Keep Your Tropical Plants Happy Indoors
As temperatures drop, it's important to bring your tropical plants indoors. Here’s how to ensure they thrive through the winter:
General Care Tips:
Treat for Pests: Apply a houseplant insecticide like horticultural oil or insecticidal soap before bringing plants indoors.
Reduce Watering: Water less and stop fertilizing until new growth is seen late winter or spring.
Supplement Light: Use artificial lighting if needed to compensate for reduced sunlight.
Monitor for Pests: Regularly check for pests like scale, aphids, and spider mites. Treat immediately if you spot any signs.
Overwintering Options:
Keep as Indoor Plants:
Repot if Necessary: Use a slightly larger pot with fresh soil and ensure proper drainage.
Clean Leaves: Wash and wipe leaves to remove dirt and use leaf shine carefully.
Style Your Space: Use decorative containers and display plants creatively indoors.
Light Fertilizing: Fertilize at half strength and less frequently during winter.
Foliage Plants & Succulents: Varieties like fiddle leaf figs, pothos, and succulents can thrive indoors, even in lower light conditions.
Dormant Storage:
Prune & Move Indoors: Trim plants as needed and store them in a frost-free area. Minimal watering is required during dormancy.
Revive in Spring: Increase watering and fertilize as new growth begins in April.
Flowering Tropical Plants:
Dormant Storage: Store in a cool, low-light area with minimal watering.
Indoor Houseplant Care: Keep plants like hibiscus and mandevilla in a sunny, warm spot with moderate humidity. Prune regularly.
Remember: Caring for tropical plants indoors can be easy and rewarding. Even if things don’t go perfectly, it’s a chance to refresh your indoor garden in spring. Keep planting and enjoy the greenery all year round!
Sources:
University of Maryland Extension: Overwintering Tropical Plants
Monrovia: How to Overwinter Tropicals Indoors