How to overwinter your plants indoors as temperatures drop? This article provides guidance on how to shift your plants indoors to protect them from the winter cold, especially for those living in cooler climates.
Understanding Your Plants’ Sensitivity to Cold
It's noteworthy that tropical plants are more susceptible to frost and low temperature. Among these, hibiscus, palm trees, citrus plants, oleanders, fuchsias, begonias, and bougainvilleas are typically the ones that need to be moved indoors first. It's advisable to start transferring them once the night temperatures start to fall below 10 degrees Celsius.
Choosing a Suitable Overwintering Location
When looking for suitable areas to place your plants during the cold months, consider spaces like verandas, winter gardens and garages. These environments can provide your plants with the necessary shelter to survive the winter.
Preparing Plants for Indoor Living
To help your plants adjust to the indoor environment, gradually move them in and out of the house over a 7-day period. This will help them acclimate to their new surroundings. Inspect each plant for insects prior to bringing them inside. If any pests are detected, clean the plants and treat them with a homemade insecticide. Consider trimming and repotting your plants as needed before you start overwintering them.
Overwintering Care Tips
During the winter months, the care routine for indoor plants changes slightly. It's recommended to reduce watering and stop fertilizing these plants. The fertilizer can be reintroduced in the spring. Furthermore, all plants have specific needs regarding temperature, light and watering. Hence, it's necessary to position them accordingly inside your house.
Some plants might require extra insulation from the cold. Regularly check on your indoor plants, keeping an eye on the humidity levels and any potential insect infestations. Notwithstanding the indoor shift, outdoor plants such as lavender still need to be taken care of during the winter.
Winter: An Opportunity for Plant Propagation
Winter is also an ideal time for plant propagation through cuttings, but only for vigorous species. For other species, it might be better to wait until spring for propagation.
With these tips, your plants can not only survive, but even thrive during the winter season.