Bringing Plants Inside
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IT’S A MESS TRANSITIONING PLANTS INSIDE AND GETTING READY FOR WINTER. (CHARLOTTE EKKER WIGGINS PHOTO)
Bringing Plants Inside
It's time to bring tropical plants inside and the process is, frankly, a bit of a mess. The whole cycle can take a couple of weeks, if not more, so I start the end of September.
Our first hard frost is from October 30-November 14. Starting at the end of September gives plants time to adjust to the change in their growing conditions before I turn the house heat on.
The hardest part is deciding what plants come inside and which ones spend a few more weeks outside before a hard frost ends their life. I am cutting back on the number of plants I have on the deck over summer but it’s never easy to leave even one plant behind.
Once lined up in order of priority and size, I replace the top 1-2 inches of soil with new soil to remove any eggs that may hibernate.
Next a spray of dishwashing liquid mixed with water removes any bugs on top of, and under, leaves. I also use a mixture of Neem oil and water in a spray bottle for those plants harboring bugs on leaves.
Time for a trim. Some plants expand over summer so they need a trim to better fit the inside space.
Hitchhiker check. Tree frogs, lizards and grasshoppers sometimes end up inside, to the delight of my cats. Best to leave them outside.
It's work but so appreciated later when its cold and snowy outside and I'm having a warm cup of tea surrounded by greenery.
Charlotte
