Bringing houseplants back inside for winter?

Question

A lot of my houseplants have spent the summer on the front porch, and they've done beautifully. Now I need to bring them back in ... some are in their own pots, others are in mixed baskets with summer annuals that are ready for the trash heap.

Any tips on how to reacclimate the plants to the warmer indoor temperatures? Also, is there anything I should spray or wash them with to make sure they're not bringing bugs in? Should I re-pot everything first? The plants are crotons, white butterfly nephthytis, palms, and some other kind of tropical.

Any help would be appreciated ... Thank You!

Answer 1

I dissent from the previous answerer's, I think the biggest problem is acclimating to the new lower light and lower humidity in an indoor environment. Insects can be very problematic and I agree with the others on the various ways of coping with them.

To re-acclimate your plants to the inside, give them a week or three of indoors at night and outside by day. Also, while they are outside, move them to the absolutely shadiest area in the yard/ property. The light spectrum is refracted (I'm not sure if that's the proper word, but split up) though the pane of glass which is your window, so even though it might be quite bright, the actual 'strength' of the light is diminished.

By spending as much time as you can splitting their days between indoors and out, they can gradually adjust, lowering the 'shock', so that you get to keep as much foliage (in good condition) as you can.

I hope that this helps
Good luck-

Answer 2

I have a bunch of Oleander that I have had now for more than 15 years and bring them in and out regularly. Also my Hibiscus seem to withstand the stress, albeit with a little more negative reaction (losing some leaves). I follow, mostly, Kevin C's approach. At the beginning of September I move them to the northside of the house and leave them there for about 2 to 3 weeks. I hose down the plants but haven't followed the soap bath suggestion - but I will this year because the hibiscus do seem to harbour little white flies (they show up in spring). In spring I follow the reverse routine - I take them to the northside of the house for a couple of weeks so they get used to the harshness of wind and then I move them to their summer place. I also do this with a grapefruit (non-flowering) tree that is now over 30 years old and that especially enjoys the summer holiday out door. I do thank the other respondents re the possible insect bath formulae.

Answer 3

The biggest liability will be bringing insects in that will end up on any other indoor plants, so yes, you should inspect them carefully, and wash and/or spray them, depending on what is on them.

Washing with a strong water spray is usually enough to knock down the numbers enough to avoid infecting houseplants, but if you really want to be safe, an insecticide might be helpful.

Answer 4

Agree with Kevin to a degree. Hose em down with a pistol grip, drip dry, drag em in to the most light possible. In zone 8 there are several weeks when all the windows can be left open, before the heater kicks in. That allows for acclamitization. Then it's a jungle inside.

Answer 5

Don't do anything that will bring any stress. They will adapt on their own. I would water them good and spray with soap a (mixture like in the above answers). Once in the house don't over water or underwater and don't not fertilize (that will prompt new growth). I wait until the last minute to bring my house plants in.

Answer 6

I make a weak mixture of dish detergent,baking soda ,and water and soak the soil till it drips out the bottom.After about an hour I soak it again with straight water.If you really want to be safe try a circle of glue trap to ensure any remaining insects are captured.Or one could simply repot the plants using new soil and removing most of the old soil.