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.
Annette L Reil says
hi Amy,
Love the article on debugging. For the mild soap would Murph oil soap work, it states it is pure vegetable oil soap and phosphate free.
thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
As long as it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, that type of soap should work great for debugging your plants. However, I have never tried it myself. So, I always recommend testing it on a few leaves and leaving it sit for a few days before submerging the whole plant. Let me know how it works!
Joanne says
I use Dawn dish soap. Is it OK for debugging plants I want to bring inside for the winter.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried using that type of soap. Some people have reported that it works fine for debugging plants. However, it is a much harsher soap than what I recommend (and it’s not organic). So, whenever someone asks about using something I haven’t tried, I always recommend testing it on a few leaves, and then leaving it sit for a few days to make sure there’s no damage before submerging the whole plant. Some plants are much more sensitive to chemicals (like degreasers and detergents) than others.
Patricia says
Hi! I have the castile soap you recommend – but it’s peppermint… can I use that, or do I need the unscented? Thanks!
P.S. This is a VERY helpful article!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have only used the unscented castile soap to debug my plants, the one without any added essential oils. Some plants are more sensitive than others, so the peppermint may work just fine. I recommend testing it on a few leaves first, just to make sure it won’t damage your plant.
Astrid says
Thanks for sharing these great tips.
Question. I am terrified of bringing spiders into the house, via eggs that may be in the soil.
I once had a canna and a few month later dozens of good sized spiders were crawling up my basement walls!!
What will kill spider eggs?
Thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
Soaking your potted plants in soapy water, as I describe in this article, is a great method to kill spiders and their eggs. You could also remove the top 1″ of soil, and replace it with fresh and dry potting soil before brining them back indoors. Another thing you could try is pouring soapy water into the soil to kill any spider eggs that may be in there.
Astrid says
Awesome! Thanks so much, will try that 🙂
Michelle says
Great info! What is the recommendation for plants in pots that do not have drainage holes? I know for a fact there have been caterpillar eggs and ants in my plants,? Which I do not want to meet this Winter!!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your pots don’t have drainage holes, then you definitely don’t want to soak them in water. Instead, follow the instructions under the header “Debugging Houseplants That Are Too Large To Soak” above. Although, that won’t get rid of the bugs in the soil. So, if I were you, I would repot them into fresh soil using a container that has drainage holes before bringing them back inside. Honestly, using pots that don’t have drainage holes is just asking for trouble in the long run.
Karim says
This is such great information! I was wondering though, won’t most of the soil come out of the pots when soaked? Do you add more potting soil after soaking? Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
That is a very common question, LOL! No, for the most part, the soil won’t float out of the pot when you soak it in water. The only exception to that is if you recently repotted the plant. In that case, some of the loose soil could float to the top. But this doesn’t happen for established plants. And yes, if any soil comes out of the pot after soaking, you could just add some fresh stuff to fill it in. No problem. 🙂
Elaine says
I’m growing a jasmine plant indoors. Should I spray routinely with neem or Dr Bronner’s to prevent mealybugs from coming? Thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the plant has had bug problems while indoors in the past, then yes, you could treat it to keep them from coming back. However, I would use neem oil rather than just the soapy spray. That way, you’ll only have to spray every other week or so, and it has a residual effect. Here’s more details about how to use neem oil, and also my detailed article about how to get rid of (and prevent) mealybugs. Good luck!
Lynette says
Thanks for the great information! Wish I’d known about this some years ago when I had a Boston Fern outside on patio. Brought it back inside to hang in bathroom over tub. When taking my shower, I was joined by newly hatching baby grasshoppers. Yikes!
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, too funny! Yes, it’s always a good idea to debug plants before bringing them back inside.
Angela Clarke says
Hi! I really enjoyed your informative article, but I was wondering what you do about acclimating your plants before bringing them in? My understanding is that you should transition plants over the course of a week or so, by gradually keeping them in for a few more hours each day. How does this work with the debugging process? Should you acclimate first, then debug (but doesn’t that run the risk of bringing the bugs inside) or debug & then acclimate (but that increases the chance that you’ll pick up new bugs?). Feeling a bit confused….. thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You don’t need to acclimate them when bringing them back inside. That’s only when you bring them outside in the spring. I bring my houseplants back inside right after debugging them in late summer, and that’s where they stay until spring. Here’s an article that is all about fall houseplant care, and it will give you more details about moving them back inside.
Becca says
This is awesome! I’m so excited to be able to do this and save some plants from winter for next spring!! Yay! One question, will this work on succulents if left outside or if indoors but has gnats coming off it when touched/watered? Thanks!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, this method of debugging plants will kill bugs on the leaves and in the soil. However, if your succulents have gnats, then that means they are being overwatered, and are at risk for rotting. I definitely recommend letting the soil dry completely before watering, and that will get rid of the gnats. Here’s more info about them… How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil.
Andrea says
Awesome article! Growing up my mom always brought in the plants during the mid west winters. Let’s just say I still have nightmares about the spiders that came in with them! It was always AFTER she started bringing them in. She always had a LOT of plants. Not just small ones, larger ones, etc. Bigger the plant, the bigger the spider. While I’m no longer the arachnophobicc adolescent that runs screaming out of the room when a spider wants to watch tv with me. I still don’t want to keep company with spiders that have leg spans big enough to shoot a game of croquet under. Or any size spider or insect, winged, long legged, etc. I’m proud to say I’ve passed the phase “off with their heads”. lol (mostly)
THAT is the MAIN reason I never let my green thumb flourish once I got my own house and space to have plants. I didn’t want the spiders and other bugs. But I can’t ignore my passion for plants any longer. This article just helped me so much. I had no idea that the buggies and spiders could be stopped. PHEW! I embraced Neem oil last year with my first tomatoes ever and was impressed. Slowly I’m embracing my inner green thumb. I will no longer be afraid to bring home or cultivate house plants. Thank you so much. I think I would practice this method before bringing any plant inside, direct from nursery, store, etc.
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, great back story! It’s so funny how small things like that can have such in impact on our childhood.
I am happy to hear that this article has helped you so much! You’re very welcome. I’m especially thrilled to hear that, now that you know how to debug your plants before bringing them inside, you’re going to embrace your inner green thumb. LOVE IT!!
Karl says
The mild soap worked wonders on getting rid of a few bugs I saw and bunches more that I am sure I did not. So good to do this with out insecticides!
The brush worked wonders on cleaning up the pots after a 15 or 20 minute soak. Some particularly dirty pots I let soak over night. They accumulated a white coating from the soap. I would have done better to soak them overnight in plain water, then put them back in the soap soak for a few minutes before scrubbing them again.
Amy Andrychowicz says
So glad to hear that this method of cleaning and debugging plants has worked so well for you! I wouldn’t recommend soaking your plants overnight though, that could be a dangerous practice. You could use soap on your brush when you scrub the pots, that should help remove some of that stubborn grime.
Karl says
We didn’t soak the plants more than 15 or 20 minutes, but we did soak several empty pots overnight. Next year we will not soak any more than 15 or 20 minutes in the soap mixture. Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh good, LOL! Check out my instructions for cleaning terracotta pots using vinegar, that removes any crust or residue (you could use that method for any type of pot).
Natalie Wilson says
Great article for debugging. I never knew. Excited to try this. This past May discovered we had a problem with carpet beetles. I assume they came in with last summers plants. I have a small one bedroom town home and they were everywhere. Will this method take care of them also?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. It’s possible the carpet beetles could have come in with your plants, but they don’t usually live in plants. Simply debugging your houseplants probably isn’t going to get rid of them. Once carpet beetles are in your house, they can lay eggs in the carpet, on furniture, in air vents…etc. So, the plants are likely not the source of your problem. But yes, if there are carpet beetles on your houseplants when they are outside, then this method of debugging should kill them.
Natalie Wilson says
Thank you! Once we discovered the carpet beetles we tore apart everything, steam cleaned etc. Hopefully we have control of it. I just want to take care not to bring anything in the fall. Will be trying your method.
Susan Sanders says
I submerged the plants but it floats back up to the top. Advice?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, it’s pretty common for lightweight plastic pots to float. I use bricks to weigh them down. Just turn the pot on it’s side, hold it down in the water, and gently place the brick on top of the pot. Sometimes it can be a balancing act, LOL! If I’m debugging several plants, then I will put as many as I can fit into the tub. That way, you can wedge the floaters in with the heavier pots to weigh them down too.