Back in the spring, you may have moved your tropical houseplants outside for a summer vacation. They no doubt enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air, but as the temperatures start to dip, it’s time to take them back indoors. Here are the essential steps for a careful transition and to ensure you leave any hitchhiking insects outside where they belong!
Summer’s a time for growth, and your houseplants likely took advantage of it; they’ve probably grown substantially in both their leaves and roots with all of that direct access to the golden sunshine. As you prepare to move them indoors, check to see if they’re rootbound and need a bigger pot. Repotting now can help remove any unwanted pests lurking in the soil and give them a fresh start for the winter.
If the plant has grown too much, now is also a good time for pruning. As you’re shaping them up for inside life, take care not to prune away more than one-third of the leaves at a time. You can also remove any damaged, dead, or diseased parts of the plant.
A few insects crawling on the leaves outside is perfectly normal, but indoors, those same insects can become pests if you don’t remove them beforehand. To avoid any outbreaks, carefully scan each plant, especially looking beneath the leaves and in the branch joints. Start by removing any large bugs, like spiders and ladybugs, and kindly let them be free outside.
Follow up by spraying your plants clean with water and wiping or washing away any pests like mealy bugs, spider mites, and aphids. If they’ve set up a significant encampment on your tropical houseplant, you may need to use a natural insecticidal soap or neem oil. Check the soil for bugs, and swap it out for fresh potting soil if you see any insect activity or if it’s looking tired with light brown, dusty, packed soil.
Plants are rooted creatures, used to living in one spot. It can be dramatic for them to have a sudden shift in conditions. So, remember to transition them slowly back inside. When overnight temperatures start to hover around 50°F, bring them indoors for the night, and return them outside for the day. Keep up the gradual transition for a week or two, slowly extending their time indoors as they acclimatize to the new home. If they remain outside in temperatures below 45°F, some houseplants may drop their leaves or succumb to the cold. A transition that’s too abrupt can also send some tropical plants into confusion, causing them to drop their leaves. Avoid these mistakes by giving your plants a careful and gradual transition to their new home.
If you had your tropicals indoors before, you probably already have an ideal spot picked out for them, but it doesn’t hurt to refresh your memory on their ideal sunlight and water requirements and to keep an eye on them as they grow. If you notice them leaning towards the window, it’s a sign they need more light. On the other hand, scorched leaves indicate that they’re getting too much sun and need to be moved back from the window. Without evaporation from the wind and sun, they’ll likely need less water indoors, especially as they go into dormancy over the winter.
As you’re pruning, repotting, and giving them extra attention during the transition, you may think to give them a boost of fertilizer while you’re at it, but most plants are going into dormancy at this time. Fertilizing can interrupt their seasonal rest, so it’s best to wait until they reawaken in the spring to give them a boost of nutrients.
For all the supplies needed to care for your plants inside and any other advice, feel free to visit Greenstreet Gardens at our three locations in Lothian, Alexandria, and Belle Haven!
At Greenstreet Gardens, we take pride in the fact that our number one goal is to make our customers successful.
Equipped with a diverse wealth of information and a knowledgeable staff, we are confident that we are able to provide all of the right tools and plant material necessary to help make your gardening ideas become reality.
© Greenstreet Gardens 2025 | All Rights Reserved.
