Why should I bring my houseplants inside for the winter?

Bringing houseplants indoors for the winter helps protect them from cold temperatures and tough weather conditions. This keeps them healthy, even through the winter.

When should I bring my houseplants inside for the winter?

You should bring your houseplants inside before it gets too cold. Usually before the first frost or when temperatures consistently drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do I know if it's time to bring my houseplants inside for the winter?

Keep an eye on the weather forecast and bring your houseplants inside when temperatures are expected to drop. You can also look out for signs of stress or damage on the plants.

What should I consider when transitioning my houseplants indoors for the winter?

Before bringing your houseplants inside, check for pests and trim any dead or damaged foliage. Gradually adjust your plants to lower light conditions to prevent shock.

Where should I place my houseplants once they are indoors for the winter?

Find a good location with bright, indirect sunlight for your houseplants. Avoid placing them near drafts or heat sources, and maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level.

How often should I water my houseplants during the winter months?

The frequency of watering will depend on the specific plant and its needs. Generally, you should water your houseplants less frequently during winter, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Should I fertilize my houseplants during the winter?

Houseplants need less fertilization during the winter months when their growth slows down. It's best to wait until spring to fertilize your plant again.

How can I prevent common plant issues for the winter?

To tackle dry air, you can use a humidifier or place a tray filled with water near your houseplants. Regularly inspect your plants for pests like spider mites or mealybugs and take action if necessary.

When should you bring houseplants inside for the winter?

Learn when to bring your houseplants indoors for the winter and keep them thriving with this beginner-friendly plant care guide. Get practical tips to make sure your plants stay healthy and green throughout the colder months, especially after moving them indoors. Discover the secrets to successful winter plant care now!

Bringing plant indoors for the winter

Key learnings from this plant care guide

When bringing houseplants indoors for the winter, pay attention to signs such as dropping temperatures, plant stress, frost warnings, and impending severe weather.
Inspect plants for pests, prune and clean them, adjust watering according to the season, and find a suitable spot with adequate light when preparing plants for indoor living.
Start by bringing in smaller plants and gradually acclimate them to the indoor environment to avoid shocking their systems and compromising their health.
Be careful with watering during fall and winter, as indoor plants need less water due to slower growth and less evaporation, preventing issues such as root rot.

Ever caught yourself wondering when is the right time to move your houseplants inside as the temperature starts to drop in the fall? When should I bring my houseplants in for the winter? is a question every plant parent has, especially when it's starting to get a little too cold for comfort.

In this easy-to-follow plant care guide, we'll look at this question and help you keep your plants healthy during the winter. No fancy horticultural terms, just easy and practical advice. By the end of this journey, you'll know exactly when and how to move your houseplants indoors to keep them safe, happy, and warm.

Common mistakes to avoid when bringing houseplants indoors

Listen to an audio version of this plant care guide!

So let's dive in, shall we?

When is it time to bring your plant indoors?

Fall outdoors

Like many things in life, it takes a bit of experimenting to find out exactly when you should begin prepping your plants for the winter. It isn't about a specific date on the calendar, but rather how the temperature and daylight hours affect your plants.

During the fall and winter, the outside temperatures drop, there is more rain, and there is more wind. These elements can significantly impact your plants, especially if they are not cold-hardy. So to keep them safe and healthy, it's essential to bring them indoors before the weather gets too harsh for them.

Signs that it's time to move your plants inside

But how do you know it's time to bring them indoors? Well, here are some tell-tale signs that will let you know it's time to move your plants indoors:

The temperature is consistently dropping below 10℃ (50℉) at night. Most houseplants are no longer comfortable when the temperature dips below this level during the night.
Your houseplants are showing signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves or slowed growth. If your houseplants are exposed to these colder temperatures for too long, it'll start to damage your plants' leaves, roots, and stems.
Frost warnings have been issued in your area. If the temperatures are predicted to go below freezing, it's time to move your houseplants inside as soon as possible. Very few houseplants can survive freezing temperatures and will die if you leave them outside.
Strong winds or heavy rain are predicted soon. Strong winds by itself can damage your houseplants, but when you combine them with the cold temperatures, your houseplant won't recover as easily. Heavy rain can quite easily overwater your plant in the fall and winter because your plant will be dormant and won't need as much water anymore.

My method, even if it's not very scientific, is this: If you feel cold when going outside and you're reaching for a jacket or coat, it's time to move your plants inside. Houseplants are perfectly adapted to the temperatures that we, as plant owners, feel comfortable in as well. So if you feel a little chilly, so will your plant.

Most importantly, if you're doubting whether to bring your plant indoors or leave it outside, it's best to bring it indoors.

How do you prepare your plants for the move indoors?

Checking plants for pests before bringing them indoors

Now that you've decided it's time to bring your houseplants indoors for the winter. It's important to go through a few steps. It's very easy to make the mistake of just bringing your plant indoors and calling it a day, but that's going to give you plant problems.

If you want to give your plants the best chance to adjust well to life indoors, after growing outdoors in the summer, there are a few steps you should take:

Inspect your plants for pests

Before bringing your plants indoors, make sure to inspect them carefully for any signs of pests. This includes checking the leaves, stems, and soil. If you spot any bugs, treat your plants with organic pest control methods before bringing them inside. These pests will spread to your healthy plants very quickly and put them at risk.

Prune and clean

Trim any dead leaves or branches from your plants and wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris. This will not only make your plants look clean and shiny but also help prevent pests from accidentally coming indoors.

Adjust watering

As the temperatures drop, your plants will need less water. Regularly check your plants if they need watering and only water them once the top of the soil has dried out. This will take longer than it took during the spring and summer, so be patient if this is your first winter as a plant owner.

Find a good spot for your plant

Choose a location in your home that gets plenty of light for your plant. A south-facing window usually gets the most sunlight, so try to place your plant near one of use grow lights to give your plant some extra sunlight.

Bring in smaller plants first

If you have a lot of houseplants outside during the summer, it may be overwhelming to bring them all inside at once. If this is the case, start with the smallest, most vulnerable plants and move on to the larger and stronger plants within a few weeks.

Just make sure to move them all indoors before the temperatures are too low for your plants to survive.

Common mistakes to avoid when bringing houseplants indoors

Bringing a plant indoors for the winter

If you've never brought plants (that were growing outside for the summer) indoors for the winter, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. A mistake is easily made, so have a look at the two most common mistakes below to prepare and avoid making them yourself this year.

Avoid shocking the plant

Plants can be a little difficult when it comes to quick and sudden changes. Plants prefer slow and gradual change. This is especially true when it comes to temperature changes.

Abrupt changes can often "shock" them and have a big impact on their health. So when you move your plants indoors, make sure to prepare this in advance and do this as gradually as possible.

If you have a garage, that's a great way to gradually move your plants indoors. Instead of instantly moving your plants from outdoors to indoors, move them into the garage for a few days first. They'll be protected from most of the cold, the strong winds, and the rain. However, they won't go from the "cold" outdoors into the "warm" indoors right away. This will help them to acclimate to the warm climate indoors.

A garage is also the perfect place to keep your plants while you check them for any pests.

Water your plants less in the fall and winter

Watering might seem like a simple task, but it's one of the most common ways to harm your plant, especially during the fall and winter.

Plants that grow outdoors in the summer will need to be watered quite a lot because the moisture evaporates quickly from the soil.

When you move your plant indoors in the fall and winter, you'll need to water it a lot less. This is because the moisture doesn't evaporate as quickly and your plant will be dormant. When your plant is dormant, it won't really grow and won't need as much water as when it's actively growing.

Over-watering can lead to several problems like root rot and can eventually kill your plant. This is why it's very important to regularly check your indoor plants, especially after changing their environment. The soil should always be lightly damp, not soaking wet.

If you're looking for more tips on taking care of plants in the winter, have a look at How to care for houseplants in the winter.

Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.