October 30, 2009, Newsletter Issue #417: Prepare Indoor Plants For Winter

Tip of the Week

If you have plants you will be bringing indoors or putting into a greenhouse to overwinter, now is a good time to start preparing them for the move. Check to see if your plants are root bound. If so, you will want to pot them up. You can also trim their roots and put them back in the same pot.


When potting a plant up, choose a pot that is one size larger than the pot the plant is already growing in. Add new soil to the bottom of the pot, then remove the plant from the old pot. If the roots are circling around the soil, gently pry them apart. Feel free to gently remove some of the old soil around the sides and the bottom of the plant. This will help free the roots making it easier for them to find their way into the new soil. If you wish to keep the plant in the same pot, you can trim the roots back, add some new soil and repot it.


When repotting a plant you may want to trim the tops up. This will enable the plant roots to establish themselves more easily since they will not be trying to use up all their energy to keep the foliage alive. In addition it will make your plant bushier which will lead to more flowers and fruits.


Look for signs of insects as you are insecting your plants. If you see them, deal with them now. I strong spray from a garden hose may be all you need. Some insects may need to be removed by hand, such as Japanese beetles.


If you are digging plants out of the ground to bring indoors, do it at least four weeks before you intend to bring them in. This will give them time to establish themselves in a pot before they are moved indoors.


Making sure your plants are in tip top health before moving them indoors for the winter will help your plants survive the long, cool, dark days of winter that lie ahead.

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