Cold is coming and tender tropical plants are at risk! In all but the hottest zones of the Southwest, you will have to bring some (or many) plants indoors before frost. If you are a plant person, you may have some, or many, of these. Depending on your elevation the list may include adenium, bay laurel, cacti, citrus, crown of thorns, desert rose, elephant food, Edithacola, the list goes on. 

Many of us friends of plantsman Richard Felger (of blessed memory) remember helping him on his massive plant moving days. He had a lot of tender tropical plants. And I do mean a lot. And they were big! I watched three husky young men try to move a massive terracotta pot of some towering caudiciform. I believe it might have been a tree morning glory Ipomoea pauciflora (also called Ipomea arborescens).

The nice thing about helping Richard was that he was very generous with his plants. As he fussed around, moving them this way and that so they would get just the right light, he might hand you a pot of something rare and exotic and ask you to take care of it for the winter. You betcha! And then, come spring, you would offer his plant back to him. Often he would declare that he had no room and that you should just keep it. I still have pots of Agave felgeri from those days. They do grow and pup over time so, I have to divide and share with friends, continuing the trend of plant generosity just like Richard used to do.

8 Steps To Overwintering Plants Indoors

How to move all your plants indoors for the winter and not have issues? There are 8 good steps to follow. Trust me on this. Every so often I skip say Step 1, and am chasing down problems for months!

1. Quarantine & Adjustment Period

Bring the plants into an isolated quarantine area for two weeks. A porch, garage or sun-room closed off from the house is ideal.

This gives your plants time to shift from being out in the wild of outdoors, and start acclimating to lack of air flow and lower light levels. They may shed some leaves. It’s okay. They do that.

2. Verify Plant Health

It is important that this be in quarantine from your indoor space. While plants are in quarantine, monitor your plants for pests such as scale, spider mites, earwigs, caterpillars, pill bugs, and crickets.    Treat pests as needed to eliminate them before you bring them inside your home.

News Flash! This was a first for me this year! Quarantine gives you time to monitor for scorpions that might be living in your pots. Scorpions eat bugs that might be bugging you – but they are not ideal housemates. Especially if you have small children or household pets. I have a series on my TikTok channel about discovering scorpions in my indoor space.

Richard did not have the room for quarantine, which meant that often he lived his winters with crickets and pill bugs scuttling around inside his home. He was not a fan. Just sayin’ that quarantine is something to consider.

3. Make Your Plants & Your Self Happy

Light

Move plants indoors to a sunny location, such as south or southwest facing rooms.    If your home doesn’t have a good area, consider putting grow bulbs into standard lamps for the winter season.

Air

Plants are used to air movement outdoors – but they are NOT used to air movement of a furnace. Keep them away from furnace vents, fireplaces, space heaters – etc.

Protect Your Indoor Space

Protect your floors. Laminate, carpet, wood – it is worth it to invest in something deep and sturdy to catch water and to protect your floors.

I do shop a big box store for things to put under pots – only I don’t shop the garden section! I use those large pans that go under water heaters, and save tons of money. Depending on the plants you might be able to get numerous pots in one pan. Do block the drain hole well with a waterproof tape. Get plastic, not metal pans – because metal and stray drops of water equal rust spots on the floor. Large plastic cement tubs work well too. Not pretty, but they do work well.

4. Water

Monitor water needs of your plants through the winter.    Water then once the top inch of soil is dry. Exception. Don’t water Adenium (Karoo rose, desert rose) at all when dormant.

Over the years I would estimate that close to 70 percent of all house plant issues I have seen or been called in on have been caused by too much water. Too much water stresses a plant just as badly as too little water. Not only does too much water stress plants – too much water also leads to fungus gnats. Those are a real pain! I have seen a couple just about ready to divorce over fungus gnats.

5. Avoid Fertilizer

Avoid fertilizer. Yes I just said that twice. It’s because these are outdoor plants that are living in less than normal light and air conditions. If you fertilize them and encourage them to grow, that tender new tissue can get sunburned when you take them back outside again. Also, tender growth is a feast for the stray plant mite that hitch-hikes home on your clothing.

If you really really want to fuss over your plants, at least do not fertilize until the plant has showed it is adjusted to it’s new location by producing new growth.   

Do not fertilize the succulents even if they do produce new growth. Yes, kalanchoe, sanseveria (snake plants), and jade plants are succulents.

6. Remain Vigilant

Monitor for pests through the winter months.   Sunlight and fresh air can help plants survive minor pest infestations. Indoors has neither. This means that if a single spider mite or juvenile mealy bug hitch-hikes home on your clothing, your plants are at risk.

Do eliminate pests as soon as you see them.

7. As Spring Approaches

One month before last frost in your area, prune any overgrown plants. You can fertilize now if you haven’t yet.    Use fertilizer at half the recommended dose! This provides a gradual wake up call to your plants.

8. Transition Slowly

Two weeks before last frost, transition your plants gradually.    Move them to that same unheated but protected area such as garage or porch.

Do not place them outdoors until after last frost.   Even then, check on them daily to see if they might need a piece of sun screen or the like to help them transition back to life outdoors.  

It’s Not Hard

These are just a few common sense steps that I have gleaned through years of doing this. I am sharing them with you in case you are new to this. I do want you to succeed with your plants!  Indoors and Out!

More Plant Care Tips for the Winter Months

The Month By Month Guide offers tips for your landscape (yes even lawns and roses) in every month of the year.  I have a few copies left and am offering them to you – my loyal readers. When you buy from me you get a signed copy!

From the review:

“A great reference book is key to successful gardening in the region where you live. Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico Month-by-Month Gardening takes the guesswork out of gardening for anyone residing in the Southwest. With this book, you’ll know what to do each month to enjoy a thriving garden all year, from January to December. Chronologically organized, this guide is full of critical gardening when-to and how-to advice, along with illustrated step-by-step instructions.

The book’s author is Jacqueline Soule, a Tucson-based gardening expert. She knows this arid region inside and out, and she’s written several articles and books packed with her gardening advice. Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico Month-by-Month Gardening showcases Soule’s expertise in one easy-to-read guide.”

Profits from the sale of this book go to the Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute.  

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