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.
Table of Contents
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?
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.
Bringing plants indoors for winter
Tips For Bringing Plants In For The 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.
Debugging And Cleaning Houseplants
How To Debug Plants To Bring Indoors – Step-by-Step
Debugging and cleaning potted plants before bringing plants 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!)
Supplies Needed:
- Large utility tub or bucket
- Mild liquid soap
- Large kitchen strainer
- Flower pot scrub brush
- Spray bottle
- Neem oil
- Wash bucket
- Old towels
Supplies for soaking plants in soapy water
Step 1: Fill tub with soapy water – Fill a large tub/bucket with water and add a few squirts of a mild liquid soap.
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.
Rinse off soap before bringing plants inside
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.
Debugging plants to overwinter inside
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.
Bringing plants indoors without bugs
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 Houseplants That Are Too Large To Soak
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, a pre-mixed organic horticultural oil or hot pepper wax spray.
Yellow houseplant sticky stakes work great on flying pests like soil gnats and white flies, 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.
Bringing outdoor plants indoors
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
Can I use Dawn or Ivory soap to soak my plants?
I personally have never used these brands of soap to soak my plants. They typically 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 these 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 this method kill bugs and eggs in the 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.
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.
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!
Recommended Reading
- Winter Houseplant Care
- Houseplant Pest Control
- The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual
- The House Plant Expert
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.
Jan Beline says
I was delighted find such an in-depth article on cleaning plants.
I became confused with the pot brush.
I am assuming you use the brush on the outside of your potted plants and not inside by removing the plants from the pots. Please let me know if I am correct.
I love the brush for cleaning and disinfecting used pots. Thank you for all you do. Jan Beline
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, so glad you enjoyed that tutorial. 🙂 Yes, you would just use the brush to clean the outsides of the pots. The plants stay in the pots during this process.
Kathleen says
Does this work for ants? Thank you so much
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, it should work for ants. If there’s a large nest in the plant, I would let it soak for 10-20 minutes after all of the bubbles have stopped coming up. You can also gently shake or tap on the pot to make sure all of the air bubbles have come out, and that should help too.
Erin says
Do you think this could be safely done in a bathtub, if bucket/outdoor space is not possible to use?
Amy Andrychowicz says
While you certainly could debug your plants in the bathtub, it could make quite a mess. There will be leaves and other debris, and probably some soil left at the bottom of the tub after soaking your plants that you probably don’t want going down the drain.
Lorraine Jeskey says
Could I use baby shampoo in the water to debug my outside plants?
Amy Andrychowicz says
The best way to know if any type of soap is safe to use to debug plants is to test it on a leaf or two, then let it sit for a few days to make sure there’s no damage before treating the whole plant.
Lynne says
Following up-
Took plants back outside and watered them with soapy water made from a bar of Dr Bronners that I had. Little larval things surfaced and I used neem oil on them. We’ll see what happens next…..
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, they can be tricky to get rid of, hope your hard work pays off. Here’s a post with more details and remedies to try… How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil.
Dana Root says
I’ve heard tea tree oil & water mixed & sprayed on larger plants can debug also. Do you know if this is effective?
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried it myself, so I can’t say for sure. Definitely test it on a leaf or two to make sure there’s no damage before spraying the whole plant.
Lynne says
Thanks for your info! I have citrus trees in large pots (here in MN) and find that gnat like bugs are lurking in the soil. I’ve applied neem oil to plant and soil surface but find now that they are indoors where it is warmer there are more gnats than before, presumably surfacing from deeper in the soil where they had taken refuge from the chill.
Any recommendations? One thought I had was to bring them inside on a warm day, when they might be less likely to burrow….too late for that now….
Amy Andrychowicz says
Those are called fungus gnats, and they live and breed in the top inch of soil. They are very common, and they thrive in moist soil. Here’s a post the details several different methods for getting rid of them… How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil. Good luck!
Anna Li says
how much mild soap do you put in the large basket?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Honestly I just add 2-3 large squirts of it, I’ve never measured before – but it’s probably 3-4 tablespoons.
Rachel E says
I put my variety of succulents outside for the Summer for the first time this year. They loved it, better light, nice & warm – no stretching (my windowsills aren’t the best for light sources), happy, healthy, colorful plants. BUT I recently noticed that there are now lil mite-sized bugs crawling around the bottom of the pots, & the plants themselves get covered with little webs every now and then. My area has always had a seasonal spider problem – so I cleaned off the webs as best I could as they appeared. But the mites, that was something new to me. I was worried I was going to loose my succulents, most of which I’ve grown from leaf cuttings & they’re still small/young. & I definitely didn’t want to bring the pests back inside with the plants.
Your article here (& the extended article about neem oil) has been very helpful & informative. Well written and easy to understand for a relative newb like me. I just got the supplies in and I plan on giving my plants a good bath soon. I also got some new shelving so I could quarantine them away from my other house plants when I bring them in while I make sure they are pest free (hopefully in an area with better light).
Thanks again for providing this info! Wish me luck! lol
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, so happy to hear that I’ve been able to help you get rid of the bugs on your plants before bringing them back inside for winter! Good luck! 🙂
Nel says
Soaps and insecticidal soap spray can remove the lovely natural powdery coating present on the leaves of some succulents leaving an unattractive spotty appearance. Household rubbing alcohol will kill bugs quickly without removing the powdery coating (called farina).
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, some plants are definitely more sensitive to soaps and sprays than others. So it’s good to always, always test any type of remedy on a few leaves first before treating the whole plant.
JAKE SLEGERS says
I really enjoy your posts. I always learn so much from them! Many thanks for all the useful and practical information. I typically bring 80 to 100 pots of various sizes inside each fall, and am gradually refining my methods, so this post is very helpful.
One thing about this sentence in this post: A good rule of thumb for when to bring houseplants in for winter is at least two weeks before your average last frost date.
Shouldn’t that read: A good rule of thumb . . . is at least two weeks before your average FIRST frost date?
Or am I misunderstanding it?
PS: I am originally from SW MN, but have lived in Slovakia, in Central Europe, for over 27 years.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thank you, I’m so happy to hear you find my articles so helpful! You’re welcome. 🙂 Haha, yes, you’re correct and thanks for pointing out my error. You should start bringing your plants indoors 2 weeks before you FIRST frost date in the fall.
Kelly says
Thanks for the helpful explanation! Does this method work for orchids?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, orchids will love the extra humidity when you soak them in water. I recommend testing the soap you plan to use on a few leaves first, and wait a few days to make sure it doesn’t damage them before submerging the whole plant.