Many people put their houseplants outside during the summer so they can bask in the sunshine and humidity. But, when should you bring them back indoors… and how the heck do you debug them first? In this post, I’ll show you all you need to know, step-by-step.
![How to debug plants before bringing them indoors How to debug plants before bringing them indoors.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/how-to-debug-plants-before-bringing-them-indoors.jpg)
Summer is a wonderful time for indoor plants, and they really benefit from being outside for a change. But when fall comes, and it’s time to bring your houseplants back 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 move them back indoors so they don’t go into shock, and how to do it without also bringing ALL of the bugs into your house.
When To Bring Plants Inside For The Winter
You should bring your plants inside in the late summer or early fall before nighttime temperatures dip below 60°F (15.5°C). Anything below 50°F (10°C) can damage tender houseplants.
A good rule of thumb is to move them back indoors at least two weeks before your average first fall frost date (that’s September 20th here in zone 4b).
If you leave them outside for too long, the transition back inside can shock them – which means they’ll struggle to survive the change.
Plus the cold weather could trigger them to drop their leaves or go dormant. Or even worse, an unexpected early frost could kill your plant.
Related Post: Fall Houseplant Care Guide
![My houseplants outside during the summer. My houseplants outside during the summer.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/bringing-plants-indoors-for-winter.jpg)
Tips For Bringing Plants Inside For The Winter
If you have a large collection of houseplants that you put outside, doing a marathon weekend of moving them ALL back inside can be very stressful and exhausting for you (and hard on your back!).
So I recommend bringing them back indoors in small batches. I start the process about a month before our average last frost date, and work on it a little bit each evening or on the weekends. It’s much more manageable this way.
Also, if any of them are extremely root-bound, repot those houseplants into larger containers after you debug them, right before moving them back inside. That way the dirty mess will stay outside.
Debugging and cleaning your plants before bringing them back inside is a crucial step to avoid houseplant pest problems later on so don’t skip it.
Aphids, mealybugs, and other types of houseplant pests aren’t normally a problem outside. But they can quickly turn into a major infestation during the winter if they come inside on your houseplants.
![Debugging and cleaning my houseplants. Debugging and cleaning my houseplants.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/debuggingAndCleaningHouseplants.jpg)
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. Below are the steps to take.
Caution: Only use soak plants that are 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
![Supplies needed for soaking your plants. Supplies needed for soaking your plants.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/supplies-for-soaking-plants-in-soapy-water.jpg)
Instructions
Step 1: Fill the tub with soapy water – Fill your large utility tub with tepid water, and your wash bucket with warm water. 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. Do not use any soaps that contain degreasers or detergents. Those can damage (or even kill) sensitive plants.
Step 2: Soak each plant – Submerge the whole plant, pot and all, in the tub of soapy water, and let them soak for about 15-20 minutes. The soap will kill any bugs that are on the plant or in the soil.
Sometimes plastic pots will float, so I weigh them down with bricks or rocks. You can put as many plants into the tub that will fit, so you can soak a few at a time to speed up the process.
Step 3: Clean the leaves that aren’t submerged – If any of the leaves aren’t completely covered by the water, use an organic insecticidal soap to clean them.
Or you can use my recipe, which is 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap per 1 liter of water in a spray bottle.
Tip: When you put the plants into the water, dead leaves, bugs and other debris will float to the top. So, to keep the leaves clean, remove all of the floating pieces that you can before pulling out your plants.
I use a wide kitchen strainer to skim all the debris off the top of the water before removing the plants from the tub.
![Plant debris floating on top of the water. Plant debris floating on top of the water.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/remove-floating-debris-to-keep-plants-clean.jpg)
Step 4: Remove the plants and scrub the pots – After soaking your plants, pull them out of the tub and scrub each pot with a scrub brush to clean it.
Step 5: Give them a good rinse – Once you’re done cleaning your plant and the pot, rinse everything thoroughly with the hose to get all the soap and debris off.
![Rinsing off a plant after soaking it. Rinsing off a plant after soaking it.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/rinse-off-soap-before-bringing-plants-inside.jpg)
Step 6: Allow the water to drain completely – Set the clean plants aside and allow all of the water to completely drain from the pots before moving them back indoors.
![Plants sitting on towels so the excess water can drain. Plants sitting on towels so the excess water can drain.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/debugging-plants-to-overwinter-inside.jpg)
Step 7: Add more plants – Now you can repeat the process as many times as you need to debug all of your plants. You don’t have to replace the water after soaking each batch of plants, just top it off when it gets low.
But before adding your next batch of plants into the tub, remove all of the dead leaves and other debris floating on the top. I use a kitchen strainer with a handle on it for this (I have one that is dedicated for this purpose, and a different one that I use for cooking).
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, allow the soil to dry before watering them again to make sure you don’t overdo it.
![My clean houseplants back inside for the winter. My clean houseplants back inside for the winter.](https://getbusygardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/bringing-plants-indoors-without-bugs.jpg)
Benefits Of Soaking Your Plants In Soapy Water
Of course, the main benefit of soaking your houseplants in soapy water before bringing them back indoors is killing all of the bugs. But there are a few others too:
- Your houseplants will get a nice, deep drink, so you won’t have the added step of watering all of them once they’re back inside (you’re welcome).
- All of the dead leaves and other debris will float out of the pot and away from the plant, making it easy to discard.
- Your plants and their pots will look sparkling clean – probably cleaner than they’ve ever been. It feels great to have such healthy looking houseplants.
Debugging Large Plants To Bring Indoors
Soaking houseplants in soapy water is great for small to medium sized plants, but I have several that are too large for this method. So, instead I use a modified version.
I wash the leaves and the stem of the entire plant with soapy water (with the same mild liquid soap I use in my tub), and then rinse it off thoroughly with 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).
Related Post: 9 Homemade Insecticides & Bug Sprays For Indoor Plants
FAQs
What do I spray on plants before bringing them indoors?
You can spray your plants with a neem oil solution, or use an organic insecticidal soap to clean the leaves. 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 detergents and/or degreasers, which can harm, or even kill, sensitive plants. I use and recommend Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild, which has no additives.
Will your debugging method kill bugs and eggs in houseplant soil?
Yes, using my method to soak 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 trapped air.
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 spray the leaves with neem oil.
My method of soaking houseplants in soapy water works great for most types of plants, and will help to make sure you bring your outdoor plants inside without bugs. Trust me, starting the long winter off with clean and insect-free houseplants will make your life SO MUCH easier.
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
- How To Get Rid Of Bugs On Your Houseplants
- 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.
Lil says
you can use a large storage bin, drain them and riinse them in the sink or tub.
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.
Sue Ferrentino says
Hi, good advice. I’ve had problems with little flies when bringing in my house plants. So i bought Tangle trap sticky coating . I take straws coat a thin layer of tangle trap and stick the straws upright in pots. within days they disappear . Then you just pull out straws and discard.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great, thanks for sharing your tip for getting rid of the bugs before you bring your houseplants inside.
Natalie says
What are your thoughts on Castile soap?
Amy Andrychowicz says
That is the type of soap that I use and recommend in this article. Specifically Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild, because it’s organic and doesn’t have any added essential oils. Whatever brand of soap you choose, always be sure to test it on a few leaves of every plant before you submerge it, some plants are more sensitive than others.
Heather says
Is this method safe for herbs
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, this method is safe for herbs as long as you use an organic soap and test the soap on a few leaves of each plant before submerging the whole thing. Some types of herbs are very sensitive, and any type of spray or soap can cause major damage to the leaves.
Jessy Sharrock says
Will Dawn Dish Soap be ok? What temperature of water?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I personally do not use that brand because it contains chemicals and degreasers that can damage plants. But some of my readers have used it with success. No matter what type of liquid soap you want to use for debugging your plants, always, always test it on a few leaves first to make sure it won’t damage them. Some plants are more sensitive than other, even to organic products.