TRANSITIONING PLANTS INDOORS FOR THE WINTER

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Summer is on its way out, and if you gave some of your tropical plants a summer vacation outside this year, it's time to start their transition back to living indoors. It's also time to think about which tender perennials you might want to overwinter inside. 

There are a lot of plants we usually treat as annuals that are actually tender perennials. Tender perennials are plants that would come back every year, somewhere warmer than Indianapolis. If you're dedicated and have the space, you can bring quite a few tender perennials inside for the winter. 

But, don't run out and cart them all inside right now. To reduce plant stress and avoid any pest infestations, you need to transition tropicals and tender perennials inside slowly. 

WHICH TENDER PERENNIALS CAN YOU OVERWINTER INDOORS?

This is a brief list of tender perennials you can overwinter indoors and treat as normal houseplants. These are some of the more common tender perennials that are often used as annuals in more northern climates:

 

  • Begonia

  • Bird of Paradise

  • Coleus

  • Hibiscus

  • Oleander

  • Passionflower

  • Salvia

  • Agave

  • Cordyline

  • Dracaena

  • Impatiens

  • Thunbergia

  • Fuchsia

  • Aloe Vera

  • Jade

  • Kalanchoe

  • Rosemary

  • Citrus trees

  • Geraniums

  • Gardenia

  • Angels Trumpet

  • Bougainvillea

  • Jasmine

 
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There are also several tender perennials that need a period of winter dormancy every year. For these types of perennials, you will usually cut back their foliage and store them in a pot, or dig up their bulbs, corms, or tubers. Dormant plants should be kept somewhere cool and dark. Tender perennials that need winter dormancy include:

  • Caladium*

  • Elephants Ear*

  • Calla Lilies*

  • Canna Lilies*

  • Banana (Musa)

  • Dahlias

  • Ginger

  • Lantana

  • Sweet Potato Vine

  • Potted Ornamental Grasses

  • Gladioli

*These plants will benefit from a light touch of frost before you bring them inside, which will prompt them to go into dormancy mode. Only leave them out through the first frost, as you don't want a hard killing frost to get them.

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STEPS FOR TRANSITIONING TROPICAL PLANTS INDOORS

  1. Move the potted plants together into a shady spot. Leave them there for at least a day or two to adjust to lower light levels.

  2. Inspect all of the plants and pots for pests and diseases. If you find pests on one, treat all of the plants. We recommend Bonide Systemic Houseplant Insecticide. If you have pets, you may want to use Neem or horticultural oil instead. The insecticide should be applied a minimum of 3 days before bringing the plants indoors. Follow the application instructions on the package carefully.

  3. Start bringing them into a sheltered location overnight, and then put them back out in the morning. Gradually reduce the amount of time outside over the course of a week. 

  4. Quarantine all the outdoor plants away from other houseplants for 2 weeks. You can do this in a garage or move them all to a separate room in your house. Check them every few days for pests, just to make sure you've dealt with all infestations.

  5. Once they are all pest-free, find a place for them to sit over winter where they'll get lots of bright light, but no direct sun, and no cold drafts. 

  6. Adjust your watering schedule, check the soil to see if it's actually dry every time before you water. 

STEPS FOR TRANSITIONING TENDER PERENNIALS INDOORS

  1. If they're planted in the ground, trim back their foliage by 20-30%, dig them up, and put them in a pot with indoor potting soil. 

  2. Transition tender perennials inside the same way as tropical plants, slowly. Bring them into a garage at night, and gradually reduce the amount of time they spend outside during the day over the course of a week. 

  3. Inspect and treat for pests. 

  4. Quarantine indoors or in a garage for 2 weeks to ensure there are no more pests. 

  5. Keep them somewhere bright but cool for the winter. 

  6. Water, but not frequently. Keep the soil on the dryer side to slow winter growth.

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HOW TO STORE DORMANT PLANTS

  1. Dig up tubers, corms, or bulbs. 

  2. Trim back foliage to a few inches above the top of the bulb. 

  3. Brush off excess dirt, and trim root hairs to about half an inch long. 

  4. Set tubers, bulbs, or corms to dry on newspaper or a drying rack for a few days. 

  5. Once tubers, bulbs, and corms are dry, store them in a mesh bag or cardboard boxes. They need to have good air circulation to prevent rot, so don't pack them tight together.

  6. Store tubers, corms, and bulbs somewhere dark, cool, and dry. 

  7. Store potted dormant plants somewhere dark, cool, and dry, but keep the soil lightly moist through the winter.

  8. Inspect tubers, corms, and bulbs every other month for rot, and dispose of any affected bulbs. 

If you need any supplies for storing or bringing your tropical plants and tender perennials inside, or have questions about the process, stop by the garden center. Our expert staff can help you safely bring your tropical plants back indoors and overwinter your favorite tender perennials.

Mattew DammannDammann's Garden CompanyDammann's Garden Company, Indianapolis, gardening tips, gardening, plant care, indianapolis, winter, perennial, perennials