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.
Ann says
Very informative post, thank you! I have a miniature rose potted outside right now, would this process work for roses as well? I really want to bring it inside because it’s doing beautifully this year and I’ve never had luck with them before!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried it with roses, but I don’t know why this method of debugging potted plants wouldn’t work for them. Be sure to test the soap on a few leaves and wait a few days before treating the whole plant just in case.
Bonnie says
I have tomato plants & pepper plants that I would love to bring indoors to continue our harvesting season. Plus there are many flowers still on the plants. Can I use this method to soak veg plants for 15-20min. In……Baby shampoo? …….No Dawn Dishsoap? Have both.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’ve never tried using this method for debugging vegetable plants before, but I don’t know why you couldn’t. I would test the soap on a few leaves before soaking the whole plant to make sure there’s no damage. I recommend using a mild liquid soap (I use this kind). Dish soaps contain degreasers and detergents that can harm sensitive plants, so I definitely do not recommend those without testing them first.
Sarah Terban says
Hello! I do not see any dates, so apologies if this is very old. I was wondering if you had tried this method with your vegetable plants if it was successful? I have a passion flower plant, currently with fruit that I’d like to bring in – bug free. Thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
It should work fine for debugging passion flower. Just be sure to test the soap on a few leaves and leave it for a few days before using this method to debug the whole plant. Just keep in mind that plants will go into a bit of shock when they are moved from growing outside to being indoors. So, your plant may drop some of it’s fruit in response to being moved indoors.
Amanda says
Hi! Great article. I have 2 desert roses and I was wondering if this would work for them. I know you said that you’ve used them for your succulents, but I wasn’t sure if desert roses are exactly succulents.
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I have used this method for debugging desert roses, and it works. Just be sure to allow the soil to dry out completely after it’s done soaking before watering again. And, if you can, allowing the soil to dry out completely beforehand will also help to prevent overwatering.
Eileen says
I have elephant ears which I dig up,separate
Shake off all dirt .Cut off leaves,cut off spagett like roots ,put in a tub of peat moss for the winter.
Store in basement.for the winter,in darkness
water slightly. Should I be washing these plants
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, you don’t need to worry about debugging plants that you’re overwintering as dormant bare-root bulbs like you describe.
Brooke says
Hello! Thank you so much for all this information on how to debug plants. It’s extremely helpful. I do have a question though, I have to clean all succulents and cacti is there a way to know if a succulent/cacti wouldn’t tolerate being submerged? Is it better to just test the leaves first like you have mentioned? Thanks again!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I would recommend testing the soap on a few leaves before using this method for debugging your plants. Give it a few days and if there’s no damage, then it should be safe to treat the whole plant.
Flo Saforo says
This is great info, wish I had this years ago or at least knew should I say.because I lost my entire plant collection some 15 plus plants and trees because of spider mites that attacked my plants. I now use the soapy water method for my larger plants and will for now on use this method as well. I have started a new collection, it was too painful for a while because I felt so bad about not protecting them that I just didn’t buy any plants for quite a while. Well I don’t want to stop having plants in my life, they bring me so much pleasure. Thanks soooo much for sharing this very valuable information.
Flo
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! I hope this method for debugging plants works as great for you as it does for me! 🙂
Amelia Claeys says
I have a large selection of potted plants that i recently got from a neighbor who passed away. They are good indoor plants and already in pots but they have been left outside, barely touched all summer. I’m planning on following this method for debugging them before I bring them inside for fall/winter. Would you also recommend repotting them all into new soil, as I have no idea when the last time was that they received new soil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I wouldn’t repot any of them unless it’s obvious they need it, like if they’re pot-bound. Otherwise, there’s no need to go through all the work of repotting all of them before bringing them indoors. 🙂
Claire says
Hi would this be good for succulents too, since they prefer a really dry environment? I have a small jade plant that I recently bought and there appears to be tiny black jumping bugs coming from the bottom of the plant. I noticed them in the saucer. Thanks so much!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I use this method of debugging plants for my jade and other potted succulents every year. Just be sure to allow the soil to dry out completely before watering your succulents again after soaking them.
Leigh Taylor says
Hey Amy,
I have 2 Pothos, 4 mother-in-law plants, and an Aloe Vera plant in drain-less wall hanging planters. Another drain-less planter also has several small succulents. — 1 of the Pothos plant has a white-snow like substance on it’s cascading leaves and we have had some issues with soil gnats in recent months, although not as bad lately. I’m thinking the Pothos has Aphids or spider mites. I was wondering what you thought would be the best method here since the planters have no drainage. I was thinking about doing your soap soaking method, allowing the soap to kill any of the infestations, then immediately removing from water and replanting with fresh activated charcoal pebbles and fresh soil. Does that sound right to you or what would you recommend? Whatever it is, I want to do it to all my plants so I know Im starting fresh with clean plants and not just cleaning the obvious infected Pothos, seeing as that any of the others could be contributing to the gnat problem as well. Thanks so much for your time and knowledge. It’s greatly appreciated.
Amy Andrychowicz says
The white snow-like substance you described sounds like it could be mealybugs. Here’s a post that will help you battle those buggers… How To Kill Mealybugs On Houseplants
The gnats are called fungus gnats, and are caused by overwatering (they thrive in wet soil). Here’s more info about them… How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil Growing plants in containers that have no drainage will make it difficult to get rid of them, so I recommend trying a product called Gnatnix, which will work great for you since it sounds like you don’t have a ton of planters.
I would not recommend the soaking method for pots that don’t have adequate drainage holes. If you plan to repot everything anyway, then you can soak your plants bare-root to try to gain the upper-hand on the mealybugs, then repot in fresh, sterile potting soil. Be sure to also wash and sterilize the planters and the area around where your containers are sitting thoroughly, because mealybugs like to hide. Mealybugs are tough opponents, and are difficult to get rid of, especially if you put your plants back in the same spot as they were before. So, even after soaking, be sure to keep a close eye on your plants for signs of new bugs, and spot-treat them as needed.
Repotting everything sounds like a lot of work though, so instead, you might consider trying to fight the pests first instead of soaking and repotting everything. If the mealybugs aren’t too bad, and you only see them on one plant, you could remove that plant from the planter and soak only that one. Then, pot it into a new container and keep it away from the other plants. Watch the rest of the plants for signs of mealybugs, and spot treat as needed. You might get lucky and catch them before they get too bad, and by removing the one plant, you may be able to get rid of them with much less effort. Good luck!
Cassandra Chew says
Can this be used on citrus plants, aloe or christmas cactus? how about edible plants? will the soap kill the roots?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I use this method for debugging plants on all of my my aloes every year, along with all of my other succulents. I have never tried it with a Christmas cactus because I don’t put mine outside during the summer, but it should work just fine. I always recommend testing the soapy water on a few leaves, rinse it off and let it sit for a few days to make sure it doesn’t damage the plant before treating the whole plant. The soap will not kill the roots, but make sure the pots have drainage holes in them to avoid overwatering.
Shirley says
Where do you find neem oil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I buy my neem oil on Amazon here. You should also be able to find it at your local garden center.
Christine says
Hi, i wonder if this method of debugging work well on all types of succulents? Especially echeverias? Thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
I use this method of debugging plants on all of my succulents, including echeverias. 🙂 But, some plants are more sensitive than others, so if you’re worried, be sure to test it before you soak the whole plant. Spray soapy water on a few leaves, rinse it and let it sit for a few days to make sure the soap didn’t cause any damage to the plant.
Judy Wilber says
I have some almond scented Dr. Bronner’s Castille soap. Will that be ok to use?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t use the scented ones because they contain oils, and I’m worried the oils could damage my plants. You could try it by testing a it on a few leaves first. Wash a few leaves with your soap, then rinse it and watch your plant for a few days (I’d wait at least a week) for any signs of damage.
Maria says
I have a large pot that I want to soak but it doesn’t have drain holes. Should I just use the method for large plants as mentioned? How do you get all the other “stuff” out of the dirt if you don’t soak it? Great post, thanks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, just use the method for debugging larger plants. However, if you are growing your plant outside, I highly recommend repotting it into a pot that has drainage holes before moving it back out next summer. I’m not sure what you mean by “how do you get all the other stuff out of the dirt”… but if you mean dead leaves an other debris, then you’ll probably just need to dig in and pull all that out by hand. 🙂
Maria says
The plant that I have is a lemon tree. It really loved being outdoors this summer. I think it doubled in size. Would you still suggest moving it to a pot that has drainage holes. I live in DE so I have to bring it in over the winter. It would never survive outside. Thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh that’s so great! My plants all love being outside too during the summer too, it’s amazing how much better they grow out there! Yes, any time you put a potted plant outside for an extended period of time, it should always be in a pot with drainage holes. Otherwise, you risk drowning the plant. It only takes one good rain to fill the pot with water, and you might not even realize the plant is being overwatered until it’s too late. I’m so glad this didn’t happen to your plant this summer! You don’t need to worry so much about it now that you’ve moved it back inside, but I would recommend potting your lemon tree into a container that has drainage holes before you put it back outside next spring. Then you can just put it into a decorative cache pot when you bring it back indoors for the winter. That’s what I do with all my plants. 🙂
Maria says
Thanks for the info. Luckily I had the tree in a pot on wheels and moved it under cover when we were expecting rain. I guess I’ll have to find a large pot possibly on wheel with drainage. Then I can find something to put under it to catch any extra water. It’s just getting too big to pick up and move.
V. Boutin says
How do you keep soil gnats that are barely under control in the houseplants to keep from infesting that nice moist soil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Allow the soil to dry out before getting the plants back on their normal watering schedule. Here’s a post I wrote about controlling those pesky soil gnats… How to Control Soil Gnats.
Marilyn Mitchell says
You can also use like Dollar Tree Baby Shampoo. Very mild.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great, thanks for the tip.