Houseplant Care

If you haven't already, you'll soon be bringing your houseplants back inside for the winter. Take a few minutes to examine each plant for potential problems before moving them.

Things to look for:

Infestation: If you see evidence of mites or insects, Use an insecticidal soap to treat plants before bringing them in. If weather permits, leave them outside while you treat. If you must bring the plant in, keep it apart from others so the problem won't spread.

Disease: Use caution. It may be best to discard a diseased plant rather than risk spreading it to others.
Treat with a fungicide while the plant is outdoors, but consider carefully if it is worth bringing in for the winter.

Potbound roots: This is a good time to re-pot plants that grew over the summer. Winter is stressful for houseplants, so give them the advantage of fresh soil and plenty of room to expand their roots.

Once you've given everything a good look and taken care of any problems, move the plants inside. Try to group them together to maximize humidity, and use a pebble filled tray of water to further increase moisture in the air. Continue to keep an eye out for insect or disease problems, and be careful not to overwater. We'll talk next time about everything your plants need to thrive during the long winter indoors.

Products for Houseplants: