The following article from Gardening Know How provides lots of guidance on how to help you safely transition your tropical house plants back indoors from their summer outdoor location.

“Figuring out how to bring an outdoor plant inside without bugs is easy and keeps your house from turning into a pest party. Nobody wants aphids or spider mites all over the place. A few quick steps before moving plants indoors stops trouble. It’s not hard, but you’ve got to do it right.

Timing and checking for bugs matter. Pests hide in leaves or dirt, so you need a plan. Not sure when to move plants? It is a good idea to get familiar with knowing when to bring plants indoors after summer to keep your plants as healthy as possible.

We’ll run through spotting bugs, cleaning plants, and using a homemade spray for plants before bringing them indoors. Get it done, and your plants come in clean. Let’s dive in!”

Best Time to Move Plants to Avoid Bugs

“It is best to move your outdoor houseplants back indoors in late summer or early fall. Think September or early October. Most bugs slow down when it gets cooler which makes them easier to spot and stop. Don’t wait for frost. Cold-stressed plants pull in more pests.

Pick a dry day with temperatures around 50 to 60 F (10 C to 16 C). You’ll see the plant better and will be able to clean it more easily. Moving plants too late, when bugs are hunting for warm spots, means extra hassle. Time it right, and you’re halfway there.

Check houseplants closely before bringing them inside. Look under the leaves of your houseplants. Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies love hiding there. Spot sticky stuff or tiny webs on the leaves and stems? That’s a red flag. Stems and soil might have scale or mealybugs.

Grab a magnifying glass and shake the plant over a piece of white paper. Bugs fall off and show up clear, but your handy magnifier can help you spot them. Don’t rush this process. Missing pests now means trouble in your house later.”

How to Remove Bugs

“Finding bugs? Hit them quick. Blast the plant with a hose to knock off aphids or spider mites. Aim for leaf undersides and stem corners. Stubborn pests like scale can be treated with a dab from a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Pick off big bugs like caterpillars by hand. And snip of leaves that have been infested with eggs or larvae. Be sure to toss them in the trash. Use hand pruners/secateurs and be sure to clean the tools between plants so you don’t spread any pests or diseases. Check your outdoor houseplants every day for a week to catch any stragglers.”

Homemade Insecticide Spray

“A homemade insecticidal spray for plants before bringing indoors is a cheap way to zap pests. Mix a tablespoon of mild dish soap with a quart of water in a spray bottle. Toss in a teaspoon of neem oil for extra kick.

Spray the whole plant. Get leaves, stems, and the top of your soil. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with clean water. Do this in the morning so the plant dries by night. Hit it every few days for a week to kill any stragglers.

Bugs hide in soil, so don’t skip this part. Scrape off the top inch of dirt and replace it with fresh potting mix.

If you have found pests in the soil, it is a good idea to clean the pot, too. Scrub it with soapy water and a brush to get rid of dirt or pest eggs. Then soak the pot in a 1-to-10 bleach-water mix for 10 minutes. Give it a rinse and dry it well before adding new soil and repotting your houseplant.

A good clean will ensure there are no hitchhikers coming back inside with your potted plants.”

Quarantine Moved Plants

“Even after cleaning, keep newly moved plants separate. Put them in a spare room for 2 to 4 weeks. A bathroom or garage works fine. Keep it around 60 to 70 F (16 C to 21 C). Check for bugs every day.

Don’t let these plants touch your other houseplants. Water lightly and keep look for yellow leaves or sticky spots. See pests? Hit them with the insecticidal soap spray again. This step stops an infestation from wrecking your indoor garden.

Bringing outdoor plants inside without bugs is no big deal if you take a few extra minutes to plant it out. Your plants will stay happy, and your house stays bug-free.”

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