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.
Here’s what you’ll find in this detailed guide…
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 last 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.
Use mild liquid soap for soaking 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.
Cleaning plant leaves
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.
Remove floating debris to keep plants clean
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).
Scrub the plant pot to clean it
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.
Remove debris before soaking more 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?
Soaking potted plants to kill bugs
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)
Debugging houseplants that are too large to soak
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!
Organic Pest Control Products I Recommend
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.
Kate says
My repeat blooming amaryllis (one, then 3 more immediately after) has fungus gnats and centipedes or millipedes just under a cm long. They really bother me but I know I’ve overwatered a bit because the last time it bloomed it seemed to wilt and fade too fast from too little water/too small pot.
I want to repot or at least flush the soil but it’s still blooming. Should I wait until it’s done blooming? It’s very healthy. I took off the top inch of soil to get rid of the decayed matter but the roots looks lovely.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, definitely wait until your plant is done blooming before you repot it. But really, the best time to repot them is after their dormancy period in early winter. So if you can wait, then they will bloom better next year. Otherwise, if you must repot them right after they’re done blooming, then they might not flower next year (or they may be smaller). Here’s a post about their detailed care, if you want to read more… How To Care For An Amaryllis Plant.
Megan says
When you rinse the pot and plant with water do you also water the soil to rinse the soap out of the dirt or do you let the soap stay to kill if the pests?
Amy Andrychowicz says
After soaking the pots, then rinsing the leaves and the pot, some water will flush through the soil. But there’s no need to take any extra steps to flush or rinse it out, you can let the soap stay in the soil.
Sydney R. says
I will be moving from Florida to Chicago within the next month, and would like to start this process of cleaning my plants and bringing them indoors to prepare them to be inside. I will also be moving my plants from ceramic planters to plastic (less weight in the trailer while moving) Would you suggest I do all the soaking and cleaning in their ceramic planters and move them to the plastic after? Or vice versa? Thank you!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Definitely soak your plants before you repot them. Otherwise, the fresh soil could float to the top and make a mess. Also, since you’re moving to a cold climate during the winter, be very careful about leaving your plants in an unheated trailer. If it gets below freezing in there, it could kill them. Transport them in a heated area if you can, and bring them indoors at night. And make sure you cover them very well before bringing them outside. Being exposed to freezing temperatures, even for only a few seconds, can severely damage or even kill your plants. Not trying to scare you, but wanted to make sure you are extra careful moving them during the winter. 🙂
Sandy says
Will this cleaning method work for succulent planter with animal urine smell?
I already brought it indoors but since it’s stinking i was considering dousing it in mild soapy spray.
Thanks for your reply
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry, but I have no idea. I have never had that problem with my plants. But it certainly wouldn’t hurt try soaking them to see if that takes care of the smell.
Linda DiPierro says
Will this method of soaking plants in soapy water also work for ants in the soil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Getting rid of ants in potted plants can be tricky. Definitely soak the pots for at least 10 minutes past the time the air bubbles stop coming up to the top. I would also move the pot around in the water to make sure all the air bubbles are gone. If the ants persists after soaking, then I would start watering with a soapy water solution until they are gone.
Sabrina says
Hi, Great tip. Will definitely follow it for this winter.
What if the house plant is on a very large pot, how would you approach the “de bugging”?
Spray neen oil only on leaves and branches that are exposed?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, check out the section in the post above called “Debugging Houseplants That Are Too Large To Soak” to get specific directions.
Karl Broom says
We have a Meyer Improved Lemon that has been on the deck since the spring and is producing 6 or 8 lemons — none of which appear ripe and ready to use. But we would like to use them when they get ripe. Will the be safe to eat if we debug the soil with Dr. Bonner’s pure Castile soap?
That product and your procedures have worked nicely on our plants that need to come in before the first frost.
Thank you,
Karl
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, since Dr. Bronner’s is an organic product, it is safe to use on food-producing plants. Glad to hear that my method of debugging plants has worked so well for you! I absolutely love it, and haven’t had any indoor pest infestations since I started doing this myself. 🙂
Mary Shepherd says
Can I soak my peace lilly plant? i have been seeing lantern flies on the porch where the plants are kept.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, as long as the pot has holes in the bottom, you can soak the plant.
Erin says
All my dirt floats out of my plants when I submerge them. Am I doing something wrong?
Amy Andrychowicz says
This usually only happens for plants that were recently repotted. In that case, the soil is too loose, so this method isn’t ideal. I recommend only soaking plants that are established in their pots. That way, the soil won’t float out.