My houseplants are sooo happy outside. Any specific tips for transitioning them back into the house when the time comes?

Thanks, Walter!

Good reminder Walter-I haven't bathed my plants since before winter set in.

Bathing & drowning are different. I have almost killed my large peacelily by leaving it outside during a 3 day rain. I have no idea why it looks so bad but I plan to repot it this weekend. The plant is very large so it will take a bit of strength to repot. I've had it indoors for years and now it is very, very sickly. What went wrong?

great idea. mine have never been outside because I don't like transitioning them back in to the house. I have too many :/

Thank you!

Thank you Walter, I have been using Mayo to clean my plants. Thanks for the information.

I like to give my houseplants a 'shower' once in awhile. I just put them in the tub and let a gentle cool water run over them and it washes the leaves. I leave them to drain for a bit them put them back in their homes....fresh and clean:)

I do the shower in the tub thing too and it is easy and keeps the plants clean and healthy. If they get bugs, I debug them in the bathtub too. Can really cover the plants well without the mess

Mine aren't going outside because of the stinkbug population we have in NJ..I Have already seen a few of them on there when I water them! I have alot of plants and are thinking of getting rid of them because of the stinkbugs but they were mostly my Dad's plants and he passed away in 2010 and I don't have the heart to throw them away! I love plants myself and have a sunporch and somehow they manage to attract those disgusting bugs! I will stick to the shower!

If you have a garage, that is the perfect place to transistion you plants to go out as well as back inside. When we are expecting rain, I move mine at night when the temp is cooler, leave them for a day or so and then set them out at night. I always put them near the house so I can move them back inside as soon as I feel they have had enough rain. There seems to be something about rain that does such a good job on plants! I feel sorry for Susan H and her stinkbugs! Wish I had a solution for you!

ALL of my houseplants go outside into the woods every summer and they LOVE it. Some are almost thirty years old. In the fall they all get haircuts and come back into the house. The only problem I have ever had is with scale which has been controlled with insecticidal soap. During the winter I put them in the shower to freshen them up and they love that too.

Here in Arizona, I have to wait until it cools down to give my plants a shower. I have a water softener and so the bathtub is also out. To water them each week, I haul in the water from our spigot.

Having drought conditions here in Australia any leftover water from the kettle goes on my indoor plants,as we have water restrictions most of the year. No using hoses to water outdoor gardens nor to wash cars.

Great reminder, Walter! I've been following your radio show & advice for years here in ATL. Great to see you at Hometalk!

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try. I usually use a squirt bottle with some mild soap and spray real good.

What about fuzzy leaves like African Voilets?

Violets.....

never wash African Violets. The leaves will die.