All plants benefit from a bit of time outside in the fresh air, and indoor houseplants are no exception! But when to bring houseplants in for winter? It can be tricky to know exactly when to do it – and you might risk damaging your plants if you don’t do it early enough.
Although every plant is different, there are some general guidelines you should follow, to maximise their outdoor time without damaging them.
What You'll Learn Today
When To Bring Houseplants In For Winter?
It is nice to put houseplants outdoors in warm weather, to maximise the light they get and allow them to feel the wind on their leaves.
However, you will have to pay attention to the weather and bring them in before it gets cold enough to do away with them!
- When the temperature starts dipping below 12-15C/55-60F, you should really consider bringing your houseplants in for the winter.
- Some plants can cope with the cold until the first frosts start, but the majority of houseplants like to be warmer than this.
- If you have a young plant, or one that has suffered health issues, it should be brought in sooner, to protect it from stress.
- Plants that have spent the summer outside can harbor bugs – sink each pot into warm water for 15 minutes to make sure you have drowned anything that has taken up residence.
- Now is a good time to repot your plants too; they will recover much better when they are tucked up safe and warm inside, and will reward you with strong growth the following year.
- Place your plants where they will get plenty of sunlight; near a window is a great spot. However, don’t let them touch the glass which will get even colder.
- If you leave it a bit late and your plants get caught by the frost, they can still be saved – bring them in, keep them warm, remove dead leaves – and hope!
How Do You Move Plants Indoors In The Winter?
If you’re lucky, this should be as simple as lifting the pots and transferring them from outside to inside.
If they are too big then you might have to enlist some help, or a wheelbarrow. You will need to find a good sized space to store larger plants, so bear this in mind!
You will need to pick the best spot for your plants before you move them – this should be somewhere warm, with as much natural light as possible.
If you have a warm conservatory or a large window, this is an ideal spot for plants to spend the winter.
They will be happy near radiators and heat sources too, as long as they still get some natural light from outside.
Make sure you have made allowances for having plants in the house, such as placing them on trays or plates to catch the water runoff.
You might have to move some furniture around if you have larger plants that take up a lot of space.
It may seem like a bit of a faff, but keeping your plants alive during the winter months will reward you in the following year.
Where Do I Put My Plants In The Winter?
If you don’t have a greenhouse or an orangery, some of your plants will need to be kept indoors during the coldest months – but where do you store your forest?
- The best place for your plants to come indoors to is somewhere warm. Your plants will not like getting too cold, just like you!
- You can place them in warm rooms, or by radiators, or on top of the fridge freezer, to ensure they are getting as much warmth as possible.
- Next, ensure they have as much sunlight as possible. Plants need the sun’s rays in order to grow, so try to find them the sunniest spot.
- This could be by a window, in a conservatory, or even in the porch as long as it is warm enough.
- Keep your plants away from damp areas. They will not need as much moisture in the winter, so avoid areas that catch the drips!
- Overwatering can actually cause your plants to wither and die, so this is to be avoided at all costs.
- Don’t place your plants touching the windows, especially if you have single glazing. Touching the cold glass can seriously damage your plant’s delicate leaves!
Once you have found a good spot where your plants seem to thrive, the best thing you can do is leave them in peace – not too much watering and disturbance.
How Cold Is Too Cold For Houseplants?
Most houseplants are of the type that likes to be kept warm in general, so their temperature requirements will be greater than outdoor plants.
Most houseplants will be fine until the temperature drops to around 10 degrees C/ 50 degrees F.
If your plants get much colder than this they can suffer with problems such as:
- Leaf curl. If the plant gets stressed, it’s leaves are the first to let you know! The leaves may wilt, curl, and even drop off.
- Stunted growth. A plant that is too cold will not be able to grow properly, and this can even continue into the following growing season.
- Wilting. When the plant is stressed from trying to keep warm, it won’t be able to keep itself and its leaves healthy.
- Infestation. A plant that is weak will not be able to survive the attacks from bugs, pests and diseases, so it is important it stays warm enough to be strong.
- Death. In extreme cases, a plant can die from being too cold. This is especially true of plants that generally like warmer temperatures.
Giving your houseplants a taste of the fresh air is a great thing, but you don’t want to overdo it and let them get caught out by an early frost.
Final Words
When to bring houseplants in for the winter? Hopefully now you know, you can keep them protected! Looking to learn more? Check out our guide about plant care during the winter time.
I accidentally left my houseplant out during a frost. Will it survive?
Depending on the plant, you may or may not be able to save it. Bring it in straight away, and remove any wilting or dead leaves that have been damaged by the frost. Keep it warm and keep an eye on it – and hold off on the watering until it starts to perk up.