Houseplants: Bringing them in for the Winter

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Now that the weather is cooling down, it’s time to think about bringing in your tender houseplants and herbs for the winter. The first mild frosts usually occur during the week of the full moon in October. When you hear that the temperature is going to drop to the low thirties, plants can be easily protected by draping them with sheets or newspaper held on with clothespins. Once the threat of hard killing frost arrives (usually at the end of October) your plants should be in the house. Once inside, there are some important steps that you should take to insure their health and vigor...

 

First, be aware that when you "summer" your plants outdoors, you are exposing them to potential insect problems. They may look lush and healthy when first brought in, but it is very likely that hidden in their leaves are the egg cases of whiteflies, scale, mealybugs, or spider mites. I make it a practice to take preventative measures before a problem arises. Put your plants in the shower and wash them off well. Or hose them off (top and bottom of the leaves) before bringing them in. Then, inspect carefully. Remove any brown, yellow, or diseased looking foliage. It is a good standard practice to spray your plants as they come indoors. We use natural sprays such as Neem or insecticidal soap. The general rule is to spray them three times in a two week period to be sure you control insects and eggs. Or, as an alternative, you can mix up a mild solution of dishwashing soap and water and give your plants a bath. You can't be too careful at this point! It is a lot easier to do this work outside on your deck on a beautiful fall day than in your living room in the dead of winter. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! After the plants have been indoors for a week, you may want to continue misting them with a very mild soap solution just to keep the problems away. Always inspect your plants at least once a week to look for insects and treat them immediately.

 

If you put tropical plants outside in the summer (such as Hibiscus, jasmine, etc.) you should evaluate whether they need repotting before bringing them in. If so, repot them into a new pot that is 2-4” in diameter larger. If you don’t have room for a larger pot, you can prune the roots, put the plant back into the same pot, and add fresh organic potting soil. Offset this by pruning the top of the plant.

 

Because the light levels in the house will be a lot lower than outside and because the length and intensity of the daylight will diminish until after the new year, I often prune out the center of my tropical plants as well as the top. This reduces the shock and leaf drop of bringing them inside.

 

Many people dig up geraniums from the garden. The same is true of tender perennial herbs. Rosemary, scented geraniums, and lemon verbena are not hardy in Connecticut. When you dig them up, you inevitably dig up some of their roots. Balance this with a top pruning. This will create a bushier plant. Don't worry if you cut off a few flowers or buds. It will be worth it in the long run to have compact, full flowering plants in late winter when you need them the most. Because the light levels are getting progressively lower at this time of year, cutting back helps plants adjust to the change. If you notice a white powdery dust on your rosemary plants indoors, you probably have powdery mildew. Mix up one tablespoon of baking soda in one gallon of water and mist on the plants once a week. This takes care of the problem in a safe manner and doesn't change the flavor of the rosemary.

 

I do not recommend trying to bring in annual plants such as basil, coleus, or impatiens. Although they may live for a month or two indoors, they will decline in vigor because their natural life cycle is to die in the fall. Instead, take fresh cuttings of your annuals and root them in water. Once rooted, plant them in potting soil and keep them in a bright, morning sun window. Pinch them at first to encourage bushiness. They will reward you with wonderful color all winter long. Consider sowing the seeds of annual herbs such as basil for a fresh winter crop. Grow culinary herbs on a sunny windowsill. Keep them well watered, especially in the dead of winter when the heat is on, drying out your indoor plants very quickly.

 

It is important to realize that it is a big adjustment for plants to come in from the outdoors. Try to get them into the hot, dry air of your house gradually. Many people first put their plants on an unheated sun porch for a week or so to help them to acclimate. Mist your plants with water often. Place them on trays of pebbles and keep water in the pebbles. This is an easy way to increase the humidity on a constant basis. Keep the water below the top of the stones as you never want your plants to sit in water.

 

Indoor plants are one of the joys of the cooler months. If you take a few simple precautions now, you will be rewarded with healthy, healthy houseplants all winter long.

 

 

 

In an effort to provide horticultural information, these educational documents are written by Nancy DuBrule-Clemente and are the property of Natureworks Horticultural Services, LLC.  You are granted permission to print/photocopy this educational information free of charge as long as you clearly show that these are Natureworks documents.