Now is the time to move patio plants indoors

Q: I purchased a couple of potted plants to live on my patio this summer and all’s good with them. I recently learned that these types of plants won’t survive the winter here if left outside, so now what do I do? — S.G., Albuquerque

A: You have two options.

First, do nothing, enjoy the plants while the weather allows, knowing that they will pass this winter and lose your investment.

Option two is to get them moved indoors and treat them as house guests this coming winter season. Then as spring comes next year, move them back out to continue to grace the patio.

By choosing option two, there are several things I’ll suggest you do and do them soon. Purchase a ready-to-use houseplant spray, one that contains insecticidal soap or pyrethrins.

Next, I want you to liberally spray the soil, and I mean liberally. Then offer a watering so the pesticide washes through the soil. Your aim here is to kill any soil dwelling pest that might be hanging out in the pot. Remember that the water that collects in the saucer the pots are sitting on will have a certain amount of pesticide in it, so treat it with a certain amount of respect. You could always unseat the pots and pour that collected, treated water back on the pot to get a double dose of treating the soil.

Then you’ll want to give the plants the best looking over you can. Check the trunks, stems and branches for pests. Be sure to inspect the leaves completely, too. Look at the underside especially, since that’s where a lot of pests like to live while hanging out on your plants. Once inspected, spray the plants, from top to bottom, drenching them completely with the same type of pesticide you used to drench the soil. Even if you don’t see any pests, you’ll still want to spray the plants. You do not want to bring in any hitchhikers on any of the patio plants. Please don’t spray the plants while they are sitting in full sun. Do this part of your chores either in the morning or well after the heat of the day has come off. You don’t want the plants to suffer any sunburn at this point.

I’ll suggest you give the pots a complete wiping down, removing any grime, dust or even webs that you possibly can. At this point, cleanliness is paramount. Remember to wash off the saucers too.

Now if your patio dwellers don’t have saucers you’ll need to invest in some. You’ll be bringing the pots in, and you certainly don’t want puddles at the base of the pots wetting your flooring or furniture.

You’ll want to find spots for your treasures indoors. Aim to find spots that offer as much bright light as possible. Knowing that your treasures are relocating, they won’t be getting as much light as perhaps they did living outside. See if you can create a sort of quarantine area, especially if you already have lots of houseplants. You don’t want to inadvertently expose your indoors plants to any troubles that the incoming patio dwellers might just be harboring, even if you’ve done your darnedest to prevent any troubles. Be conscious of placing your plants too close to a heat register. You don’t want the plants blown on from either below or from the top while living inside for the winter months.

Now comes when to move them. Me? I’d be doing the soil drench and pot washing this weekend. Granted the daytime temperatures are still quite warm for the time being but if you’re like me, you can feel the coolness in the morning air and know that the changes, they are a coming.

So pick and choose the bright spots you’re going to offer your patio treasures and get to the soil drenching, wiping off, saucer washing parts of this project soon, very soon. I know from experience that struggling to bring in patio treasures on the night that the weather goes completely south is too full of angst. Get prepared and save your treasures soon.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.