🪴 How to Know When It’s Time to Bring Plants Inside

Every fall, container gardeners face the big question: When should I start bringing my plants indoors? Wait too long, and frost damage can sneak up overnight. Move them too early, and your house becomes a jungle before it needs to. Timing and observation are everything.

🌡️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

Keep an eye on your local forecast.

* Tropical and houseplants (like ferns, philodendrons, and spider plants) should come inside when night temps drop below 50°F (10°C).

* Tender annuals (like begonias, impatiens, and coleus) can get nipped by frost even at 40°F (4°C).

* Hardier herbs and veggies (like rosemary, parsley, and kale) can tolerate cooler nights, but it’s still smart to protect them when frost warnings appear.

A simple rule of thumb: if you’re grabbing a jacket at night, your plants might need one too!

🕵️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

It’s not just about a single cold evening, it’s the trend.

If temperatures are consistently dropping and daylight is getting shorter, that’s your cue to prepare your indoor transition plan.

🧴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞

Before bringing plants indoors:

* 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 — Look under leaves and around the soil for hitchhikers like aphids, spider mites, or fungus gnats.

* 𝐑𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐟𝐟 — A gentle shower with the garden hose removes dust and bugs.

* 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞s — It encourages new growth and keeps things tidy.

𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥: Give them a few days in a shaded, sheltered spot (like a porch) before moving inside — this “acclimation” helps them adjust to lower light and humidity.

🌞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲

Once inside, plants still need:

* 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: South- or west-facing windows are prime real estate.

* 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲: Group plants together or use a humidifier to combat dry indoor air.

* 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞: Protect surfaces with saucers or trays to catch overflow.

Avoid placing plants near heat vents or cold drafts — the temperature swings can stress them out.

🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟓: 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

Indoor plants dry out more slowly, so scale back your watering routine. Overwatering is the #1 mistake gardeners make after moving plants inside. Check soil moisture before reaching for the watering can.

💚 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩-𝐔𝐩

Bringing your plants indoors is like inviting old friends to stay for the winter — a little prep makes everyone happier. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and start the transition early. Your greenery will thank you come spring!

🪴 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Have you started your plant-moving day yet? Share photos or tips of how you prepare your containers for the indoor season. We’d love to see your creative setups!

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