When to Move Plants Inside for the Winter

seasonal plant protection

With nice weather in the summer, it’s not uncommon for you to take your houseplants outside to get that extra sunlight. However, it’s crucial to have a plan to bring your plants back indoors when the weather changes and the winter season approaches. What is the process for moving your plants inside? How can you ensure that your plants continue to thrive? Follow these tips for a smooth transition.

Pay Attention to the Temperature

The days still feel warm to you, but what about the nighttime? It’s important to pay attention to the temperature dropping when the sun goes down. Once temperatures are consistently between 60 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s a good idea to start bringing your plants inside at night. However, you can keep them out during the daylight hours if the temperature stays above 45 degrees. If you wait too long to begin the transition, your plants will most likely suffer damage, especially on new growth.

This process of bringing the plants in at night is also good for the plant’s adjustment period. Going from full sun to mostly shade can shock plants that are used to sitting in the sunlight for several hours a day. Starting by taking your plants in at night is a great first step before eventually keeping your plants inside full-time.

Clean Pests off Your Plants

While your plants were enjoying the benefits of the outdoors, like humidity and natural light, they might also have been exposed to pests – and you don’t want to bring those pests into your home. Check the undersides of the leaves and look closely near the stems. Even if you don’t see any bugs, it’s still a good idea to wash off your plants with water before moving them indoors.

The most common pests you should check your plants for include aphids, scale, and spider mites, among other pests. Neem Oil has great benefits and can be used against mites, fungus, and other insects. Our Safer Brand Neem Oil can be applied to plants to help clean off the insects before bringing them inside. Other products, like our Safer® Brand Ready-to-Use End All® Insect Killer and our Safer® Brand Insect Killing Soap Concentrate, can also help with eliminating insects from all stages of life.

Neem Oil

Even if you get all the pests off your plants before you bring them inside, your plants may still have problems indoors. Check out our article about preventing and getting rid of inside pests here.

Adjust Your Plants to the Indoors

Once you’ve cleaned your plants and they start to acclimate to the indoors, your routine for taking care of your plant is going to change. During the summer, your plants are growing and flowering often During the winter, plants are a bit more dormant, and therefore aren’t going to use as much energy.

Many house plants naturally slow their growth when the temperatures get colder. These plants don’t need as much fertilizer or water as they did during their primary growing season. Still be sure to water your plants so that they don’t dry out, but you can hold back on the nutrients until the weather gets warmer again and your plant is ready to start using more energy.

Another important thing to note about bringing your plants inside is the differences in light and humidity. Because the days are darker, you might want to invest in grow lights that support the plant and help keep it alive, especially if your home lacks spaces with natural light. Typically, most heated homes in the winter have dry air. To help with this, you may want to invest in a humidifier to make sure there is extra moisture in the air.

Once moved indoors, plants may experience some leaf dropping. This is normal, and it should stop when the plants adjust to the new light conditions.

Keep Your Plant Alive and Well

At Safer®, we like to make sure that our plants stay alive and thrive as best as they can during the winter. Do you have tips on how you bring your plants back inside? Tell us on our Facebook page! To find out more information about gardening, indoor houseplants, and other topics, sign up for our e-newsletter. To explore our wide variety of products, check out our website.

Keep Houseplants Healthy

  1. Safer® Brand Japanese Beetle Trap Collapsible Stand
    Safer® Brand Japanese Beetle Trap Collapsible Stand
    $8.49
  2. Safer® Brand Japanese Beetle Trap Replacement Bags
    Safer® Brand Japanese Beetle Trap Replacement Bags
    $7.49
  3. Safer® Garden 3-in-1 Garden Spray - 24 oz, front
    Safer® Garden 3-in-1 Garden Spray - 24 oz
    $12.99
    Out of stock
  4. Safer® Garden Fungicide Spray - 24 oz
    Safer® Garden Fungicide Spray - 24 oz
    $12.99
  5. Safer® Garden Neem Oil Spray - 24 oz
    Safer® Garden Neem Oil Spray - 24 oz
    $14.99
  Canada

Visit Our
Canadian Store