Bringing Tender Plants Back Inside

 Tips for Bringing Tender Plants Back Inside

All your favorite houseplants have spent the summer jumping outside to the good life and soaking up the fresh air. It's time to think about their re-entry into your inner stratosphere. Of course, you want to delay that moment indefinitely and let Mother Nature continue to share the maintenance duties. But the weather is on the verge of shutting down the outdoor option. Now is the time to move those plants inside where they are safe and healthy.

And you need as many houseplants as you need. Last spring's lockdown underscored how important green roommates are to our psychological survival. But even in the best of times, botanical housemates are great for your well-being, especially when the garden falls asleep. So don't put a single plant at risk. Bring them all in.

Gardeners have a lot of confusion about the re-entry process. When, where and how are all valid questions. You don't want to pause at the eleventh hour to think about those issues. It is good to have a plan.

Place it in a well-lit area

Be realistic when placing your plants. Even if your interior designer wants to liven up a dark, poorly lit room with vibrant and green colors, it's not going to work for the plant in the long run. Plants may look beautiful silhouetted against a wall, but if light sources are not nearby, they will slowly and painfully deteriorate. And an apparently downward-sloping houseplant doesn't meet anyone's definition of beauty. Place plants near windows to provide them with what they need to survive the many months they will be your roommates. The south is generally brighter; A west-facing window usually gets the best light, followed by an east-facing window. However, overhangs, conifers, and nearby buildings can affect those generalizations. North is good for ferns, ivy and low-light evergreens, but it can't support other houseplants. Although many windows do not have slats wide enough to host plants, that is the plant stand. Or be creative. Anything can be listed to bring the plants to a position that provides adequate light.

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Check everything, but avoid reposting if you can

If enough time is available, this can be done systematically. You can grow plants, check root systems, wipe pots and make sure trays are clean, dry and a proper fit for the plant in question. You can even be an artist. I know, I know - but what about bugs? Honestly, it's not an issue for me. If you grow organically and your plants are healthy, they are generally not affected by the creeping things. A few benign seed bugs (things that look like mini-armadillos) often sneak in, but Einstein (my cat) makes quick work of them. I might get a few snails and the occasional earthworm. But the secret is to give yourself enough time to inspect each plant as it comes in. If you're concerned about bringing insects inside, carefully check the soil and root systems of plants and the undersides of their leaves. But again, if your plants are healthy, happy, and well-equipped when they're outside, pests entering your domain shouldn't be a problem.

People often wonder if they should replant plants at this time. As light levels decrease during the days, growth usually slows down, and if possible, it is best to leave the plant in its container until spring. The exception is a plant that has developed enough root growth to become a maintenance burden unless it is given a large container. A very cramped root system is constantly thirsty. Then graduate frugally. Some herbs, for example, can develop profuse roots in summer, so they may be candidates for replanting. If a plant's root system outgrows its container and you want to maintain the current state, you can root the eggplant, add soil, and place it in the same pot. But remember to reduce leaf and stem growth at the same time. Do you want to bring in matching plants that you display together in mixed containers? Break up the plants and give each one its own pot. A mixed container rarely works as a unit inside is When it's not as coppice as it was outside in the summer, you're asking too many plants to compete for light and root space.

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Obviously, containers should be practical. Make sure they have good drainage. If you're repurposing a muffin tin or a toy truck as a whimsical container for outdoor plants, the concept won't translate so well to water dripping onto your rug. Want to try more alternative containers? Place them on a baking sheet with a lip to prevent leakage.

Now comes the absolutely delightful part of reentry. If you leave enough lead time, you can do this gracefully. Make this an annual design exercise. I have several dozen houseplants (with constant new additions), and each fall I put them indoors in different design configurations. Sometimes it's planned, sometimes it evolves, but it's always thrilling. Think about fitting and filling systems. Get your color mojo in gear. Work with furniture and wallpaper. You can stage accent plants that read like works of art. You can create a garden indoors. And this winter will be green. Maybe it's not as lush as a summer garden, but it's close. They will feel like family. There's something about growing a plant at your elbow that's thriving and beautifully bright that feels like a huge personal achievement. Go ahead and be proud. You've earned it.

Time is a matter of degrees

In most parts of the country, freezing temperatures are now an immediate problem. Don't put it off until the weatherman predicts frost in a few hours.

Keep an eye on long-range forecasts. Monitor weather forecasts like your begonia's life depends on it. You don't want to be walking around with a flashlight when it's 38°F, and they won't be happy for long. Do it on time. As temperatures drop at night, houseplants become stressed, and some are particularly sensitive. I'd say 40°F at night is pushing it for most houseplants. Everything should be tender safe by the time the weatherman starts talking about 38°F.

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Don't choose to be a procrastinator, but rather than trying to clear all the plants in the afternoon before the snow hits, give yourself some time. Not only does the extra prep time help you line up plant stands and saucers to welcome the arrival of greenery in style, but you'll save time, hassle, and back pain if you don't have to replace plants more than once. Plants appreciate acclimatization before the furnace begins to radiate heat.