Comments on: Bringing houseplants back inside for winter?

By: bbean

bbean — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:48:10 +0000

I have a bunch of Oleander that I have had now for more than 15 years and bring them in and out regularly. Also my Hibiscus seem to withstand the stress, albeit with a little more negative reaction (losing some leaves). I follow, mostly, Kevin C’s approach. At the beginning of September I move them to the northside of the house and leave them there for about 2 to 3 weeks. I hose down the plants but haven’t followed the soap bath suggestion – but I will this year because the hibiscus do seem to harbour little white flies (they show up in spring). In spring I follow the reverse routine – I take them to the northside of the house for a couple of weeks so they get used to the harshness of wind and then I move them to their summer place. I also do this with a grapefruit (non-flowering) tree that is now over 30 years old and that especially enjoys the summer holiday out door. I do thank the other respondents re the possible insect bath formulae.

By: reynwater

reynwater — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:31:52 +0000

Agree with Kevin to a degree. Hose em down with a pistol grip, drip dry, drag em in to the most light possible. In zone 8 there are several weeks when all the windows can be left open, before the heater kicks in. That allows for acclamitization. Then it’s a jungle inside.

By: Kevin C

Kevin C — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:47:46 +0000

I dissent from the previous answerer’s, I think the biggest problem is acclimating to the new lower light and lower humidity in an indoor environment. Insects can be very problematic and I agree with the others on the various ways of coping with them.

To re-acclimate your plants to the inside, give them a week or three of indoors at night and outside by day. Also, while they are outside, move them to the absolutely shadiest area in the yard/ property. The light spectrum is refracted (I’m not sure if that’s the proper word, but split up) though the pane of glass which is your window, so even though it might be quite bright, the actual ‘strength’ of the light is diminished.

By spending as much time as you can splitting their days between indoors and out, they can gradually adjust, lowering the ‘shock’, so that you get to keep as much foliage (in good condition) as you can.

I hope that this helps
Good luck-

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:52:23 +0000

Don’t do anything that will bring any stress. They will adapt on their own. I would water them good and spray with soap a (mixture like in the above answers). Once in the house don’t over water or underwater and don’t not fertilize (that will prompt new growth). I wait until the last minute to bring my house plants in.

By: extitude

extitude — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:17:50 +0000

I make a weak mixture of dish detergent,baking soda ,and water and soak the soil till it drips out the bottom.After about an hour I soak it again with straight water.If you really want to be safe try a circle of glue trap to ensure any remaining insects are captured.Or one could simply repot the plants using new soil and removing most of the old soil.

By: raybdog

raybdog — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:13:00 +0000

The biggest liability will be bringing insects in that will end up on any other indoor plants, so yes, you should inspect them carefully, and wash and/or spray them, depending on what is on them.

Washing with a strong water spray is usually enough to knock down the numbers enough to avoid infecting houseplants, but if you really want to be safe, an insecticide might be helpful.