Garden Tip 136:

When the outdoor temperatures dip into the forties Mother Nature is giving us a hint as to what we have to do. Summer camp is over for tropical house plants and it is time to move them back indoors. I go about this project similar to how I plant a garden bed and that is to work with the larger plants first.

With the larger plants in place, the stage is set for the placement of smaller plants to follow. I spray all of the plants before they enter the house with an all-season horticultural oil to prevent unwanted critters such as whitefly, mealy bug and scale from joining us inside. The oil spray has the added benefits of adding a nice sheen to the foliage and maintaining moisture in the leaf in the dry air of the house.

Always remove any weeds growing in the soil, as I have found that even the tiniest leaf can be hiding a whitefly or aphid! All plants will have to acclimate to their new environment, and they will lose leaves during this process. It is important to remember that plants require less watering during the short days of winter. A light water-soluble feeding (half-strength) once a month will help maintain the robust green hues that we enjoy seeing during the dreary days of winter.