Moving Outdoor Gardens Indoors for Winter

December 5, 2011 by


Indoor plants on a New York City windowsill enjoying the view. Photo: mccorvie.net

The days of warm weather are quickly slipping away, now being replaced by cooler temperatures. It’s time to transfer plants from the outdoors to inside for the winter season.

Transferring plants inside season after season may seem tiresome and tedious, but moving plants outside for the spring and summer gives plants a natural growth boost. Conversely, bringing plants indoors for late fall and winter gives your mood a boost during those dark months. Brining plants inside for the winter also promises larger and fuller vegetation the following year, as your plants prosper and thrive indoors.


Rosemary in the rain. Photo: Jude Doyland.

Quick Tips
Following these quick tips will make transferring plants a simple and enjoyable venture:

Recognize the growth your plants have experienced during the summer months.
Purchase pots that adapt to plants’ sizes if they are larger than the previous year. If you repurposed pots from last year, make sure they are completely clean before planting anything new.

Purchase new potting soil.
Do not drag outdoor soil indoors, the new soil will allow the plant to accommodate to its new surroundings while providing the necessary nutrients for continued growth.


Inspect for insects.
Thoroughly check all areas of the plant for insects, from leaves to stems to soil. In addition, give plants a healthy shower prior to potting. A soft hand soap or vegetable/fruit wash can be diluted with water and sprayed on plants. Before potting, allow the plants plenty of time to dry either in direct sunlight, on a porch, or in a garage.
• Herbs like chives, rosemary, and thyme, can be especially tricky because of their many leaves. Using a light vegetable/fruit wash assures no damage will occur to the plant while reaching all its leaves and stems.

Prune heavily for healthy growth.
Cut away dead and damaged leaves and stems, but refrain from removing healthy ones. Although plant growth tends to naturally slow down during the colder months (even indoors), pruning will allow for healthy growth and help prepare plants for their spring season transfer.


Chives. Photo: Steve Christiansen

Prepare your home for plants.
Potting the plants isn’t the only step to moving vegetation indoors. Be sure to account for these factors:
• Adjust lighting and plant positioning for optimal growth–if specific lighting conditions are necessary for certain plants, make sure those are being followed as closely as possible.
• Thyme requires as much direct sunlight as possible. This particular plant can spend the winter in a non-shaded, south-facing window for maximum light with an artificial lamp close by to compensate when necessary.
• Adjust temperature as necessary–don’t freeze your family for the good of your plants, but place warm-climate plants closer to heat vents, while placing cooler-climate plants further away. Keep in mind heat rises, therefore, plants residing on higher shelves or upper floors will be exposed to greater amounts of heat.
• Rosemary is a warm-winter plant. Although it should not be placed directly on a vent, the plant will still thrive in heated conditions. Try placing your rosemary plant in a second-floor bathroom.
• Keep plants away from pets–be sure to position plants in places that are out-of-reach of both animals and children. Although herbs won’t hurt, many plants are harmful when consumed. Practice safe gardening by simply keeping plants out-of-reach.


Photo: Simone Lindengrove.

Caution
Tips, tricks and specific instructions are great guidelines to follow when transferring outdoor plants indoors. Keep in mind, however, that some plants are not suited for the inside and some plants can suffer stress. As careful as your transition may be, not all plants will survive. Do not let this deter your decision to move them, as few plants have problems and successful transitions are the most likely outcome.

Make sure to spend the next couple of weeks accomplishing this task or the winter weather will arrive before you know it! Enjoy your plants indoors and check back for a springtime transfer guide.
______________________________________________________________________________

About Guest Contributor: Dr. Wesley Chun, Ph.d

Dr. Chun is the CSO at Grower’s Secret, Inc. He previously served for 17 years as an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology and Plant Bacteriology at the University of Idaho. Dr. Chun is an internationally recognized expert in bacterial identification and food borne toxins.

Dr. Chun is broadly trained in plant bacteriology, plant disease physiology, and molecular and physiological basis of disease in plants. He received his Masters degree in plant pathology from the University of Hawaii, where he developed a selective growth medium and an ELISA test for bacterial canker of tomatoes.  He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside, where he characterized a new bacterial pathogen of tomatoes and a chromosomally borne pathogenicity in genes.  He received additional training in bacterial genetics and molecular biology at the University of Missouri under Dr. A. K. Chatterjee.

Dr. Chun has guided research and discoveries in biological control, which have resulted in two patents for biological control strains and a process for producing stable formulations of dried bacteria for biological control use. He currently serves as a reviewer for several national and international journals, USDA research programs, and serves as a food borne fungal/bacterial toxin expert for the NSA Homeland Security office.  Dr. Chun has several publications, the most notable being the “Laboratory Guide for the Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria.”  Co-edited with Jeff Jones and Norm Schaad, this manual is recognized as the definitive source by bacteriologists worldwide for plant bacteriology.

57 Comments »

  1. Jan @TWOwomenANDaHOE said:

    Another great post!

    May all your gardens grow,
    Jan

    — December 6, 2011 @ 19:42

  2. Easily Move Your Plants Inside With These Tricks | Pellettieri Associates Pingback said:

    […] Urban Gardens  var addthis_product = 'wpp-250'; var addthis_append_data = […]

    — December 14, 2011 @ 14:26

  3. Mark Corbin said:

    Great tips.

    — December 22, 2011 @ 19:51

  4. Jeromeboymn said:

    alo 789: dang nh?p alo789 – alo789 dang nh?p

    — March 21, 2025 @ 10:22

  5. JamesLen said:

    reliable canadian pharmacy reviews: online canadian pharmacy no prescription – canadian pharmacy no rx needed

    — March 24, 2025 @ 04:13

  6. Georgesmush said:

    canadian mail order pharmacy: InterPharmOnline – legal to buy prescription drugs from canada

    — March 24, 2025 @ 04:36

  7. MonteLooks said:

    canadian pharmacies comparison Pharmacies in Canada that ship to the US canadianpharmacymeds com

    — March 24, 2025 @ 06:57

  8. JamesLen said:

    MexicanPharmInter: Mexican Pharm International – MexicanPharmInter

    — March 24, 2025 @ 09:28

  9. Georgesmush said:

    best canadian pharmacy: legitimate canadian pharmacies online – canada discount pharmacy

    — March 24, 2025 @ 11:04

  10. JamesLen said:

    buying prescription drugs from india: online medicine shopping in india – online pharmacy india

    — March 24, 2025 @ 15:05

  11. MonteLooks said:

    canadian pharmacy ltd online canadian pharmacy no prescription pharmacy wholesalers canada

    — March 24, 2025 @ 16:06

  12. Georgesmush said:

    india online pharmacy store: online pharmacy india – order medicines online india

    — March 24, 2025 @ 17:38

  13. JamesLen said:

    mexican pharmacy online store: Mexican Pharm Inter – buying from online mexican pharmacy

    — March 24, 2025 @ 20:45

  14. MonteLooks said:

    India Med Fast buying prescription drugs from india india online pharmacy store

    — March 25, 2025 @ 02:26

  15. JamesLen said:

    MexicanPharmInter: reliable mexican pharmacies – mexican drug stores online

    — March 25, 2025 @ 04:09

  16. JamesLen said:

    canada drug pharmacy: online canadian pharmacy no prescription – canadianpharmacy com

    — March 25, 2025 @ 11:41

  17. HowardDinly said:

    canadian pharmacy: online canadian pharmacy no prescription – certified canadian pharmacy

    — March 25, 2025 @ 12:43

  18. MonteLooks said:

    IndiaMedFast lowest prescription prices online india india online pharmacy store

    — March 25, 2025 @ 14:07

  19. JamesLen said:

    canadian pharmacy india: fda approved canadian online pharmacies – canadian pharmacy world

    — March 25, 2025 @ 19:32

  20. HowardDinly said:

    canadian pharmacy meds review: legitimate canadian pharmacies online – canada online pharmacy

    — March 25, 2025 @ 22:09

  21. DwayneReeds said:

    Cialis 20mg price TadalafilEasyBuy.com Generic Cialis price

    — March 26, 2025 @ 02:36

  22. Gregorylor said:

    buy generic 100mg viagra online: Generic100mgEasy – Generic 100mg Easy

    — March 26, 2025 @ 04:46

  23. WilliamCanda said:

    Generic 100mg Easy: Generic 100mg Easy – buy generic 100mg viagra online

    — March 26, 2025 @ 06:47

  24. Gregorylor said:

    TadalafilEasyBuy.com: Tadalafil Tablet – cialis without a doctor prescription

    — March 26, 2025 @ 10:47

  25. DwayneReeds said:

    kamagra gel kopen kamagra pillen kopen Officiele Kamagra van Nederland

    — March 26, 2025 @ 12:15

  26. WilliamCanda said:

    Generic100mgEasy: Generic100mgEasy – Generic 100mg Easy

    — March 26, 2025 @ 13:55

  27. Gregorylor said:

    Tadalafil Easy Buy: TadalafilEasyBuy.comTadalafilEasyBuy.com

    — March 26, 2025 @ 16:46

  28. WilliamCanda said:

    KamagraKopen.pro: Officiele Kamagra van Nederland – Kamagra Kopen

    — March 26, 2025 @ 21:13

  29. DwayneReeds said:

    kamagra 100mg kopen kamagra 100mg kopen KamagraKopen.pro

    — March 26, 2025 @ 21:55

  30. Gregorylor said:

    Officiele Kamagra van Nederland: kamagra jelly kopen – Officiele Kamagra van Nederland

    — March 26, 2025 @ 23:14

  31. WilliamCanda said:

    buy generic 100mg viagra online: buy Viagra online – buy generic 100mg viagra online

    — March 27, 2025 @ 03:54

  32. Gregorylor said:

    TadalafilEasyBuy.com: Cialis 20mg price – cialis without a doctor prescription

    — March 27, 2025 @ 06:59

  33. DwayneReeds said:

    Kamagra Kopen Online kamagra kopen nederland Officiele Kamagra van Nederland

    — March 27, 2025 @ 09:43

  34. WilliamCanda said:

    cialis without a doctor prescription: Tadalafil Easy Buy – cialis without a doctor prescription

    — March 27, 2025 @ 09:54

  35. Gregorylor said:

    TadalafilEasyBuy.com: Buy Tadalafil 10mg – Tadalafil Easy Buy

    — March 27, 2025 @ 14:31

  36. WilliamCanda said:

    cialis without a doctor prescription: Tadalafil Easy Buy – Buy Tadalafil 10mg

    — March 27, 2025 @ 15:17

  37. WilliamCanda said:

    Generic Viagra online: buy generic 100mg viagra online – Generic100mgEasy

    — March 27, 2025 @ 20:35

  38. DwayneReeds said:

    cialis without a doctor prescription TadalafilEasyBuy.com TadalafilEasyBuy.com

    — March 27, 2025 @ 21:11

  39. Gregorylor said:

    buy generic 100mg viagra online: viagra canada – Generic100mgEasy

    — March 27, 2025 @ 21:41

  40. WilliamCanda said:

    buy generic 100mg viagra online: Generic 100mg Easy – Generic100mgEasy

    — March 28, 2025 @ 02:02

  41. Gregorylor said:

    Generic100mgEasy: Generic 100mg Easy – Generic100mgEasy

    — March 28, 2025 @ 04:49

  42. WilliamCanda said:

    Generic 100mg Easy: Generic 100mg Easy – Generic 100mg Easy

    — March 28, 2025 @ 08:20

  43. DwayneReeds said:

    Tadalafil Easy Buy Cialis over the counter cialis without a doctor prescription

    — March 28, 2025 @ 08:39

  44. Gregorylor said:

    kamagra gel kopen: KamagraKopen.pro – Kamagra Kopen

    — March 28, 2025 @ 11:44

  45. WilliamCanda said:

    TadalafilEasyBuy.com: TadalafilEasyBuy.com – cialis without a doctor prescription

    — March 28, 2025 @ 16:07

  46. Gregorylor said:

    TadalafilEasyBuy.com: cialis without a doctor prescription – cialis without a doctor prescription

    — March 28, 2025 @ 18:30

  47. DwayneReeds said:

    kamagra jelly kopen Kamagra Kopen kamagra 100mg kopen

    — March 28, 2025 @ 19:44

  48. JamesJup said:

    ??? ?? ?????? ??????? – ??? ?? ??????

    — March 28, 2025 @ 23:45

  49. WilliamWON said:

    ??? ?? ???? – ??? ?? ?????? ??????????? ????

    — March 29, 2025 @ 02:59

  50. JamesJup said:

    ??? ?? ???? – ??? ?? ????

    — March 29, 2025 @ 05:50

  51. DwayneReeds said:

    Tadalafil Easy Buy Tadalafil Easy Buy Tadalafil Easy Buy

    — March 29, 2025 @ 09:41

  52. JamesJup said:

    ??? ?? ??????? – ??? ?? ????

    — March 29, 2025 @ 12:18

  53. WilliamWON said:

    ??? ?? ?????? ??????? – ??? ??

    — March 29, 2025 @ 15:17

  54. JamesJup said:

    ??? ?? ?????? ??????????? ???? – ????? ??????

    — March 29, 2025 @ 18:47

  55. WilliamWON said:

    ??? ?? ?????? ??????? – ??? ?? ?????? ??????????? ????

    — March 29, 2025 @ 21:26

  56. DwayneReeds said:

    Kamagra Kopen kamagra kopen nederland kamagra gel kopen

    — March 29, 2025 @ 23:46

  57. JamesJup said:

    ??? ?? ?????? ??????????? ???? – ??? ??

    — March 30, 2025 @ 01:07

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

The freshest innovative and eco-friendly designs, trends, and ideas for urban gardens and stylish small places.

Visit Robin Horton @UrbanGardens's profile on Pinterest.

Discover more from Urban Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading