Winter is around the corner which means, it’s time to start moving some plants back indoors! The key to a smooth transition lies in knowing the right time to bring them inside and how to do it without inviting bugs. Let’s break it down step-by-step!
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.
When To Bring Plants Inside For The Winter
Knowing WHEN to start this process is key. You should start moving your plants inside during late summer or early fall, before nighttime temperatures consistently drop below 60°F (15.5°C). Exposing tender houseplants to temperatures below 50°F (10°C) can cause damage.
A good rule of thumb is to bring them in at least two weeks before your area’s average first frost date. For example, in zone 4, that’s September 20th, around the end of summer.
Waiting too long could shock your plants which can cause their leaves to drop, go dormant, or even die if frost hits unexpectedly.
Amy’s Tip #1! 👩🏼🌾
Moving all your houseplants inside at once can be overwhelming, both for you and the plants. Instead, bring them in gradually over a few weeks. This way, you can manage the workload, and the plants can adjust more easily.
9 Steps To Debugging Your Plants
Debugging plants might sound complicated, but it’s actually straightforward. Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
Supplies You’ll Need:
Steps:
- 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. (Avoid soaps with degreasers or detergents, as they can harm plants.)
- Soak the Plants: Submerge each plant—pot and all—in the soapy water for 15-20 minutes. The soap kills bugs on the plant and in the soil. Weigh down any floating pots with bricks or rocks.
- Clean Any Exposed Leaves: 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.
- Remove Debris: Skim any dead leaves, bugs, or debris from the water using a kitchen strainer before pulling out the plants.
- Scrub the Pots: After soaking, scrub each pot clean with a brush.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Use a hose to rinse the plants and pots to remove any remaining soap and debris.
- Drain the Water: Allow the excess water to drain completely from the pots before bringing the plants indoors.
- Repeat as Needed: Continue the process until all your plants are debugged. Top off the water in the tub as needed and remove debris between batches.
- Move Plants Indoors: Once drained, bring your clean plants back inside and let the soil dry out before watering again.
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 and let it dry before I move it back inside.
NOTE: 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.
Amy’s Tip #2! 👩🏼🌾
If any of your plants are root-bound, repot them after debugging, before bringing them indoors. This keeps the mess outside and gives the plants room to grow.
3 To-Do’s AFTER Bringing Outdoor Plants Inside
- Increase Humidity: Many houseplants thrive in higher humidity. Use a portable humidifier indoors to maintain a humidity level around 50%, mimicking the plant’s outdoor environment.
- Inspect Regularly: Keep an eye out for pests after moving your plants inside. Early detection makes it easier to manage any outbreaks.
- Quarantine New Plants: If you’re bringing in new plants from outside or from a store, keep them isolated from your other houseplants for a few weeks to prevent spreading any hidden pests.
Benefits of Soaking Your Plants in Soapy Water
- Soaking gives your plants a thorough watering, so you don’t need to worry about it right away after bringing them inside.
- The process removes dead leaves and debris, leaving your plants looking fresh and clean.
- Your pots and plants will be sparkling clean, adding to the satisfaction of having healthy indoor plants.
Related Post: Fall Houseplant Care Guide
Amy’s Tip #3! 👩🏼🌾
For large plants that are difficult to submerge, use a modified approach: Once clean, spray the entire plant with neem oil to deter pests (test a small area first to check for sensitivity). Wash the leaves and stems with soapy water, then rinse thoroughly with a garden hose.
Debugging 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.
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.
Rachel says
Hello! I have never soaked my plants before and am afraid to try a soap. This soap really is okay to completely soak plants in? This is my first time bringing plants in for the winter!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never had a problem, but some plants are more sensitive than others. You can make a soapy water mixture and pour it into a spray bottle (I use 1 tsp Dr. Bronner’s Baby-mild Liquid Soap per 1 liter of water), and then spray it on a few leaves of your plants to test it before you soak them if you’re worried. That way you can see if your plants are sensitive to it or not. Oh, and don’t soak plants that have furry leaves, like African violets.
Nicki Greenwood says
Thanks so much for the detailed tutorial! I have a fern that took me six months to rescue after it withered last winter indoors (I had a cloche over it that had broken). It took so long to get it back to health that I didn’t just want to compost it once the frosts hit. Now I know how to get it back inside this winter (with a new cloche!) without inviting the bugs, too. Thanks again!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, I hope your fern will be much happier this winter! 🙂
Jackie says
Thank you so much…I have many plant right now with bugs and they are very large 4-5 feet tall. But I also have smaller ones that I used your method with. Is a repeat in a couple of days necessary or a one time should be adequate?
Thanks Jackie
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, you don’t need to repeat it unless you see bugs again. I only do this once per year to my plants, and that’s right before I bring them indoors for the winter.
Mariana Munoz says
I have a question…. how do I treat large plants too big or heavy to submerge?. Thank you so much.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I wash the leaves with soapy water, and then spray the whole thing with Neem oil. Test any sprays and soaps you use on a leaf first to make sure they don’t cause any damage to the plant.
David says
In the larger plants, I understand the washing of the leaves and stems and then spraying on the Neam Oil but what about the soil? How do you debug the soil since the pots are too large to soak?
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You could still soak the pot in the soapy water, that’s what I do. Otherwise, you could flush the soil with the soapy water solution, which should help too.
Jackie says
This is an urgent question..when doing the debugging method by submerging the entire plant in a bucket with Dr Bronners soap and water can you repeat this with other plants in the same bucket one after another without changing the water? This not mentioned as I have lots of plants to debug and don’t really want to start over with new water and soap for each plant. What I’m afraid of in using the same water and soap do you risk transferring bugs to the next plant?
Thanks Jackie
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can use the same water for multiple plants. The soap will kill the bugs, so no worries of them transferring from one plant to others. I use a mesh kitchen strainer to fish the debris out of the water (that floats out of my plants) to keep the water clean between soakings.
Beverly says
I have a hibiscus tree that was outside all summer. It’s too big to dip into a tub.
How do I debug my tree before bringing it into my home?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I wash the leaves of mine with soapy water and then give it a good rinse. Then I spray it with neem oil, and let it dry a bit before bringing it back inside.
Laura says
What about treating the soil in the pot?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can soak the pot in the water, as described above, then wash the leaves while it’s soaking.
Cherith says
Very helpful! Do you think this technique could also work for orchids? I have a small but persistant scale outbreak on a couple of indoor orchids….thank you!!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Have you tried using Neem oil on the scale? Neem Oil As Organic Pest Control
Anne says
So timely! I am trying to envision soaking the plant. Does the soil ever get loose and float away?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great question Anne (and I will add more detail about this to the post). The dirt will not float away if the plant is established. But if you try this with a newly repotted plant… yes, some of the dirt will float. So, if you plan to repot a plant before bringing it in, I would recommend soaking it and debugging it first, then repot it.
Amy
Elizabeth Wall says
Light weight fabric (tulle, netting) could be placed on the plant and secured with string around the pot side before soaking with water. Cut a circle large enough to fit over the soil and extend over the pot side, then cut a small hole in the middle to fit around the plant stem.Make another cut to extend to the outer perimeter of the circle and secure everything, overlapping the cut sides. This should keep most of the soil from floating away.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great idea! I don’t usually have issues with the soil floating away when I’m soaking them, but it can happen on plants that have been repotted recently.
Claudia Fugate says
Bringing bugs in is always a problem. These are great instructions. Nicely described. Thanks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks Claudia!
Amy - Get Busy Gardening says
Sure, you could use this method with herbs. If you're worried about the soap causing damage to the herb plants, you could skip the soap and just soak the plants in water. Amy
Anonymous says
Sounds great but can this be used on herbs?
Twila says
What about orchids?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t see why you couldn’t use this method for debugging orchids. I would test the soapy water on a leaf first to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage before soaking the whole plant. Also, if your orchids are potted in bark or wood chips, then it will float out of the pot when you try soaking it. So instead, I would wash the leaves, and use neem oil on them (as I described above in the section called “Debugging Houseplants That Are Too Large To Soak”.
Amy - Get Busy Gardening says
Tara – I've read that soaps that are heavy on detergent can cause damage to some plants. Most of the forums and articles I've read recommend using a mild soap. I have heard of people using different types of soap though. I've only had one plant damaged by soapy water spray a few years ago (and I have a lot of plants!).
Mariana Munoz says
Since I was a little girl, I watched how my grandma used her soapy left-over water from dishes or laundry for all her plants. She lives in Mexico and has a very large, beautiful garden that includes plants, flowers and trees.
Alicia says
Yes, I also use that to water my plants, it is called gray water. It is a way to conserve on water.
Sandra M Sames says
Hi. I’m so glad you mentioned your grandmother. My mother did the same. Just outside the kitchen door was a thriving & fragrant gardenia. Mother would also dump her used coffee grounds on the bush.
Tara Snyder says
Can you use any kind of soap?
Amy - Get Busy Gardening says
@Megan – I didn't measure, I used a squirt. 🙂 I use soapy water in my spray bottle to fight spider mites and aphids and I use about 1 tsp per quart of water and that works great. I'm guessing the ratio was less in my tub of water though.@Sasha – Glad you found the post helpful. Good luck with overwintering your plants!
Orkneyflowers says
How informative! Thanks great post!
RandomGardener says
Nice post! Never knew of debugging and cleaning! I always just brought my pots in right away. I will be extra careful next year.
Brenda says
Yes nice post and good idea when you buy potted plant debug before exposing your other plants to it too.
Kristen says
That’s smart! I have had problems in the past when bringing in a new plant & it’s hitchhikers end up killing all of my beloved plants. I will always do this from now on! Thanks!
Megan says
How much soap do you use in the water?
Sasha Dreamer says
Such a timely post! I just brought a few things in last night, since we're finally starting to get a chill on the east coast. This is one of the first years I've had outside plants (used to move around too much) so I'm thrilled to be able to bring them inside.