Houseplants can drop leaves and die if you do 1 common thing in October

As the winter edges closer, plants begin to enter a dormant period where their growth slows. As the summer sun fades, plants begin to focus on conserving their energy and surviving the colder months

If you want to give your houseplants the best chance of survival this winter, there is one thing you need to avoid at all costs.  As tempting as it may be to give your plants a new lease on life by repotting, this is the worst thing you can do for them. Repotting can cause the roots to shock, which leads to leaves dropping and potential plant death.

Instead, it’s much better to wait it out and repot in the early spring, when plants exit their dormancy

If you do want to give your plants a boost, you can try aerating the soil with a chopstick. This is a quick fix that allows more water and oxygen to the roots of your plant, giving it a pick-me-up.

Carefully poke vertical holes into the soil with a chopstick, pencil or small gardening fork. You will quickly see plants that look like they need a refresh come alive.

You can also help your houseplants by trimming them in the winter months.

Just as leaves are falling outside, the same renewal should happen inside your home.

Houseplants have a natural cyclical rhythm, and they rely on you to help maintain it. Focus on the lower leaves and stems of popular houseplants with abundant foliage, and prune away those that are yellowing or browning.

Much like trimming the ends of your hair, this allows your plant to redirect water, nutrients, and energy to the areas that need them most.

In the colder months, plants need less water, so be careful how much you're pouring.

Instead of a fixed schedule, water only when the top couple of inches of soil feel dry.