When Should You Bring Plants Indoors?

As the seasons change, so do the needs of your plants. And, unfortunately, transitioning them indoors can lead to stress, affecting plant health and vitality.

Plants get used to their environment. That's why temperature shifts, sunlight exposure, and the plant species itself should play a part in your decision. Whether you’re caring for delicate tropical plants or robust outdoor perennials, being aware makes all the difference.

Pay Attention to The Forecast

"Once overnight temperatures start to dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit or less, you should be cautious of any outdoor plants that you want to bring back inside," shares Plant Proper, a plant expert and seller on the online marketplace Palmstreet. 

They added that some potted plants are more sensitive than others. "Delicate plants can't withstand anything lower than around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, [but] hardier plants which can handle nighttime temperatures." Bring them inside when temperatures dip to around 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Get to Know What Your Plants Like

Monitoring your plants closely makes it easier to learn their stressors. Did they thrive on the patio? Were they droopy on a cool, rainy day? Palmstreet’s Operations & Marketing Lead (and fellow plant enthusiast!) Angalena Malavenda had some great tips:

1. Timing is everything. "If you wait until the last minute to bring your houseplants indoors for the winter, it will be more harmful to them in the long run," shared Malavenda. "This is due to the sudden change of light source and humidity. It is best to begin acclimating your plants slowly."
2. Let your plants adjust to reduced lighting. "One of the best ways to prepare a plant for the winter is to move it from its usual spot to somewhere still outdoors but to a shaded spot, like a porch or under a patio umbrella," noted Malavenda. "A week or two should be sufficient before moving them indoors."
3. Have a proper setup for your plants. Putting your plants next to a big open window will help them be able to get as much natural light as the wintry weather will allow. She adds, "In addition, it may be worth considering a heat lamp for your plants, especially if they are tropical, tender plants. Just don’t forget to give your plants a proper amount of time to be in the dark as well!"
4. Keep plants away from drafts. Plants do best with consistent temperatures indoors. "Having plants near a vent or furnace can be too much of a concentrated temperature source and damage the plant leaves," highlights Malavenda. "Surprisingly, it is also best to keep healthy plants away from frequently opened doors as well." Intermittent cold temperatures can harm a plant just as much as being in a too-dark room.
5. Don’t forget to debug! Before bringing your plants in, make sure any unwanted guests have been properly removed. To do this, you might consider giving it a shower, applying a natural and harmless pesticide, insecticidal soap, or choosing another option that would be safe for your specific indoor plant.
6. Monitor humidity levels. Plants get much of their needed moisture from the humidity in the air. "Consider keeping your plants near a kitchen sink, where hot water is often used, or buying a small humidifier to keep in the corner of the room," shares Malavenda. Your home doesn't have to mimic rainforest conditions if you have tropical houseplants, but you can understand how modeling those environmental conditions would help! "If your kitchen is unusable or the humidifier isn’t possible, a good rule of thumb is to fill a tray with pebbles and warm water and place the plant atop the pebbles." << easy idea alert!
7. Don’t overwater. Plants won't grow as rapidly in conditions of reduced light levels, and too much soil moisture can harm a plant in transition. We keep the soil dry for our plants for most of the winter months. "This is totally normal. Your plants are saving their energy until light is more available," reminds Malavenda.
8. Rotate your plants. Make sure to rotate your entire plants every few days so all sides are able to get equal sunlight. "This is especially important for heat lamps, as the concentration of heat can be drying for plants," she notes.

Use Smart Temperature Control to Protect Your Plants

Once they're reacclimatized, do what you can to stabilize your indoor temperature. 

We use our Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) to manage hot and cold spots in our home. The Nest Temperature Sensor tracks and manages the climate in specific rooms (like where your plants live).

What if I don't have a source of direct sunlight in my home?

Don't worry too much if you don't have adequate light conditions inside your home. You can still successfully grow most types of plants using alternatives like artificial sunlight or grow lights. 

Many plants thrive in South-facing windows or merely with indirect light, so pay attention to how they react after being relocated from the outdoors. You can move them around until they seem content, and supplement with lighting as needed throughout the cold months.