Overwintering Houseplants

 

Did you make a few plant friends over the summer that you don’t want to lose to frost or ice? Before the cold sets in, you’ll want to bring those babies in, but beware: sudden climate changes can shock them, which could lead to foliage loss, wilting, and even death. Follow some basic steps to help get those new pals through to warmer days ahead.

Repotting

    Wondering if now is the best time to re-pot your new friends? You’re in good company. Many people see moving-in time as a great opportunity to shuffle to new pots and make room for new growth; however, typically your plant friends are going to really hit their stride in the warmer spring and summer months, so it makes more sense to give them fresh soil and fertilizer as you transition them back to the great outdoors. While transferring pots is generally not recommended at this time, knowing when to change soil and/or pots can make all the difference in keeping your pals comfortable for their little winter staycation. Texture is the best indicator for soil condition. Worn out soil is often fine and does not retain or drain moisture properly. At worst, soil is shrinking, pulling away from the edges of the pot, and allowing your plant buddy to sink down into the center. On the contrary, good potting soil includes coarse organic matter, readily absorbs water, and drains properly through the bottom of the pot. If repotting is indicated, remove the plant from its pot, loosen those roots a bit, carefully tap off bad soil, and place your friend back in its old container with good soil. Be sure to plant it high enough in the pot so that the root mass is about an inch below the lip, leaving room for watering as well as root growth. High quality potting soil will allow for the longest intervals between repotting. 

Pruning

Pruning is also best attended to before bringing your friends in. Giving your pals a good haircut before they come in will not only help maintain a workable size, but also help them to adapt to lower light indoors by letting the light penetrate into the interior foliage.

Pest Management

Another factor often considered when bringing our plant friends in from outside, is whether they’ll tow any hitch-hikers in with them. If you’re not looking to host critters along with your plant friends, take these helpful steps toward thwarting those pests. Give your friends a shower. Rinse from the top either with a garden hose or a gentle stream of tepid water from your actual shower. Some of your pals may also appreciate a bath. Many varieties will tolerate a 15 minute soak in either a bucket of water or a bathtub, while any hidden soil-dwelling pests will not. Do not soak plants that prefer drier soil such as cacti and succulents or plants that will go dormant over winter. You may also consider an insecticidal or horticultural spray, although in most cases, you’ll want to apply these before bringing your friends indoors.

Don't forget to transition

Upon bringing your friends inside, you’ll need to concern yourself with their new environment. Now is an ideal time to wash windows to keep your friends in as much natural light as possible! Keep in mind though, that even in the best conditions, your friends will not receive as much light as they do over the summer months. Remember, too, that plants grow more slowly in reduced light, especially if you keep your house at lower than 70 degrees. While your friends will appreciate some humidity, it’s important not to overwater, as that is a leading cause of death for houseplants. A good rule of thumb is to feed at half the recommended strength for warm weather conditions, and water only when the top inch of soil is dry. To boost that ambient humidity, you can group plants together, keep them near a kitchen sink or in a steamy bathroom, or use a cool vaporizer. Another option is to sit pots on trays or saucers with pebbles and water in them. Don’t let the bottom of your pots sit directly in water, as the constant moisture can cause your friend’s roots to rot. Also avoid setting them near heat vents, which will dry them out too much.

It’s certainly not a bad idea to take care of any pruning, repotting, and spraying before your friends come indoors, so if you haven’t done it yet, now is the time. Do keep in mind, the fewer changes and the more gradually you make them, the happier your house guests will be! Ideally, you’ll transition your friends to a covered porch or unheated garage with a window to help them acclimate to a dryer, darker environment than they’re accustomed to. While they may drop a few leaves in the transition, they’ll appreciate the slow change rather than an instant dramatic one. 

Bonus tip: while you’re outside digging in that not-yet-frozen dirt, drop a handful or two of bulbs to give yourself something fun to look at in the early spring before your summer plants come back into full swing!

Sarah