Overwintering patio plants

From the garden

We had an early frost the end of October, but many of us planned ahead and protected patio plants that are still growing outdoors. You could say plants are getting their last gasp of sunny warm days before being moved indoors for the duration of the winter. We are letting them stay outdoors as long as possible, but knowing that freezing nights are head, this is the last chance to prepare them for their sequestration indoors.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when bringing plants indoors.

1. Trim gangly foliar growth. Cut back leggy stems or foliage that has outgrown the pot. Cut back the top growth to just above a node, the juncture where the leaf arises from the stem.

2. Check for pests. Common pests that are tolerated outside but not when plants are indoors are aphids. Inspect under leaves and stems. Aphids congregate on succulent, tender growth found at the juncture of the leaf growing out of the stem. If there is large aphid population, they will be found on tender stems. The easiest method of eliminating them is to wash them thoroughly with a direct spray of water. Follow up with a thorough bath of sudsy dilute dish soap like Dawn or Ivory then rinse the detergent from foliage.

3. The indoor environment is unlike the patio. Plants do not grow as vigorously and do not need the amount of watering and fertilization as when outdoors. Cut back on water, and wait to fertilize until they are moved back outdoors in the spring. Water when dry.

4. Consider available light. The light intensity of an indoor room is considerably less than that available light outdoors. Supplement light with grow lights or move plants to an east or west facing window. Take care to not let leaves touch the glass as the glass will be cold and may damage tender leaves of tropical plants.

5. Increase humidity. Indoor winter air is dry. Heaters are running, which dry the air. While humans need extra water during the winter months, plants are damaged with extra watering, as the soil gets soggy, which leads to root decay. Increase humidity with a humidifier or placing pot on top of a layer of pebbles in a saucer. Add a small amount of water to the saucer, taking care that the plant does not sit in the water.

Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.