If you have ever wondered what plants you should try saving and how-to store them until spring….this post is for you!
Before you bring a single plant inside consider this:
I just cut back all my hibiscus plants, the branches got too big and the shape was getting unsightly. Besides, I’m hoping they’ll go dormant for a bit.
One bush was so root-bound that the water just ran off the pot and it had to get watered nearly every day. Clearly, it was time to go up to the next sized pot with some high quality potting mix.
Options of what you can do with your plants….
- Bring them inside and find a suitable spot with enough light, water and humidity according to their needs
- Compost pile/turn over in soil of garden bed
- Gift to friends/neighbors
- Keep outside in a pot (perennials perhaps) and store up against the house or other outbuilding. You can even bubble wrap the container for extra warmth.
- Toss in garbage
- Put up “free” on Craigslist
- Store in basement and garage and let them go dormant for a spell (fingers crossed!)
- I suppose selling really nice plants could be an option. But I can’t bring myself to do it! After all, gardeners are some of the most generous people I know!
Plant questions to ask yourself….
- Will you be willing and able to care for all those plants in the house? Think weekly if not daily watering and fertilizing routines.
- Can you provide adequate lighting from your windows or will you have to purchase some grow lights?
- How humid is your house? Do you run humidifiers? Do you have ample floor space to group plants together to increase that humidity?
- Do your plants shed? Do leaf droppings create a mess on the floor? Do you have to vacuum the leaves and mop up water spillage from drainage holes? Do you have enough saucers to prevent such leakage?
- Is taking care of houseplants satisfying and fun or have some plants just become a burden?
- Do you go away for long periods of time in winter and have to “hire out” to take care of plants?
- How does your spouse/people you live with feel about the plants in your dwelling? (I’m being serious here…Tom finally bulked when we hit 7 huge hibiscus bushes inside our not so huge home that shed everywhere.)
Insider plant tip:
Make sure you know which is it before you end up tossing a plant you actually still had feelings for.
It might be time to find a new place to house that plant that still inspires you!
Some plants don’t need to be brought in at all…
Your hens and chicks may be succulents, but these cold hardy succulents can take the cold, too.
I plan on leaving mine up against a brick wall letting them go dormant until spring.
Creating space for all your indoor plants…
I like to dedicate the first week of October getting organized. Now is a great time to donate items we’re not using and won’t miss to create space for plants we cherish.
Plants should enhance your living quarters making life more relaxing. If all they do is make you feel claustrophobic, there’s a problem. And I’ve been there. Where plants have taken over every square inch of my house.
4 facts to think about…
Where to put all those plants!
- Installing floating walls shelves might be a great place to house a few potted plants that you’d like to winterize. Save space by using shelving and going vertical. Do you know how many plants you can cram on a shelf?
- Hooks. Install a few hooks in convenient places around your home that keep those plants off the floor (saving space) and add yet another vertical dimension to your decor.
- I have a piano and the top of it gets lots of sun. Stroll about your house and be open-minded about where to place plants. As long as it gets the light it requires, go for it!
- Your kitchen countertops. I “get” that the kitchen countertop is where food prep happens. But surely you have space for 1 or 2 plants….if not 3 like me! And I bet your kitchen windowsill is stacked with sun-loving plants.
- On top of your file cabinet. Put a plant there so that clutter doesn’t accumulate.
- Your console table. Again, put a plant where clutter would otherwise take center stage.
- On top of your dryer. Yep. You read that right. Every flat surface that gets a good amount of sun is fair game for a plant proposition.
- Use every room available. Why not store a few ferns or even that snake plant in the bedroom? Not only will they add visual interest but it’s healthy to do so. Orchids in the bathroom? We do it! And they love the humidity!
Categories of plants to consider saving….
Why? It’s a big money-making business for them! While it’s true that most of our homes aren’t ideal for sun and humidity-loving plants; that doesn’t mean they won’t make it through the winter.
My lemon trees and hibiscus plants have been with me numerous years now and are still thriving. Sure, they take a dip in winter but always bounce back in spring.
2.) Herbs – Tarragon? Rosemary? Sage? Oregano? These herbs make great indoor plants. And if you cook a ton like me, you need fresh herbs all winter long because you know what they cost at the grocery store in winter. Mortgage payment.
How about in a little pot on your kitchen windowsill? These hardy herbs over-winter super well, too. You’ll be able to take out in the spring, especially if you trim them back.
Besides starting oregano, tarragon and rosemary from seed? Forget it. Too hard! Mine never take.
Basil from seed. Yes. Cilantro from seed. Absolutely. Parsley. Yes. Yes. Yes. But I’ve never been able to over-winter these much loved herbs in my home. So I use this and it changed my world.
4.) Annuals – Some container annuals are too dang cute to let go. And if they work as a houseplant, why not give it a go?
It seems a shame to just let that first hard frost destroy a plant that has been your pride and joy all summer long.
I’m thinking about your coleus here. And how about digging up those adorable begonias and putting a few in a pot? Maybe saving just one lobelia that is doing fantastic to cheer you in a month?
Although most geraniums are considered annuals, I have found them incredibly easy to overwinter indoors. I shouldn’t admit this, but I bring my hanging basket geraniums in, throw them in the basement all winter and neglect them. Maybe I water them 4 times from November to April?
And how to they repay me? They bounce back come spring and I get another season of enjoyment out of them. Who-hoo.
Insider tip ~ “Plant shock” is real!
Don’t let them get used to cold nights and then shock them with the dry heat of your living room. To make the transition as gradual as possible, keep your heat off and windows open for as long as you can.
Try to not let them go from full-sun to no sun. If you still have weeks on your radar before they need to be housed indoors, allow them only dappled light for a spell.
Try placing them under a curtain which will acclimate them to less light in your home than they’d been receiving outdoors.
Best example? Ficus plants. They drop all their leaves the moment you move them.
Cats love plants, too!
Their furry butts enjoy plant crashing so make sure you have some sturdy stools to place them on. Dirt on carpet….no fun!
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