Autumn plant feeding in October is mostly about knowing when to ease off. Across the UK, shorter days and cooler nights slow plant growth. Many outdoor plants need less food now, while some indoor plants can carry on feeding if they remain active.
The trick is to watch the plant, not just the calendar. Here’s what I’d feed, what I’d reduce and what I’d leave alone until spring.
Your October autumn plant feeding checklist
Before you reach for the watering can, work through these six jobs. A little restraint now can save you trouble when the colder weather arrives.
- Reduce general-purpose feeding. Most outdoor plants are slowing down, so ease off their regular feeding routine.
- Stop feeding dormant trees and shrubs. Save their main feeding programme for active growth in spring and summer.
- Check your orchids. Some indoor orchids remain active, but slower growth calls for less frequent feeding.
- Adjust citrus feeding. The Secret Feeds 500ml and 1 Litre products have different seasonal instructions.
- Assess your lawn. Feed only actively growing grass under suitable conditions, and avoid feeding when frost is expected.
- Check indoor plants individually. Continue feeding only where their growing cycle and the product instructions support it.
Autumn plant feeding isn’t a race to finish the bottle. Instead, let growth and conditions guide your next move.
Why plants need less food in autumn
Plants need nutrients to support growth, but their requirements change through the seasons. As daylight decreases and temperatures fall, many plants grow more slowly. Consequently, they take up fewer nutrients and need less supplementary feeding.
The RHS explanation of how plants absorb nutrients helps explain why routine feeding during autumn and winter often makes little sense. Roots take up nutrients as part of the plant’s growth and development.
Meanwhile, encouraging fresh, soft growth late in the season can leave plants more vulnerable when cold weather arrives. That’s another reason to avoid pushing outdoor plants into unnecessary growth.
The RHS also explains when garden plants need feeding, including the usual April-to-September feeding period for container plants.
Of course, not every plant follows the same calendar. An indoor orchid may continue growing while a garden shrub settles towards dormancy. So autumn plant feeding needs a little judgement rather than one rule for everything.
What to stop feeding in October
Trees, shrubs and hedges
October is generally the time to reduce or stop feeding ornamental trees, shrubs and hedges as they approach dormancy. Their main feeding period runs from spring through late summer.
Secret Feeds Tree & Shrub Feed 500ml and Tree & Shrub Feed 1 Litre suit non-ericaceous ornamental trees, shrubs and hedges. Both use 5ml per 1 litre of water, applied to moist growing media during active growth.
However, their seasonal instructions say to reduce or stop feeding as plants become dormant in autumn and winter. You can read the details for Secret Feeds Tree & Shrub Feed 500ml.
I’d put routine feeding on hold once growth has stopped. Then return to the plant’s needs when active growth resumes.
Lawns and grass
Don’t mistake a regular liquid lawn feed for a specialist autumn lawn fertiliser. Secret Feeds Lawn Feed 1 Litre is intended for grass during active growth, not dormant grass.
Its instructions specify 5ml per 1 litre of water, applied evenly every 7–14 days while grass actively grows. Crucially, do not apply it when frost is expected.
Similarly, Secret Feeds Lawn Feed 500ml suits established grass during active growth. Apply it only when the soil is moist and conditions suit feeding. Avoid drought-stressed or dormant lawns.
For autumn plant feeding, I’d assess the grass before doing anything. If growth has stopped or frost threatens, leave the feed in the shed.
What you can still feed, but more carefully
General garden plants and houseplants
Secret Feeds All Purpose Feed 500ml suits houseplants, ornamental plants, bedding plants and general garden plants. During active growth, dilute 5ml per 1 litre of water and feed every 7–14 days.
However, its instructions recommend reducing feeding during autumn and winter. Indoor plants need individual attention because their growing cycles differ.
Likewise, Secret Feeds All Purpose Feed 1 Litre suits houseplants, flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs and shrubs. Use 5ml per 1 litre of water every 7–14 days during active growth, then reduce feeding as growth slows.
Apply diluted feed to moist growing media, never undiluted. Most importantly, don’t keep feeding a resting plant simply because another fortnight has passed.
Orchids: watch for active growth
Orchids deserve their own place in your autumn plant feeding routine. Many live indoors, so their growing conditions differ from those outside.
Secret Feeds Orchid Feed 500ml allows feeding all year round. Dilute 5ml per 1 litre of water and apply every 7–14 days to the growing medium. However, reduce the frequency when growth slows.
Secret Feeds Orchid Feed 1 Litre also uses 5ml per 1 litre of water. Feed every 7–14 days during active growth, but reduce feeding during winter or whenever growth stops.
Both suit Phalaenopsis and other commonly grown indoor orchids. So check the plant’s growth and the instructions for your particular bottle size.
Citrus: the bottle size matters
Citrus plants need a little extra thought in October. In particular, the two Secret Feeds Citrus Feed sizes have different seasonal guidance.
Secret Feeds Citrus Feed 500ml allows all-year feeding. Dilute 5ml per 1 litre of water and feed every 7–14 days. It suits citrus plants including lemons, oranges, limes, mandarins and kumquats.
By contrast, Secret Feeds Citrus Feed 1 Litre follows a more seasonal routine. Use 5ml per 1 litre of water every 7–14 days from early spring to late summer, then reduce feeding during autumn and winter.
The RHS guide to growing citrus also explains seasonal citrus care, including summer and winter feeding considerations.
Therefore, don’t assume both bottle sizes share identical October instructions. Match your routine to the exact product and the plant’s needs.
How to make a sensible October feeding routine
Autumn plant feeding works better when you assess plants before mixing anything. Here’s the straightforward routine I’d use.
- Look for active growth. Check whether plants continue producing fresh leaves or other visible growth.
- Consider the season. Outdoor plants face shorter days and cooler nights, so expect feeding needs to fall.
- Choose the correct product. Match the feed to the plant and its seasonal instructions.
- Measure carefully. For the Secret Feeds liquid feeds covered here, dilute 5ml per 1 litre of water.
- Apply appropriately. Use the diluted feed on the growing medium, following the product’s application instructions.
- Review before feeding again. Reduce or stop feeding if growth slows, and avoid unnecessary applications.
For more practical help, see the Grower’s Guide to seasonal feeding. You’ll also find guidance on adjusting feeding routines as the seasons change.
And remember, autumn plant feeding doesn’t mean every plant needs a final dose before winter. Sometimes the most useful gardening job is knowing when to stop.
FAQs
Should I feed garden plants in October?
Most outdoor plants need less feeding as growth slows in October. However, plants that remain actively growing may have different requirements, so consider their seasonal feeding guidance.
Can I use liquid lawn feed in autumn?
Secret Feeds Lawn Feed 1 Litre can be used every 7–14 days while grass actively grows, at 5ml per 1 litre of water. Do not feed dormant grass or apply when frost is expected.
Should I stop feeding houseplants in October?
Not necessarily. Houseplants have different growing cycles, so reduce feeding when growth slows and follow the instructions for your particular feed.
Can I feed citrus plants throughout winter?
Secret Feeds Citrus Feed 500ml allows all-year use every 7–14 days. However, Citrus Feed 1 Litre instructs you to reduce feeding during autumn and winter.
Coming up next month: November brings shorter days and a greater need to watch for dormancy. I’ll be looking at winter feeding, indoor plant routines and when to leave the watering can alone. Until then, keep an eye on your plants rather than the calendar. You can also find the Secret Feeds range through selected garden centres in Lancashire and Cheshire, or explore the range online. Happy growing.
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