Bring Houseplants in Now

I love moving my houseplants outdoors to the porch and patio in the summer. They add peace and beauty to any outdoor room. Unfortunately, they cannot stay there all year. Now is the time to start bringing houseplants in. During the move take the time to groom and clean the plants. And, while you are at it, also consider “fall-cleaning” the plants that remained indoors during the summer. 

Move plants back indoors before nights reach 45 degrees F. Most tropical houseplants are very sensitive to temperature extremes and may show injury symptoms below 45 degrees F. Symptoms of cold injury range from complete leaf collapse to subtle changes in leaf color. 

Clean and groom plants to keep them healthy, clean, and attractive. Also, check each plant to see if it has become root bound. If it is outgrowing its pot, repot it into a bigger pot using a good potting soil mix. Clean plant leaves to remove dust and dirt build-up with 1-teaspoon non-phosphate soap in 1 quart of water. Commonly used soaps include Ivory dish soap and PineSol, but many others are okay too. Use a sponge, cleaning cloth, or paper towel to wipe all surfaces of the leaves clean. Wipe down containers too. Another cleaning option is to spray plants with a non-ammonia glass-cleaning product (such as Sparkle) and wipe clean. Hairy plants should be cleaned only with a brush or feather duster. 

Groom plants by removing debris. Debris found on the plant, on the top of the soil, or at the bottom of the container should be cleaned out regularly. Keep the plant attractive by trimming off old flower heads and all dead or dying leaves. Plants kept outdoors during the summer may need pruning to fit back indoors. Isolate the plants from those already in the house until they are determined to be pest-free. 

Do not despair if some leaves drop after moving the plant indoors. The plant will need to adjust to differences in light levels and watering. Most growing conditions in a home only allow plants to maintain current growth. Some plants, such as Ficus, will adjust to lower light levels by dropping leaves and forming new ones. Others will simply drop lower, older leaves. Water carefully since they will not require as much water as they did outside. The most common mistake homeowners make indoors is watering too much.

Finally, do not fertilize houseplants in the winter. Plants only need fertilizer when they are actively growing. In the winter, most houseplants do not grow much and therefore do not typically need fertilizing. 

Moving nature back indoors for the winter allows homes to come alive. In fact, recent studies indicate that houseplants help keep people happier and healthier. Plants fill an important psychological function and are also proven to cleanse indoor air. Enjoy your plants as you move them in. If you don’t have a houseplant, go buy one. 

Originally published in Canton Daily Ledger on 9-26-1998