Our Guide for Bringing Plants Indoors for Winter
As temperatures drop, everyone will want to spend more time indoors — including your flowers and plants. But bringing plants indoors for winter can come with a whole host of issues, including shock and bugs.
That means you can’t simply sweep up all your plants, bring them inside, and expect them to thrive. And, of course, some perennials can remain outside even as hard frosts hit.
So, to make sure your outdoor plants survive the transition inside, check out our guide to bringing outdoor plants inside below.
What Plants Can Be Brought Inside (And What Plants Can Stay Outside)
Not all plants need to come inside. Before creating your indoor transition plan, it’s helpful to identify which ones will need to move inside and which can stay outside.
Generally speaking, many annuals can be brought inside for a winter dormancy period. Tender perennials can also be brought inside to protect them from the frigid cold.
Of course, you will likely have specific questions about which plants and flowers should make the voyage inside. For instance, you may find yourself asking, “Can I bring a basil plant indoors for winter?”
For a better guide, make sure you know the hardiness of your plant or flower and check it against your USDA Hardiness Zone. (And to answer the specific question posed above: you can bring basil inside, but if you live in USDA Hardiness Zone 10 or above, you may not have to.)
You may be surprised which plants can survive the transition indoors and bounce back in spring as temperatures rise:
- Angel’s Trumpet
- Boston Ferns
- Cacti
- Citrus
- Elephant ears
- Geraniums
- Hibiscus
- Jasmine
On the flip side, consider leaving these cold-hardy perennials outside during winter months:
- Catmint
- Coneflower
- False sunflower
- Moonbeam coreopsis
- New England aster
- Peonies
- Siberian iris
- Wild Columbine
When to Bring Your Plants Inside
The process of bringing plants indoors for winter begins outside. You’ll want to choose the right time to transition them indoors, prepare them for the differences of life inside, and ensure bugs aren’t hitching a ride into your home.
When determining when to bring plants and flowers indoors, your primary guide will be the temperature. The goal, after all, is to prevent your plants from experiencing the shock of cold while maximizing their time outside to ensure healthy growth.
Temperature is especially a concern when bringing tropical plants indoors for winter. Since these varieties are used to ample sun, humid climates, and heat, waiting too long to bring them inside can be a death knell.
So, keep an eye on long-term fall and winter forecasts. Because you’ll need to prep plants for the transition, overnight weather analysis won’t give you enough time.
A good guide is the Farmer’s Almanac. While weather and climate are becoming increasingly surprising, the almanac serves as a good guidepost for the first frost of the season.
Bring tropical plants in before nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Most other plants should be fine if temperatures drop slightly below that mark, but still, plan to bring them inside before the thermometer hits 40 degrees and below.
Essentially, the red line you should not cross is the first frost. A quick overnight freeze can be damaging, if not deadly, for some plants and flowers.
Late Fall Gardening Tips for a Succesful Transition
Now that you’ve planned when you’ll bring plants inside, it’s time to begin preparing them for the adventure. These steps will help flowers and plants survive the transition and ensure there’s no shock on their part or yours once they’ve crossed your home’s threshold.
Since they’ll likely experience less direct sunlight inside, begin putting your non-hardy plants in outdoor shade starting 10 to 14 days before you bring them indoors. This will help them become accustomed to the amount of light they’ll receive in your home.
Additionally, do a thorough pest check on your plants. Inspect the tops and bottoms of leaves, the soil, and container drainage holes.
If you find any pests, spray the plant with as strong a stream of water as it can handle. You can also apply insecticidal soap immediately before bringing them inside. (And if a mealybug makes its way inside, check out our guide to get rid of them.)
Even if you don’t find any pests on your plants, a quick rinse can help remove any lingering dirt or dust on their petals or leaves.
This is also a beneficial time to check if your plants need repotting. Regardless of their repotting needs, refresh the container’s soil by mixing in something nutrient-rich.
Your final prep step is to trim back any overgrowth and remove dead flowers or petals. Not only will they look a bit better, it’ll make it easier for them to thrive inside.
How to Care for Your Plants Inside
So, you’ve found the date by which you should have your plants inside, prepared them for the transition, and brought them inside. Now what?
You generally want to take things easy on plants once they’re inside. This is a period of dormancy, after all, and the goal is to give them what they need without encouraging unneeded growth.
Consider these common plant needs when determining where to place your plants indoors:
- Circulation: Air movement helps reduce sitting water, fungus, and rot.
- Drainage: Too much moisture in the soil can lead to root rot and other diseases.
- Humidity: Place plants requiring humidity near spots with moist air (bathrooms and kitchens) and close to humidifiers. Regularly mist these plants and put their pots on a saucer containing pebbles and water.
- Nutrients: Reduce watering and fertilizer once plants are brought inside.
- Sunlight: Plants requiring sunlight should be placed in south-facing windows to maximize sun exposure.
Additionally, while you may be well prepared to protect your plants from outdoor pests and predators, you may not realize the dangers lurking in your home.
Pets and young children may want to inspect this colorful addition to their living space. Protect them and your plants by keeping them out of reach.
You’ll probably notice that even well-cared-for plants drop leaves once brought inside. That’s normal.
Remember, these plants prefer to be outside. The goal when bringing them indoors is to keep them healthy and ready to bounce back come spring.
Bringing Plants Inside for Winter
When you bring your plants indoors over winter, you’ll need to take a few practical steps to ensure they survive the transition. Then, once spring returns, they’ll be prepared to thrive!