Do you have outdoor plants that you’d like to overwinter indoors? Learning how to successfully transition outdoor plants indoors gives you the opportunity to garden all-year-long.
Debug Outdoor Plants
Before bringing your outdoor plants inside, debug them by washing them gently with water and using an insecticidal soap or spray. Now is a good time to trim overgrowth as well.
When to Bring Them Indoors
How do you know when to bring your outdoor plants indoors for the fall/winter season? It all depends on the outdoor nighttime temperature in your area as well as the type of plant.
According to
The Farmer’s Almanac, most plants should start coming indoors once the outdoor nighttime temperature reaches 45 degrees F. However, you should move tropical plants completely indoors once the outside temperatures reach about 50 degrees F.
To figure out the right time to bring your outdoor plants indoors, you’ll need to work backwards and find the average weekly temperatures for your region or
gardening zone. Find the time when average outdoor temperatures reach about 50 degrees F. Then begin the process about two weeks prior to that.
Move Them Gradually
Get your outdoor plants ready for a more temperate, lower-light winter environment gradually:
- Start by moving them to a shaded, outdoor spot for about two weeks.
- Depending on the temperatures, bring them indoors for the night after about a week of days in the shaded area.
- After about two weeks, they’re ready for their winter indoor home.
Once indoors, stop fertilizing your houseplants, and minimize watering to just enough to keep the soil from completely drying out. Then allow them to rest or even go dormant for the season. Depending on the type of plant, consider grow lights to give your plants adequate light through the off season.
6. Learn the Light and Water Requirements
Your lighting situation is a critical element of your indoor garden. Although you should always check the lighting recommendations for your plants, sometimes they’re hard to decipher:
- Direct light means six or more hours of bright sunshine every day. Moderate light means about four hours of direct daily sunshine.
- Indirect light means the plant needs ambient light for most of the day.
- Low light means one or two hours of ambient light a day.
It’s also important to remember that different plants need different amounts of water. However, you might find it tricky to estimate how much water a plant needs.
If the directions say “water often” then water it whenever the soil feels dry. If the directions say “water moderately,” allow the top inch of soil to become dry between watering.
Most indoor plants thrive on humidity. Even if a plant needs very little watering, it still probably needs a humid environment.
Get plants the humidity they need by using a spray bottle for a light spray. This gently coats their leaves and stems without overwatering the soil or roots.
Alternatively, leave a dish of water near the plant. This allows the plant to absorb the water through humidity in the air.
You could also use a humidifier occasionally. However, don’t use this too often on your indoor garden or you may develop a mold problem.
Monitor humidity levels particularly during the winter when indoor heating systems lead to dry conditions.
8. Get the Temperature Correct
As with watering and sunlight, all plants need a specific temperature to grow and thrive. Research your indoor garden plant requirements to discover which temperatures they need, then group them accordingly.
For example, don’t group plants that need 65° temperatures with plants requiring 80° temperatures. If the leaves on your plants turn yellow, they may be too cold. Move them to a warmer part of your house or turn up the temperature.
Make sure the plants are not placed near any drafts. Poorly insulated windows, outside doors and air-conditioning units might create air patterns that chill plants and cause them to wilt or die. Also, make sure that you set a suitable temperature in your house or apartment before leaving for vacation. A cold temperature may accidentally kill your plants.
9. Water Plants the Right Way
There are several ways to water plants.
- Plants in pots with holes in the bottoms and dishes underneath allow you to put water in the dish. The plants then absorb water through the holes in the pot. This helps prevent overwatering and drowning the plant.
- Try placing the entire plant and pot in the sink for a thorough watering. This may help revive plants left in the sun for too long, or those suffering from inadequate watering.
- Place ice cubes in the soil. As they melt, they gradually water the plant. This helps prevent overwatering.
- Consider using distilled water. Most plants prefer distilled water over tap water. However, this can be expensive. Fortunately, you can buy a countertop distiller for around $100. These can distill a gallon of water in several hours.
