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by Gary Williams
If you have houseplants that have been summering outside, it’s time to move them back into the house. Houseplants are really tropical plants that are used to tropical climates and won’t be able to survive the extremes of our winter temperatures, no matter how protected your porch or your patio might be.
Take a good look at your plants before you bring them back into the house to see if they need a good trim. No doubt the plants grew rapidly and they might have a gangly, overgrown look by now. Pinch back any leggy branches and remove stems or leaves that are brown, diseased or malformed.
Next, look at the root structure to determine if any of the plants need repotting. If the roots are growing out of the pot or breaking the surface of the soil, it’s time to repot. However, if the roots are still intact and completely contained within the pot, you really should wait until next spring before changing anything.
If you do need to repot now, chose a container that is no more than 2 inches larger than the original pot. If you move the plant to a pot that is much bigger than the one it is in now, the roots will be trying so hard to fill up the new space that the top growth will suffer. If you don’t repot, at least clean up the pots before you bring them inside. Scrub the outside with a strong brush to remove any mineral deposits, dirt or stray insects.
Spray the plants with a garden hose to remove all dust and dirt from the leaves. If necessary, use a sponge to wipe off the leaves. If the leaves are dirty, the plant will have difficulty with its basic photosynthesis process.
After the plant has been cleaned, spray it with a light application of insecticide to control spider mites and other insects that love the dry winter heat inside homes and can wipe out your houseplants. Insecticidal soap is one of the mildest mixtures you can use and is perfect for indoor use. Read and follow all label directions carefully before to maxi¬mize the effectiveness.
Plant growth will slow during the winter months and watering and fertilizing should be adjusted accordingly. Put the plants where they will get lots of natural light, and water them only when they need it—generally much less than they needed outside. Fertilize much less as well, using a water-soluble fertilizer no more than once a month.
Plant pansies for fall, winter and spring blossoms. Truly a three-season annual, pansies planted now will bloom throughout the winter and into the spring. Choose from many new varieties, shapes and colors. Pansies are extremely hardy for our winter temperature and will even survive a frost and snow. Get them in now, feed them with an application of blood meal and you will have gorgeous blooms all winter long. |
