	34 days

What about feeding, humidity and draughts?

Nearly all the sources agree you stop feeding until spring, when new shoots appear. Centrally heated air is often very dry, and some plants like more humidity; keep them away from draughts, cold glass and heat sources. Small details, but they add up.

How do you find the rhythm without worrying?

• Look at the soil, not the calendar.
• Water less often, but always until it drains, and empty the saucer.
• Stop feeding until you see new shoots.
• Review each plant’s light: today’s isn’t September’s.
• When in doubt, wait a day or two: most plants forgive dryness better than soggy roots.

Where does Verdejar fit in?

Caring is knowing. Knowing the plant, and also what November light does to it. Verdejar counts your light, your pot and the month, and shifts the rhythm on its own as the days shorten, so you don’t have to remember that winter needs a different sum.

Sources: Royal Horticultural Society · K-State Research and Extension · Michigan State University Extension · University of Illinois Extension · NC State Extension. News checked across several outlets; any days between waterings come from the Verdejar engine.