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We The Wild
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If your plants seem a little different after the clocks change, you may not be imagining it. While daylight saving time itself doesn’t harm your houseplants, the shift in daylight hours can change how they grow, rest and use water.
Your monstera doesn’t know that the clocks have moved forward an hour. What it does notice is how much natural light it receives, and when it receives it.
Plants use light to power photosynthesis, and changes in the length and intensity of daylight can influence their natural growth cycles. As the seasons change, you might notice slower growth, fewer new leaves or even changes in when your plant appears to “wake up” and grow.
For indoor plants, this can be particularly noticeable if they sit close to a window.
Not directly. A one-hour change on the clock isn’t going to shock your plant.
However, daylight saving often happens around the same time as a seasonal change in light levels. That can have an impact.
You may notice:
It's a good time to give your plants a quick check to prepare them for spring, use the season as a cue to check your plants.
Check the light: Is your plant still getting enough bright, indirect light? As the sun’s position changes throughout the year, a spot that was perfect a few months ago might now be considerably darker.
Check the soil: Don’t continue watering on exactly the same schedule. If your plant is receiving less light, it may use water more slowly. Check the soil before reaching for the watering can.
Rotate your plants: If you notice your plant leaning towards the window, give the pot a quarter turn every week or two to encourage more even growth.
Watch the leaves: Your plants will tell you what they need. Pale new growth, stretched stems or a plant leaning dramatically towards the window can all be signs that it wants more light.
If you use a grow light, daylight saving is even less important. Your plant responds to the actual light it receives, not the time displayed on your phone.
You can keep your grow light on a consistent schedule and adjust it seasonally if the amount of natural light coming through your windows changes.
Daylight saving time won't hurt your houseplants. The bigger factor is the seasonal change in natural light that happens around the same time.
So rather than worrying about the clocks, take it as a handy reminder to check your plants' light, watering and growth.
And remember: your plants don't follow the clock. They follow the sun.
Firstly, plants don’t care about the clock...they care about the light
Your monstera doesn’t know that the clocks have moved forward an hour. What it does notice is how much natural light it receives, and when it receives it.
Plants use light to power photosynthesis, and changes in the length and intensity of daylight can influence their natural growth cycles. As the seasons change, you might notice slower growth, fewer new leaves or even changes in when your plant appears to “wake up” and grow.
For indoor plants, this can be particularly noticeable if they sit close to a window.
So, can the time change stress your plants?
Not directly. A one-hour change on the clock isn’t going to shock your plant.
However, daylight saving often happens around the same time as a seasonal change in light levels. That can have an impact.
You may notice:
- Faster growth as light levels change
- Changes in watering needs because plants use water differently depending on light and growth
Leaning towards windows as plants look for more light- Changes in leaf production as growth naturally speeds up or slows down
- Different daily light patterns, particularly for plants relying heavily on natural window light
Should you change your plant care routine?
It's a good time to give your plants a quick check to prepare them for spring, use the season as a cue to check your plants.
Check the light: Is your plant still getting enough bright, indirect light? As the sun’s position changes throughout the year, a spot that was perfect a few months ago might now be considerably darker.
Check the soil: Don’t continue watering on exactly the same schedule. If your plant is receiving less light, it may use water more slowly. Check the soil before reaching for the watering can.
Rotate your plants: If you notice your plant leaning towards the window, give the pot a quarter turn every week or two to encourage more even growth.
Watch the leaves: Your plants will tell you what they need. Pale new growth, stretched stems or a plant leaning dramatically towards the window can all be signs that it wants more light.
What about artificial light?
If you use a grow light, daylight saving is even less important. Your plant responds to the actual light it receives, not the time displayed on your phone.
You can keep your grow light on a consistent schedule and adjust it seasonally if the amount of natural light coming through your windows changes.
The bottom line
Daylight saving time won't hurt your houseplants. The bigger factor is the seasonal change in natural light that happens around the same time.
So rather than worrying about the clocks, take it as a handy reminder to check your plants' light, watering and growth.
And remember: your plants don't follow the clock. They follow the sun.