Author Archives: Di Smith

Tips for Bringing Outdoor Plants Indoors for the Winter

Kamloops Garden Club Posted on by

When you move your tropical plants back inside for winter you don’t want to bring any unwanted pests along with them.   A few smart steps – timed right and done carefully – will keep aphids, spiders mites, whiteflies, and other hitchhikers from settling into your indoor garden.  Planning ahead will ensure your plants come in clean, healthy, and ready for the season ahead.

Best Time to Move Plants Indoors

Late summer to early fall is the sweet spot — September to early October. As temperatures dip to 10–16°C (50–60°F) , pests slow down, making them easier to spot and remove. Don’t wait for frost; cold‑stressed plants attract more pests and are harder to clean.

Before you move anything:

  • Inspect leaves — especially the undersides — for aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, or sticky residue.
  • Check stems and soil for scale or mealybugs.
  • Shake the plant over a sheet of white paper to reveal tiny moving specks.
  • Use a magnifying glass to catch anything hiding in crevices.

Taking your time here prevents headaches later.

Spider Mite Damage Is This Spider Mite Damage? : R/dahlias

 How to Remove Bugs Before Bringing Plants Inside

If you spot pests, act quickly and thoroughly.

  • Hose rinse: Spray the plant outdoors, focusing on leaf undersides and tight stem angles. This knocks off mites, aphids, and other soft‑bodied pests.
  • Alcohol swab: Dab stubborn scale or mealybugs with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
  • Hand removal: Pick off caterpillars or larger insects. Remove leaves with eggs or larvae and toss them in the trash.
  • Tool hygiene: Clean pruners between plants to avoid spreading pests or disease.
  • Insecticidal Spray: Spray plants thoroughly.  Repeat treatment every other day for one week.  You can prepare your own spray or buy a commercial product such as Safer’s End All

Check the plant daily for a week. Catching stragglers now prevents indoor infestations.

Homemade Insecticidal Spray

A simple, inexpensive spray helps finish the job.

Mix in a spray bottle:

  • 1 tablespoon mild dish soap
  • 1 liter/quart water

Spray the entire plant — leaves, stems, and the top layer of soil. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with clean water. Repeat every few days for a week.

Don’t forget the soil

Pests hide in the top inch of potting mix. Scrape it off and replace with fresh soil.

If pests were present in the soil, clean the pot:

  • Scrub with warm, soapy water
  • Soak in a 1:10 bleach solution for 10 minutes
  • Rinse and dry before repotting

This step ensures no hidden eggs or larvae make the trip indoors.

You can also lightly sprinkle diatomaceous earth on top of dry soil, ensuring even coverage around the base of the plant.  Wear a mask and goggles when handling DE to avoid inhaling fine dust.

Quarantine Newly Moved Plants

Even after cleaning, keep plants separate for 2–4 weeks.

Place them in a spare room, bathroom, or garage at 16–21°C, (60–70°F).

Check daily for:

  • Yellowing leaves
  • Sticky residue
  • Webbing
  • Tiny moving dots

If pests appear, treat again with insecticidal soap. Keeping plants isolated prevents a single missed bug from spreading through your indoor collection.

 A Smooth, Bug‑Free Transition

Bringing outdoor plants inside doesn’t have to be stressful. With good timing, careful inspection, and a few simple cleaning steps, your plants stay healthy — and your home stays pest‑free. A little preparation now means a thriving indoor garden all winter long.

October in the Kamloops Garden

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October is the month when Kamloops finally cools, soils stay workable, and winter prep becomes the name of the game.  Here are some suggestions for your fall garden tasks.  Protecting Roses & Tender Plants Grafted roses — Before the ground freezes, mound 12 inches of soil around the canes so the graft is fully covered. Hardy/own‑root roses — These don’t … Continue reading →

Echinacea: A Reliable Late‑Summer Performer in Kamloops

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Echinacea (coneflower) is one of the most dependable perennials for Kamloops gardens. It thrives in our hot, dry summers, offering wide daisy‑like petals and raised centres that shine from July into early fall. With a little late‑season attention, it can keep blooming just when the rest of the garden begins to wind down. Beyond their colour, echinacea flowers play an … Continue reading →

Dividing Hostas in Late Summer

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By late summer in the Kamloops area, hostas have finished most of their leaf and flower production. As days shorten and nights cool, top growth naturally slows — the perfect window for dividing hostas so they can focus on root establishment before winter.  Best Timing  Aim to divide late August through late September. Hostas root well in cool soil, but … Continue reading →

September in the Garden: What to Do Before Frost Arrives

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September is one of the most productive—and forgiving—months in a Kamloops garden. Cooler nights, warm days, and soil that still holds summer heat make it ideal for planting, dividing, cleaning up, and preparing for winter.  Planting & Dividing Spring bulbs — Plant hardy bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, and crocus. Choose large, firm bulbs, add a bulb fertilizer, and water … Continue reading →

Rock Garden Design Ideas

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Rock Garden Design Every Kamloops yard has a dry, awkward corner where nothing thrives — baked by summer heat, starved of moisture, and often full of gravelly, alkaline soil. A rock garden turns that “dead space” into a deliberate, drought‑smart feature using stone, gravel, and plants that love Kamloops conditions. Anchor with One Strong Boulder Start with a single boulder … Continue reading →

Deadheading Hydrangeas in Late Summer

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Hydrangeas are among the most beloved shrubs in Kamloops gardens, offering months of spectacular color from late spring well into fall. As summer winds down, those once‑vibrant blooms begin to fade—and this is when one of the simplest but most important hydrangea care tasks comes into play: deadheading.   Deadheading in late summer keeps your hydrangeas looking fresh, helps them conserve … Continue reading →

Drought‑Resistant Plants for Kamloops Gardens

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Creating Beautiful, Resilient Landscapes in a Semi‑Arid Climate Kamloops gardeners know better than most that summer heat can be relentless. With long stretches of hot, dry weather and increasingly common water restrictions, choosing plants that thrive in drought conditions isn’t just practical — it’s essential. Fortunately, many beautiful, hardy plants are perfectly suited to our semi‑arid valley climate. This guide … Continue reading →

August in the Garden

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Heat Management, Harvest Abundance, and Preparing for Fall August in Kamloops is hot, dry, and often smoky. Gardens need steady care to stay productive and healthy. This is the month to keep watering consistent, harvest generously, and begin subtle transitions toward fall.  Fruits & Vegetables Water deeply and consistently — Continue long soakings every 3–4 days. Drip irrigation or soaker … Continue reading →

Deadheading Basics — Why It Matters, and When to Do It

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Keeping Blooms Coming in a Hot, Dry Climate Deadheading — removing spent flowers — is one of the easiest ways to keep your garden blooming beautifully. In Kamloops’ dry heat, intense sun, and fast-draining soils, deadheading becomes even more valuable. It helps plants conserve energy, stay tidy, and continue producing fresh flowers through long summer stretches. Quick tip: Deadhead in … Continue reading →