Moving Day
Get ready. Get set. Go rescue your plants from the chilly temperatures
Image courtesy istockphoto
If you're moving your outdoor furniture inside for winter, you'll want to include the houseplants you brought out in the spring.
But unlike folding chairs and tables you can gather up at the first sighting of a snowflake, plants should resettle gradually, say garden experts. Plants need time to adjust to a change in sunlight, temperature and humidity - allowing plants to acclimate to their indoor habitat will reduce leaf drop-off.
"When you bring plants in, think about what you did when you brought them out [in the spring], hardening them by bringing them out a few hours at a time," says Charlie Nardozzi, senior horticulturist, National Gardening Association, South Burlington Vt.
If you haven't started yet, now is the time to begin reversing the process - set plants inside the house in the evening and take them out in the morning. Gradually increase the indoor hours, says Nardozzi.
You can also help plants make the transition by setting them in a shady location outdoors for a week or two, then moving them inside for the cold-weather months, says Rosie Lerner, extension consumer horticulture specialist, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
If you planted houseplants directly in the ground, dig them up and pot them now. Use a good potting soil, not dirt from the garden. You can also pot and transplant annual herbs, such as parsley and basil, and extend their life for another month.
Despite a well-paced change of scenery, many plants do experience some shock. Plants grow larger leaves when basking in the sun. When deprived of that sun, some of the leaves will yellow and drop.
"The light intensity is lower indoors. It's difficult [for the plant] to sustain larger leaves with lower light," says Lerner.
But don't be overly concerned - the plant isn't necessarily in trouble. As the plant adjusts to the change of light it grows smaller leaves, says Nardozzi. And, don't react by over-watering or fertilizing. "The plant will become leggy and develop long stems," Nardozzi says. Instead, let the plant rest.
"Maintain homeostasis until March. Then the days get longer and you can pick up the pace," says Nardozzi.
Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
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