Leaf It to the Plants 🌿: How Bringing Nature Indoors Boosts Your Health This Fall

by Susan Stamper •

Content Marketing Manager, ChiroHealthUSA •

Scatterings of orange and red leaves crunch underfoot, the crisp breeze tugs at your coat, and the scents of pumpkin spice, apple cider, and cinnamon swirl through the neighborhood. Fall’s full of cozy vibes—but for your outdoor plants, it’s also a bit of a challenge. As we bring our leafy friends inside, guess what? Tucking in our plants for the season isn’t just about saving them from frost and the annual stray-spider-in-the-pot hunt—it’s an opportunity to give your health a green boost, too. 🍂

In this guide, we’re diving into how indoor greenery can do more than look cute as decor on your windowsill. Think reduced stress, sharper focus, better mood, and yes—maybe even a slight chill in your blood pressure – a little wellness powerhouse. But we’ll also talk practical moves: how to safely transition plant friends indoors for fall and winter so they thrive—and so you can reap the health benefits of houseplants (without an unplanned mold outbreak). So snuggle into your favorite sweater, grab a mug of the spiced-whatever you fancy, and let’s dig in to help both you and your plants thrive.

Why Houseplants Aren’t Just Decoration

1. Stress Relief & Mental Clarity

Turns out, your leafy companions may do more than add greenery—they might add health. A systematic review found that indoor plants were associated with meaningful drops in diastolic blood pressure (−2.526 mm Hg) and improved academic performance in participants. PMC
Another helpful guide notes that indoor plants can reduce stress, boost creativity and productivity, and support mental health. Healthline+2nvcguides.libguides.com+2
In one study, simply interacting with potted plants lowered activity in the “fight or flight” part of the nervous system, grounding you and calming the nervous system. PMC

Bottom line? Your green buddies might just be mini wellness coaches, but with fewer pep talks and no gym membership needed.

2. Cleaner Air, Healthier Homes

Okay, full disclosure, indoor plants won’t turn your living room into a sealed NASA test-chamber of pure air. But there are benefits beyond improving air quality. For example, potted plants (and their soil) help capture certain indoor pollutants and can contribute to better respiratory comfort by adding humidity to dry indoor air. OSU Extension+2Piedmont Healthcare+2
Yes, ventilation and good airflow still win the bigger battle, but every little bit helps, especially when you’re spending more hours indoors as the weather turns chilly.

3. A Sense of Home, Well-being & Connection

Here’s a thing: taking care of something living can ground us by nurturing a sense of purpose and emotional well-being. Having plants inside your space has been shown to help people feel more connected to the natural world, more settled in their environments, and more emotionally resilient. Extension | University of New Hampshire+1
During the cooler months, when daylight dims and the outdoors calls less often, your indoor green corner can be a little anchor to help combat seasonal blues and provide a mood boost. They’re low-effort companions that remind us to slow down, breathe, and embrace the season—kind of like autumn therapy with leaves instead of a couch. 🍁

Seasonal Guide: Bringing Plants Indoors for Fall

Before we just drop plants inside and call it a day, there are some smart ways to transition them so both you and they stay happy. Here’s your seasonal moving plan.

Step 1: Timing Is Key

Don’t wait until your plants are shivering—or worse, damaged. According to experts at Oklahoma State University, you want to make the move indoors before night temperatures drop below about 45°F (~7°C). OSU Extension
Moving them too late can stress them out, make leaves drop, or worse—invite pests inside.

Step 2: Acclimate Them Into Indoor Life

Plugging plants directly from full-sun patio into a dim corner of your living room is like asking a beachgoer to jump into an ice bath and start dancing. Rather, give them a “soft landing” by placing them in a shaded outdoor spot for about a week so they acclimate to less light. OSU Extension
Then, once inside, keep them away from vents, fireplaces, or radiators (the dry heat and sudden shifts aren’t great for them). OSU Extension

Step 3: Adjust Care for Shorter Days & Cooler Temps

• Light: Many plants will grow more slowly indoors (less sun, shorter days). If they stretch toward the light—that’s their “help!” signal. Move them closer or give them extra light. OSU Extension+1
• Water & Fertilizer: Growth is slower indoors, so you’ll likely need less water and fertilizer. Trim dead leaves and ease up. OSU Extension
• Humidity: Our homes get drier when heating kicks in. Mist your plants or place their pot on a tray of pebbles with water to raise local humidity. OSU Extension
• Check for Hitchhikers: Before moving them inside, inspect for pests (mealybugs, scales, aphids) — those guys love a cozy indoor climate. OSU Extension

Step 4: Choose the Right Spot & the Right Plant

Here’s where you’ll thank your future self. According to extension sources, success with indoor plants often depends on matching the plant with the right spot and conditions. OSU Extension+1
Low-light-tolerant species thrive in dim corners, while sun-loving plants should be placed near bright windows. Proper placement ensures growth, reduces stress, and improves air-purifying benefits.

The Takeaway for You (and Your Green Team)

So what’s in it for you this fall, as you bring your greenery inside?

• Lower stress and a calmer baseline. Your plants are not just décor—they’re mood-modulators.
• A cozier, healthier indoor environment. With cooler weather keeping you inside more, having plants creates a more inviting atmosphere.
• A simple ritual that invites you to slow down and care. The act of moving and tending your plants becomes a mini break in your routine—a natural wellness check-in.
• A connection to the seasons. When the trees outside are shedding reds and golds, you bring a bit of that life into your home. It’s comforting and synchronises with the rhythm of fall.

So, yes: treat your plants like friends this season. Give them a little TLC. They’ll pay you back—and you’ll both head into winter in better shape.

Final Pep Talk

Let your plants be your tiny indoor forest. They’re by no means a substitute for stepping outside, breathing fresh air, or moving your body—but they are part of the ecosystem that supports your wellbeing: 

• Stress reduction and mood boost 🌿
• Enhanced focus and productivity 🧠
• Improved indoor air quality
• Emotional grounding and seasonal connection 🍁

As the leaves fall, as the air gets bite-y, as the days get shorter—your home doesn’t have to lose its sense of green and life. And that’s something worth smiling about.

After all, if the trees believe it’s okay to change colours, drop leaves, and settle in for a while—well, so can we.

References

Ellis, G. (2021, November 10). How to transition potted plants indoors for winter. Oklahoma State University Extension. https://extension.okstate.edu/articles/2021/indoor-plants.html OSU Extension
Hillock, D. (2017, February). Houseplant care. Oklahoma State University Extension. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/houseplant-care.html OSU Extension
NVC Research Guides. (n.d.). 7 science-backed benefits of indoor plants. https://nvcguides.libguides.com/c.php?g=1185437 nvcguides.libguides.com
Piedmont Healthcare. (n.d.). Health benefits of indoor plants. https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/health-benefits-of-indoor-plants Piedmont Healthcare
Rutgers et al. (2022?). Effects of indoor plants on human functions: A systematic review. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9224521/ PMC
Set houseplants up for success: Right plant, right place. (n.d.). Oregon State University Extension. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/set-houseplants-success-right-plant-right-place OSU Extension Service