By Marta Rusek 

Winter is around the corner, and you know what that means – if you’re cold, they’re cold. It’s time to bring your houseplants inside for the winter! 

Many houseplant enthusiasts take their plants out onto their front steps, decks, patios for the summer so their houseplants can enjoy the extra sun, increased humidity and nutritious rainwater.   

While there are some exceptions (very tropical plants need to come in earlier, bromeliads can be brought in later), here’s what you need to know about bringing plants inside for winter and tips for indoor house plant care.  

Check The Weather Forecast 

Start looking at your favorite weather app or website to get a sense of when temperatures begin to fall. To keep it simple, once the evening temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit consistently, that’s your cue to bring your houseplants indoors for winter. 

Give your Plants a Spa Day 

Your plants have been basking in the seasonal warmth of summer and early fall, so they need a good cleaning to get winter ready.  Remove any dead, yellow or discolored leaves, and tackle any pruning that needs to be done.  If you have flowers, it’s worth taking a few minutes to snip away the spent flowers and broken plant parts. Deadheading not only keeps your plants looking tidy and fresh, it also directs the plant’s energy into producing more flowers! 

While your plants are still outdoors, do any necessary repotting, since this can be a messy task to do indoors. For plants that have been sitting in saucers outdoors, empty the saucers of any water that’s accumulated. Clean the saucer before bringing it indoors with your plant. 

Look for Bugs  

Being outside means being exposed to popular houseplant insects such as aphids, spider mites, white fly, scale, and mealy bugs.  Before bringing plants inside for winter, carefully inspect them for any signs of insects, including eggs. If you find live insects, spray them with insecticidal soap (you can buy it online or make your own). Make sure any uninvited guests and eggs are fully coated.  

Start looking for bugs and eggs a month in advance if you can. This will give you time to treat any infestations and repeat the process if needed. If you miss any eggs or notice bugs on your plants after you’ve brought them in, you can treat them with insecticidal soap as needed in your bathtub or shower.  

If Your Plants Start to Lose Leaves, Don’t Panic! 

As your plants adjust to life indoors, they may react to changing conditions such as less humidity (dryer air) and a change in temperature.  Sometimes plants might react by losing a few leaves.  This is just superficial, and the leaves WILL grow back with proper care and nutrition 

 

Choose the Best Location for Temperature and Light 

Find a spot where your plants have access to good air circulation and away from drafts, heaters, and furnace vents. These can dry out your plants and cause stress. If your home has dry air, set up a humidifier near your plants to bring some moisture back into the air. 

You’ll also want to find a location in your home where plants have access to the best light source based on their lighting requirements. Plants like succulents, palms, and herbs need direct sunlight for most of the day and benefit from being placed in south or west-facing windows. If your plant is a low light lover like a fern or a spider plant, place it in an east, west or north facing window. 

If your windows don't provide enough light for your plants, supplement them with a grow light or fluorescent light. You can also set timers to give your plants some darkness each day. Finding the perfect spot for your plants may take trial and error, so watch them closely and adjust accordingly. 

Get Some Indoor Plant Inspiration 

The months between winter and spring are the perfect time to deepen your knowledge of indoor house plant care and discover new ideas for arranging and caring for your plants. Take advantage of PHS’s Know To Grow series from the comfort of your home, or head to the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show for Gardens of Tomorrow to see innovative, awe inducing floral and landscape displays, attend a lecture by gardening experts, see best in class houseplants and grow your collection with plants from premiere vendors.