A guide to bringing plants indoors: Which plants can be brought indoors and how to care for them.By Dennis Schrader & Justine Guidry
Instead of losing your beloved plants to winter weather, bring them indoors to enjoy them during the cold season-and take them back out when it warms up again. Photo by: Tache / Shutterstock.
When it starts to get cold out, it’s natural to make sure your pets are indoors and your kids have their scarves...but don’t forget to also take care your plants!
Every fall, Dennis Schrader—owner of Landcraft Environments in Long Island, New York—is asked the same questions about bringing plants indoors: Which plants can I bring inside? Will this one make it through the winter on my windowsill? Is there any way to save this plant for next year?
With proper care, some plants can reward you with color and fragrance during winter and be returned in spring to grace your garden beds again. Here, he offers a guide to overwintering plants including which plants can be brought indoors and how to care for them, so you get to enjoy them for another season.
HOW TO BRING PLANTS INSIDE
Here are 8 basic steps to bring your plants indoors for overwintering:
- Trim & clean up. Remove any dead, unhealthy, or leggy growth.
- Check for pests. Avoid bringing pests indoors that might infect your other houseplants such as mealybugs, thrips, or spider mites. Do a thorough check in the soil, on the tops and bottoms of leaves, and even the drainage holes of the pot—where pests like slugs sometimes hide.
- Repot if necessary. If your plant was already in a pot outdoors, you may choose to repot it for various reasons: your plant may be outgrowing its existing pot or maybe you simply want to use a different pot.
- Refresh soil. If you’re not repotting your plant, mix in and top the plant with fresh soil to add nutrients.
- Rinse & water. Giving your plant a good rinse is a good way to remove dust, dirt, and any bugs that might be hanging on before bringing it into your home. This is also a good time to give your plant a deep watering.
- Consider the plant’s needs when placing them indoors. Even the most rugged outdoor container plant will suffer indoors without the right conditions. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Sunlight. If the plant needs bright light and received that outdoors, you need to make sure it’s getting adequate light indoors, too.
- Air circulation. Proper air circulation is crucial for indoor plants as it prevents sitting water, reducing fungus and rot.
- Drainage. Poor drainage can lead to waterlogged roots, leading to root rot and unhealthy growth.
- Water and fertilizer. Cut back water and fertilizer while plants slow their growth over winter.
- Humidity. Indoor air can be very dry in winter due to heating, so your plants will appreciate extra humidity from a humidifier, misting, or placing the pot on a saucer with pebbles and water (make sure the bottom of the pot is not sitting in the water).
Gradually acclimate your plant to its new environment, if possible. Moving from outdoors to indoors can be quite a shock for a plant. If you’re able to, allowing the plant to adjust slowly will increase your chances of success. You can begin by bringing it in at night, then gradually increasing the time indoors until it’s inside 24/7. Keep the plant out of reach of animals and children, if necessary. See our list of common plants that are poisonous to dogs and cats. As your indoor space begins to fill up with plants, you may have to limit the amount you bring indoors. If it does come to that, focus on the ones that are meaningful to you or the ones that would be costly to replace.
WHEN TO BRING PLANTS INSIDE
As a general rule, tender plants should be brought in when nighttime temperatures are below 50 to 55 degrees F, even if they are hardy for your zone. A plant’s roots are more exposed when planted in a container versus in the ground. In order for a containerized plant to stay outdoors, it should be rated for two zones colder.
WHICH PLANTS CAN BE BROUGHT INSIDE?
Citrus can handle one or maybe two mild freezes, but it’s best to keep them indoors during freezing winter nights if possible. Here, a calamondin orange tree is happy in the bright light next to a window. Photo by: Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock.com
To have success with overwintering, it’s important to be familiar with which plants can successfully make the transition from outdoors to indoors. Many of the tender perennials we now consider annuals originally found their place in horticulture as houseplants and are excellent candidates for bringing inside.
Here are some of the most common plants to overwinter, but is by no means a comprehensive list. Research other plants online to determine if they are a good candidate for bringing indoors.
- Alternanthera
- Bay laurel
- Begonia
- Calla lily
- Citrus
- Coleus
- Caladium
- Geranium
- Clerodendrum
- Hibiscus
- Polka dot plant
- Rosemary
- Spiderwort
- Succulents
PLANTS TO LEAVE OUTSIDE
Some plants are not meant to be brought inside and saved for the following season. For example, there’s no point in trying to prolong the life of true annuals such as marigolds, zinnias, and nicotiana. Once they bloom and set seed, these plants are preordained to die, always with the hopeful promise that the seed they produce will germinate next season.
Here are some plants that should be tossed:
- Angelonia
- Bacopa
- Cuphea
- Helichrysum
- Sweet potato vine
- Lantana
- Marigold
- Petunia
- Salvia
- Torenia
- Verbena
RELATED:
21 Best Indoor Plants
Winter Care for Houseplants
Annuals vs. Perennials: Understanding the Difference
FAQs
It's time to bring any plants you want to save indoors when nighttime temperatures start to drop into the 50s. Some plants, such as citrus trees, can tolerate temperature dipping into the 40s, says Trejo. But it's better to plan ahead instead of risking it if the first frost of the season sneaks up on you.
How do you transition plants from outside to inside? ›
Acclimation. Since outdoor plants are getting much more sunlight than they do indoors, there is a natural acclimation process that occurs where a plant must adapt to the new conditions. Take your time: The best thing you can do to ensure a smooth transition is to gradually move your plants in areas of increasing shade.
What do I spray on plants before bringing indoors? ›
Some experts recommend bathing or soaking plants in a bucket of water with mild dishwashing soap before bringing them inside. If your plants are too big for the bucket treatment, spray them with water to remove outdoor dust and soft-bodied insects from the leaves.
What month should I bring my plants inside? ›
Many “annuals” can be brought inside, even tender plants that need a winter dormancy period. These should ideally come indoors before nighttime temperatures dip below 45°F (7°C). As fall approaches and night temperatures reach about 50°F (10°C), start bringing the plants inside for the winter.
Is 38 degrees too cold for plants? ›
As gardeners, we base our frost dates on 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) to avoid the risk of any plant death. However, even if air temperatures are as high as 38°F, frosts may occur on the ground and plants. It's better to protect plants just in case!
How do you debug plants before bringing them inside? ›
- When to Debug Plants to Bring Indoors.
- Tools and Supplies You Will Need.
- Before Getting Started.
- Step 1: Remove Insects From Soil.
- Step 2: Soak Your Plants in Water.
- Step 3: Inspect Each Plant.
- Step 4: Check for Spider Mites.
- Step 5: Spray Plants With a DIY Solution (Optional)
Dishwashing liquids are primarily designed to dissolve grease from dishes and clean clothes, not to kill insects. Dish detergents may dissolve the protective waxes on the plant leaves. Commercially available insecticidal soaps are less likely to dissolve plant waxes.
What plants can be brought inside for the winter? ›
Most are very tolerant of indoor conditions and can be brought in and kept near a window through the winter.
- Charmed® Oxalis.
- ColorBlaze® Coleus.
- Colocasia.
- English Ivy.
- Red Banana.
- Common house plants.
Outdoor plants require some preparation to survive the coldest months of winter. Make sure to water the plants thoroughly then cover them with mulch to help retain warmth and moisture. Delicate plants should be enclosed, moved, or covered to prevent frost damage.
How do you grow outdoor plants in the winter? ›
Hold plants in a protected location until the cold snap passes. Be prepared to cover newly-planted items if frost is predicted. Watering new additions to the garden is also important. Plants will likely need less water than during warmer weather, but they won't grow if allowed to dry severely.
Indeed you can. As long as you provide the plants' need (water, nutrients, light) and keep them from freezing, you can grow them indoor. Different plants might have different requirements here, and you'd want to check for individual plant's need.
How to get rid of green worms on plants naturally? ›
Whip up a garlic solution by mixing 1 tablespoon of molasses, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and a liter of warm water. Give your plants a regular spray-down with this concoction, and watch those caterpillars turn tail and run.
What kind of soap can I use on my plants? ›
In general, typical shampoos and conditioners will not harm your plants. The products are very diluted, liquid (very low in salt), and free of boron. Sinks: Oasis All-Purpose Cleaner, Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap, most glycerin-based soaps.
What kind of soap to spray on plants? ›
Some gardeners purchase ready-to-use insecticidal soaps while others will make their own solutions using dish soap and water. If you are in the latter group, aim for a 2% soap solution: add just 2 teaspoons of dish soap to 1 pint of water.
How do you keep outdoor potted plants alive in the winter? ›
First, you can bury the entire pot in the ground and cover it with soil or mulch. The surrounding soil acts as insulation. A second method is to move the pots to an unheated garage, shed, cold frame, or basem*nt. Check the soil moisture periodically, but don't overwater or you may get root rot.
What temp is too cold for houseplants outside? ›
Temperatures below 50°F may stunt their growth for a few weeks, and temperatures below 35° may cause some leaf damage. Freezing temperatures will kill the leaves of most houseplants completely, but the roots typically survive if it was only a short exposure.
At what temperature should you bring house plants back inside? ›
When nighttime temperatures start to dip consistently to around 50°F, it's time to bring plants back indoors. Most houseplants are native to tropical areas and will not tolerate freezing temperatures.
Can I leave plants outside in winter? ›
Container plants are particularly vulnerable to the cold because their roots aren't in the ground. If possible, move plants inside a garage, shed or basem*nt. If you're leaving them outside, push them together and cover them. Wrap the containers in plastic or burlap to help them stay warmer.
