Temperatures start to drop, and the sun sets lower in the sky as autumn begins, with winter following closely behind. You are ready to start winterizing your houseplants.
This is the time of year when your happy, sun-bathed houseplants have to transition back into the protection of your home. Most houseplants that live outside during the warm growing season are tropical plants, meaning they are not equipped to handle our harsh winters. Before heading back inside, there are a few “to-dos” to ensure plant health and happiness over the winter months. Here we’ll walk through some basic steps to make this easy for you and your plants.
CLEANING
The first and most non-negotiable step is to clean off your houseplants before going inside. While outdoors, plants are susceptible to pests, insects, and diseases you want to remove. This can be done physically by hosing down all houseplants you plan to bring back inside for the winter. Use enough pressure to clean the leaves without causing damage to the plant. It is important to clean the underside of the leaves and all stems as that is where the pests and insects can hide. You can fan the water stream by placing your thumb over the end of the hose to control and add more pressure to the spray. It would be best to clean your plants and check for pests at least once, if not multiple times, before taking the trek back inside. You may also use this opportunity to trim off any dead, damaged or weak parts of the plant.
If you find pests, such as aphids or spider mites, treat this problem while still outside. This can be done using neem oil, a naturally occurring pesticide. Plants can be treated with neem oil once a week, and we suggest you apply 2-3 applications before taking your plants inside. This will help to remove pests and reduce the chance of bringing diseases into the home. You also have the option to quarantine houseplants that are brought inside for three to six weeks. Keep them isolated from all other plants and monitor them as you continue to clean and treat for pests.
TEMPERATURE
The lowest temperatures a houseplant can handle are when the nights reach anywhere from 45° – 50° F. Generally, to maintain healthy houseplants, they should still experience the weather transition into the fall season but be brought inside before they sustain damage from frost. Certain plants need exposure to colder temperatures to bloom but this is a more specific and smaller list including plants such as Cyclamen and Clivia. Remember, these plants can handle colder temperatures, but cannot handle below freezing temperatures.
WATERING
Plant growth slows in the winter and your watering should reflect that change. There is a tendency to overwater houseplants in the cooler months when you maintain a watering schedule from the growing season. It is okay to not have a fixed watering schedule throughout the winter months and instead check the soil to determine when to water. You can use the finger poke test and take your finger and poke it about an inch deep into the soil and if there is still moisture then the plant does not need watering.
LIGHT
The days get shorter along with the sunlight each day provides as we head into the winter months. A houseplant living outside during the growing season is exposed to a lot more sunlight than what can be provided indoors during the winter. You can make this transition slowly by first placing plants near a bright, south-facing window inside then gradually expose them to lower light conditions. Again, this may cause some plants to show signs of stress, but over time they will adjust to their new light conditions.
For supplemental light, purchase a grow light. This will ensure your plants are exposed to a healthy and regular amount of light throughout the day.
It’s important to remember that this time of year is meant for rest and no major growth will occur in most houseplants during this time. Provide your plants with the basics they need to keep them comfortable and maintained. Your plants will tell you when something is off so just look for those clues. If there are yellowing leaves or soggy soil then reduce the watering. If there are leggy stems or lopsided growth then adjust for more sunlight. And so on.
This is not the time to heavily fertilize or seek abundant flowering from your favorite plants. Nurture yourself and your leafy companions so you will both be ready for a beautiful and blooming season when spring arrives!
