5 Steps for Bringing Your Plants Indoors for the Winter
If your temperatures outside are regularly dipping below 60 degrees, it’s time to start thinking about bringing some of your plants inside. I usually bring in my ferns, begonias, and scented geraniums, and this year, I will be bringing a dwarf meyer lemon tree that currently has 12 lemons on it. They are all still green, but I’m hoping they will hit maturity soon.
1. Start by gradually decreasing the amount light the plant receives over a few days to help lessen stress on the plant. You could even bring them inside at night and back outside during the day.
4. Once they are inside for the winter, make sure they get adequate light. A full-spectrum light with a timer set to 16 hours a day is a good way to help plants with less than optimal lighting.
In addition to bringing in plants consider taking cuttings of some of your annuals and bringing them inside to root over winter. Plants like impatiens, begonias, coleus and geraniums will make it over the winter with decent lighting and you then won’t have to buy them in the spring.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 of 6 comments
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For years I have overwintered almost every type of annual, and or delicate perennials, such as Hibiscus, Ficus plants, geraniums, ferns, palms, marigolds, impatience, dusty millers even. It only takes space and a lot of it cooler room best full spectrum lights I find 8 hours plenty of light and that good air circulation a must. Good Luck heck try what have you got to lose?
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Great advice Suzette! Go for it!
Frequently asked questions
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I usually just dump all my plants after summer but my ferns were so pretty I brought them in.Is there something to spray on them for bugs and make them smell nice since they have been outside all summer?