It’s time to bring houseplants indoors
If you have houseplants and tropical plants that you intend to keep over the winter, it’s time to start bringing them indoors. This would also include any succulents that are not winter-hardy.
These tender plants don’t like night temperatures below 45 degrees F in general. Frosts, of course, are likely to kill the tender tissue but cool night weather sends them into decline. Therefore, bring them indoors before the cool nights become consistent.
One of the first things to do prior to bringing them into the house is to inspect for insect pests. Check the stems, leaves, and the bottom of the pot.
Scale, aphids and other softbodied insects that can hang out on the stems and leaves. Look under the leaves as well as on top.
If you find insects on the plant, treat prior to bringing them inside. Use an insecticide that is labeled for houseplants so that you don’t damage the foliage.
Insects such as sow bugs, pill bugs, millipedes, slugs and other insects that like dark, damp locations hide out under the pots so make sure to clean these off.
I like to take the hose and let it run through the pots for several minutes so that this might flush out some of these critters. Or you can soak them in a tub of lukewarm water for 15-30 minutes to force them out.
To prevent this from occurring to plants that are moved outside, the next time you repot, place a piece of screen in the bottom of the pot. This helps to exclude them from hiding out next season.
Houseplants should be acclimated to the lower light levels in your house. Acclimation means getting them used to a different environment over a period of time.
In the fall, move them to a location in your house that has the most amount of light for a few days, and then to a lower light level and eventually to the spot where they will stay for the winter.
This may not be easy to accomplish. You can also move the plant to the final location immediately without acclimation.
If you do it this way, many plant species will get ticked off and shed a few leaves. They usually recover in a few weeks. It depends greatly on the species. Some species, such as weeping figs, are very touchy and don’t like to be moved at all.
While these plants are inside, adjust your watering habits to the new environment. Keep in mind that growth slows down, therefore, watering should be minimized. Check the soil to determine when to water.
Also inspect regularly for insects that you might have missed. Knock down a population before it builds and becomes unmanageable. Pamela Corle-Bennett is the state master gardener volunteer coordinator and horticulture educator for Ohio State University Extension. Contact her by email at bennett.27@osu.edu.