Many people choose to bring their houseplants outside during the summer to bask in the sunshine and humidity… but, how do you bring plants back indoors without the bugs!?
In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to debug plants to bring indoors for the winter, step-by-step.
Summer is a wonderful time for growing plants. Indoor plants really benefit from being outside for a change but, when fall comes and it’s time to bring your houseplants inside for the winter, things can get ugly.
Two things that will help you avoid major problems with your plants later on are knowing when to bring houseplants inside, and also how to bring plants indoors without bugs.
It’s important to take a few steps to ensure the transition is painless for both you and your plants, and avoid bringing bugs and houseplant pests indoors.
When To Bring Plants Inside
One of the most common questions I get from readers is when should I bring my plants inside for the winter?
You should bring your plants inside before nighttime temperatures dip below 60°F (15.5°C). Anything below 50°F (10°C) can cause damage to tender houseplants.
So plan to start bringing your houseplants back inside several weeks before cooler weather hits in the fall.
If indoor plants are left outside for too long, cold weather could trigger them to drop their leaves.
Or worse, it could kill the plant.
Plus, the transition of bringing outdoor plants inside will be more of a shock to them if they are left outside too long when the weather starts to cool down in the fall.
A good rule of thumb for when to bring houseplants in for winter is at least two weeks before your average first frost date.
Tips For Bringing Plants Inside For Winter
If you have a lot of houseplants growing outdoors, I recommend bringing plants back indoors in small batches.
Trying to do a marathon weekend of debugging and moving plants back inside can be very stressful and exhausting for you (and hard on your back!).
Trust me, I know.
Also, if you discover that a houseplant is pot-bound, repot it into a larger container before moving it inside. That way the mess will stay outside.
Debugging and cleaning potted plants before bringing them back inside is a crucial step to avoid houseplant bug problems.
Aphids, mealybugs and other types of houseplant insect pests aren’t normally a problem when potted indoor plants are outside.
But they can quickly turn into a major infestation during the winter if they are brought inside on your houseplants.
How To Debug Plants To Bring Indoors – Step-by-Step
Debugging and cleaning potted plants before bringing them inside for the winter sounds harder than it really is.
There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your houseplants are bug-free before bringing them back indoors in the fall.
(Caution: Only use this method to debug plants that are growing in pots with drainage holes! For those without drainage holes, follow my tips for debugging a plant that’s too large to soak below.)
Supplies Needed:
- Large utility tub
- Mild liquid soap
- Large kitchen strainer
- Flower pot scrub brush
- Spray bottle
- Neem oil
- Wash bucket
- Old towels
Step 1: Fill tub with soapy water – Fill your large utility tub with tepid water, and your wash bucket with warm water, and add a few squirts of a mild liquid soap to each as you’re filling them.
I want to stress using a mild liquid soap. Be sure not to use any soaps that contain degreasers or detergents. Those can damage (or even kill) sensitive plants.
Step 2: Put plants into the water and soak them – To kill any bugs on houseplants, soak the whole plant, pot and all, in the tub of water for about 15-20 minutes.
The soapy water will kill any bugs that are on the plant or in the soil.
Step 3: Clean plant leaves that are not submerged – If any of the leaves aren’t completely covered by the water, use an organic insecticidal soap to clean the plant leaves that are sticking out of the water.
My recipe for DIY insecticidal soap is 1 tsp of mild liquid soap per 1 liter of water in my spray bottle. If you don’t want to mix your own, you can buy an organic insecticidal soap instead.
Tip: When you put the plants into the water, dead leaves, bugs and other debris will float to the top. So remove all the floating pieces you can before removing your plants to keep them nice and clean.
I use a wide kitchen strainer to skim all the debris off the top of the water before removing the plants from the tub.
Step 4: Remove plants and scrub the pots clean – After soaking your plants, pull them out of the tub and scrub each pot with a scrub brush to clean it (here’s the one I have Flower Pot Bristle Brush).
Step 5: Give the plant and pot a good rinse – Once you’re done cleaning your plant and the pot, rinse the whole plant and the pot thoroughly with the hose to get all the soap and dirt off.
Step 6: Allow the water to drain completely – Set the clean plants aside and allow all the water to completely drain from the pots before moving the plants back indoors.
Step 7: Remove all the dead leaves and other debris floating on top of the water (using your trusty kitchen strainer) before soaking another batch of plants.
Step 8: Bring your plants back inside – Now that your plants have been debugged and all of the excess water has drained out the bottoms of the pots, you can move them back inside.
Once you have them put back into their indoor spot and ready for winter, be sure to allow the soil to dry before watering them again to make sure you’re not over watering them.
Benefits Of Soaking Plants In Soapy Water To Kill Bugs
Of course the main benefit of soaking houseplants in soapy water before bringing them back indoors is killing all the bugs, but there are a few other benefits too.
This method for debugging and cleaning potted plants is great because now your houseplants will get a good watering before you bring them back indoors!
That means you won’t have the added step of watering all of your houseplants once they’re inside (you’re welcome!).
Another added benefit of soaking plants in water is that all the dead leaves and other debris will float to the top, making it easy to discard.
Your plants and their pots will look sparkling clean too, probably cleaner than they’ve ever been. It feels great to have such clean, healthy looking plants, and it’s good for the plants too!
But wait, what about houseplants that are too large to fit into a tub to soak?
Debugging Large Plants To Bring Indoors
Soaking houseplants in soapy water is great for small to medium sized potted plants, but I have several that are too large for this method. So, instead I use a modified version…
I wash the plant leaves and the stem of the entire plant with soapy water (using the same mild liquid soap I use for soaking plants), and then rinse it off thoroughly using the garden hose.
Once the leaves are clean, I spray the whole plant with neem oil. (some houseplants are more sensitive than others, so be sure to test any type of spray on a few leaves before spraying the whole plant)
Tips For Controlling Houseplant Pests
Keep in mind that even if you go through all the steps to debug and clean your houseplants before you bring them indoors, you can still have problems with plant pests.
Mealybugs are especially tricky because they can live for several months without a host plant, and hide in tiny cracks and crevices.
So, if you find any plant bugs after bringing houseplants inside for winter, you could spray the infested plant with a Neem oil solution, or try a pre-mixed organic horticultural oil.
Yellow houseplant sticky stakes work great on flying pests like fungus gnats and whiteflies, and are also non-toxic.
I recommend using these all-natural products to kill plant bugs because they work better than the synthetic ones.
Plus, I’m sure you don’t want to spray any toxic chemical pesticides in your house. To learn more, read about my natural pest control home remedies for houseplants.
FAQs
In this section, I’ll answer a few of the most commonly asked questions I get about debugging plants before bringing them back inside. If you can’t find an answer to your question, then ask it in the comments section below.
What do I spray on plants before bringing them indoors?
You can spray your plants with a neem oil solution, use an organic insecticidal soap, or make your own by mixing 1 teaspoon mild liquid soap with 1 liter of water. I highly recommend testing any type of spray on a few leaves before treating the whole plant to make sure it won’t cause any damage.
What time of year should I bring my plants inside?
You should bring your plants inside in late summer or early fall before the nighttime temperatures drop below 60°F (15.5°C), which is usually about 2-3 weeks before your average first frost date.
Can I use Dawn or Ivory soap to soak my plants?
I personally have never used Dawn soap to soak my plants, but have had success with Ivory in the past. But you have to be careful because these brands can contain detergent, and some also contain degreasers. Detergents and degreasers can harm, or even kill, sensitive plants.
I use and recommend Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild, which has no additives. That being said, I have heard from readers who have used the other brands with no problem at all.
But my answer to this question is always the same. Whether you’re asking about Ivory or Dawn (or any other brand)… you should test any type of soap on your plants before soaking them, to make sure there’s no damage.
Will your debugging method kill bugs and eggs in houseplant soil?
Yes, soaking your plants in soapy water should kill any bugs or eggs that are living in the soil too. Sometimes there can be air pockets in the soil where they can survive though.
So if you’re concerned, then soak them a little longer. Also, gently tap the pot after it has finished bubbling to try to release any extra air trapped in there.
How do you debug plants that are in pots without drainage holes?
To debug plants that are in pots without drainage holes you can wash the leaves with soapy water or insecticidal soap and rinse them off well after. Then you can spray the leaves with neem oil. But always be sure to test these treatments on a few leaves before spraying the whole plant.
Debugging potted plants before bringing them back indoors is a critical first step in indoor plant pest prevention.
This method of soaking houseplants in soapy water to get rid of the bugs works great for most types of plants, and will help to make sure you bring outdoor plants inside without bugs. Learn more by watching my web story video here.
Trust me, starting the long winter off with clean and healthy houseplants will make indoor plant care SO MUCH easier for you! But, if you do end up with an infestation, then learn about how to get rid of houseplant bugs here.
If you’re looking for more help for how to keep bugs off plants, my Houseplant Pest Control eBook is an essential guide to help you debug your houseplants for good! Download your copy today!
More Posts About Houseplant Pest Control
- Where Do Houseplant Pests Come From?
- How To Use Neem Oil Insecticide On Plants
- Fungus Gnats vs Fruit Flies: What’s The Difference?
- How To Keep Cats Out Of Houseplants
How do you debug plants before bringing them in for the winter? Share your tips in the comments section below.
Eileen says
I don’t have a large bucket like that. If I get one, I still can’t fill it with a hose. I live in an apartment and would not be able to fill the bucket with a hose or rinse the plants with a hose. Do you have any tips for those steps?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Follow the steps I outlined in the section about debugging larger plants if you can’t soak yours.
Judy says
Try the bath tub. Easy to fill, easy to drain, easy to clean and disinfect.
New to this says
Will soaking dissolve all the soil from the pot into muddy water, and will have to repot with all new soil
Tx
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your plants have been in their pots for a while, then no, the soil will not float to the top. Just leaves and other small debris will float out, which is nice because it helps clean the plants and pots. However, if it’s a plant that you just repotted, then yes, the soil could float out.
New to this says
Thanks! I will try this 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Anita R Oortwyn says
Can I use the soap water that I made and spray it on the plant when it is indoors for the winter if I see bugs on it ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can use the same sprays I recommend in this article to treat you plants once they’re indoors because they are organic. Here’s a detailed article that will help you out… How To Get Rid Of Bugs On Houseplants.
Kim R says
Thank you for giving me the courage to submerge my succulents for so long. I was using less adequate means before. Flies, ants and aphids are no fun in the house!
I’m halfway through this year’s “Bring Them In” project. Thanks to the sudden generation of a green thumb after 40 years of killing the majority of my summer accumulations, I have more than 90 pots, mostly containing propagated succulents only a few month old.
I’m allergic to Neem oil, unfortunately. For my soap I use Murphy Oil, 1 tbsp to 1 gallon of water. It doesn’t harm the succulents, begonias, or even my orchids. It has no real effect on spiders or worms, but seems to work on the ants, aphids, etc. Or at least they float to the surface, and I don’t seem to have a problem in the house during the winter. This is the third year I’ve used it. I may try the Bronner’s next time.
All the babies are done and indoors. Most have enough of a root system to survive being soaked. The next stage is the giant, established plants; in particular about 30 Queen of the Night cereus plants that went nuts over the summer, having just reached maturity. For the largest, I’m hoping that pouring the solution through the pots several times and washing the leaves will be sufficient.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, happy to help! It’s a lot of work to bring all of those houseplants indoors, but totally worth it! The process of cleaning and debugging them takes me several weekends every year, but I would never skip these steps because I’ve spent full winters fighting houseplant pest infestations before, and that is SO MUCH MORE work and stress than taking the time to clean them in the fall! 🙂 Good luck.
Kim R says
*** Murphy Oil Soap seems to have changed its formula. The product I used the last few years was a dark honey brown and very thick. The product I bought this year under the same label was yellow and thinner, more the color of a healthy urine sample.
The new stuff does not kill anything! Pill bugs, slugs, spiders, etc. were still happily ensconced in their chosen pots, even after the full treatment.
This year I switched to Dr. Bronner’s unscented Castile soap (light blue label says “baby”).
Sigh. Doing the final 27 plants today!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good to know, thanks for sharing your experience with trying to use Murphy oil instead of neem oil. Bummer to hear that it didn’t work for you though. 🙁 But the soap and soaking the plants alone should be enough to kill the bugs, especially ones that are on the plant itself. If you still have bugs that survive the process, then try adding more soap to your water and also soak the plants longer to drown any hiding bugs.
Kim R says
Before I started treating my plants prior to bringing them in, I was losing a battle against house flies. I live near a farm, and the barn cats like to leave offerings in my yard, so they’re always a few of the buggers infiltrating the house. But now that they’re not hatching out of my plant soil in winter, it’s a manageable issue instead of a a horror show.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful! So happy to hear that going through these steps to treat you plants before bringing them indoors has gotten rid of your fly problem, that’s fantastic news!
Beth says
Is Johnson Baby Shampoo ok to clean and debug my plants?
I am curious to see if all the dirt floats up to the top when submerged. Hope not!
Very interesting and helpful article!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’ve never tried that brand of soap, so you should definitely test it on a few leaves and leave it for a couple of days to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage before submerging your plant. The soil won’t float to the top as long as your plant hasn’t been recently repotted.
Shelley Tanner says
I have a large pot of succulent plants that I want to transplant into their own pots before I bring them in. The pot they are in is too heavy & large to submerge. Should I transplant them first & then treat, or treat & then transplant?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would treat and then transplant. If you try soaking newly potted plants, the soil will likely just float to the top and make a mess.
Deebs says
I’m new to gardening and only have a few plants to bring indoors, can I just replace the soil and pots, then rinse the plants with plain water? (If not, is handsoap ok to use?)
Amy Andrychowicz says
There’s no reason to repot all of your plants before bringing them indoors, using my debugging method would definitely be much easier (and less expensive). Also, simply rinsing the leaves with water won’t get rid of the bugs, you definitely need to use either neem oil or insecticidal soap to wash the leaves, as I explain in the article. Soaps are all very different, so you’ll need to test the one you have on a few leaves before treating the whole plant to know for sure if it is safe to use.