When is it best to bring houseplants inside?

According to Robin Trott, a University of Minnesota Extension Educator, “when fall nighttime temperatures begin to cool in late September, consider bringing in the houseplants you kept outside during the summer.” I remember going to Florida and seeing their huge outdoor plants versus our tiny miniature indoor versions. Leaves and delicate trunks can break off during moves, so be careful. Even though some houseplants can go outside for a summer vacation, you need to return them to their inside home before the temperature dips below 45-50 degrees. My mother used to tell me, if you need a jacket, so do your plants!

Inspect and treat your plants for pests

Bringing your plants inside a few weeks before the weather turns cold and the bugs embed into the plant, has always worked out for me. Once you have to go to the store to try to rescue a bug infested plant, it seems like it’s already too late. Aphids, mealybugs, white flies, and other pests aren’t usually a problem when potted indoor plants are outside. You can wash them in a bucket or sink with dishwasher soap to make sure bugs are not hiding out under stems or leaves. Bugs are easy to spot and it’s better to get them before they are a problem. They can quickly turn into a major infestation during the winter if they are brought inside with the plants. Aphids, most common, are small white or green, and can be found on the underside of leaves. 

Just as you gradually introduced your houseplants to the outside in the spring, gradually reintroduce your plants to the indoors. Your houseplants may undergo shock if abruptly brought in from outdoors. Start by watching the weather for changes and start gradually, maybe 3-4 hours, then overnight. Take it slow, and let them get acclimated to the indoors again a little at a time.

Look for something new to try indoors this winter!

This year I actually bought a plant from the Farmers’ Market that I think is more of an indoor plant. The “polka dot plant” has great burgundy stems and it was great pairing it with lime-green sedum in a pot on my deck. It looked a little tough during the super-hot summer heat, but it rallied back like a trooper!  Once I tried putting a “peace lily” on my front porch as it is only sunny about 4 hours, but it was too much sun and most of the leaves burned. Besides sun exposure, there are many things to consider when choosing indoor plants.

According the University of Minnesota Extension Service, here are the 

favorite houseplants in Minnesota:

• African violets

• Amaryllis

• Cacti and succulents

• Citrus

• Geraniums

• Hibiscus

• Holiday cacti

• Monstera deliciosa aka “Swiss cheese plant”

• Poinsettias

• Tropical ferns

This is a nice mix of easy to difficult houseplants. Most of them are favorites during holiday time, when that pop of color or greenery is a welcome distraction from the cold, blustery weather outside. 

Let’s talk a little bit how you can find success in trying to keep your plants alive and thriving without too much labor. 

Know your plant

The first rule is to get to know the specific needs of your plant. If you have one of the favored plants listed above, click on the link and read about what that plant needs to thrive. Do the same for any other plants you are trying to grow indoors.

Sun Exposure

When choosing a plant, it’s important to understand your home’s orientation. Do you get most of your sun from the east or south where you will be placing your plant? Look at the plant tag to determine how much light the plant will get. Too much and it will burn and be dry constantly, and if it’s too shady, the plant will wither as if it is not getting energy.

Growth

When you buy that little plant from the nursery, check to see how big it is expected to grow. If you take a plant, such as a citrus tree back and forth from inside and out each year, plan ahead to have a seven-foot ceiling for it to grow safely. Take into consideration that if you keep your plant over the years, you will need to have the space and maybe even, repot it at some point.

Humidity

We don’t live in the south, but humidity can be a make-or-break deal when it comes to house plants. Our humidity can be just as tough! I thought my Alexa stated it was 98% humidity a few days back, it may have been 96% - but hey, that is pretty humid. It was like stepping into a shower. Some thick stem plants love it! But the fragile stem plants weep when it is too humid. 

On the other hand, sometimes, the air can be too dry. In that case, one strategy is to set your plant on top of some gravel rocks in a plate and add water. This feeds the plant and helps you with drainage.

Water

Many people wonder - can I just use tap water on my plants? That depends on the plant. Some experts advise not to use softened or chlorinated water on certain plants because of the effect of the chemicals on the plants. What about that dreaded white ring? That ring is usually from mineral salts. It is not particularly worrisome but it does need to be kept under control. Just use a damp cloth to remove it off your plants or spoon off the soil. 

There is not one simple answer to how to water indoor plants. Again, when you water, how much to water, whether you water from the top or the bottom, and so on, depends on each individual plant’s needs. Do your research.

Feeding

Whether and when indoor plants need fertilizer depends on the plant. There are different types of fertilizer which come in different forms. Most stores have a liquid fertilizer solution you can mix up and spread on the base of the plant. I love the fertilizer sticks that make fertilizing almost fool proof.

Containers

Should you keep your plants in the pot you got from the store? That depends. If there are roots coming off the bottom of the pot, then, yes, gently remove, take away any dead roots and repot. General rule: when the plant looks like it needs a bigger pot, then treat it to a bigger pot, but not too big as it won’t set up right.

Plant pots come in different materials, for example – clay, plastic, terra cotta, wood, metal. Pot material can have some effect on things like the plant’s watering needs. So again, know your plant’s individual needs.

Try bringing something new to your home!

After evaluating the conditions and needs of certain plants, what are some other houseplants that love to grow inside while the temps fall outside? See my list below:

Asparagus Fern

Pothos/Philodendron vine

Orchids

Crotons

Peace lily

Snake plant

Spider plant

Dragon Tree

Variated Ivy

Ficus tree

Dumb Cane

Dieffenbachia

Palm plants

Aloe Vera

Elephant Ear

Kalanchoe

Cyclamen

Spiderworts

Lucky bamboo plant

Money tree

Polka Dot Plant

Prayer Plant

Umbrella tree

Air plants (easiest)

China Doll (most challenging)

Bonsai (advanced)

Sedum, Jade and terrarium plants

Wow! That’s a long list! Whatever plant you choose to use indoors, and indoors to outdoors, just remember to follow well-founded guidelines. You can surely find a lot of variety of plants to fit your fancy to set in a kitchen window or a table by a sunny window. Some plants need to be hung with hangers. It’s nice when the temps are dropping to see a little green in your home. Some are great air cleaners, as an added bonus. Remember to water well or put in the bathtub if you go on vacation! Some plants get leggy and a little tough come March, but once outside or the sun shines more regular, they will perk right back up. 

Remember to enjoy your greenery and if at first you don’t succeed, try something else!

Reference: University of Minnesota Extension Service