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Staff Opinions - What Do I Do With My Plants Now ?

The days are growing shorter, the nights are chilly, the grill is back in the garage, and somehow you’re still staring at a row of potted geraniums, assorted houseplants, and a petunia basket that have clung to life in the great outdoors. Sooner or later you’re going to have to admit it—summer is gone. And how is it gone. So what are you going to do with all those plants? Depending upon how much you’re in denial, you may be tempted to bring the whole lot of them inside. Not so fast, dear gardener. You may be asking for a lot more than you bargained for.

To begin with, take a close look at those plants. Invariably, some of them have become high-priced condominiums for insect villains that belong on the American Entomological Society’s Ten Most Wanted list. Check the undersides of the leaves. Look at the new growth. Pick up the pots and observe the squirming life that dwells below. Time for a little preventive maintenance. But wait a minute. Look at those plants again. How long do you think that faded impatiens basket will really last in your bathroom? And do you really want to nurse those lopsided geraniums through the winter? Hence, dear reader, your first decision is to separate those plants that have a fighting chance inside your house from those that can be replaced the following spring. Below is some hard-hitting (but realistic) advice.

To determine which plants you should bring inside, you need to assess a few basic traits about the plant. First, annuals such as marigolds and petunias have a finite existence and are meant to flower, go to seed, and die. That’s right, die. Very few people can limp such plants past December. Often, their greenery offers tempting homes for white flies and aphids. Second, perennials (plants that come back every year) actually need winter cold as part of their life cycle. Thus if you have grown a perennial in a container, you should put it in the garage, if possible, and protect it with straw, pine bows, and maybe an old blanket. Apartment dwellers need to rely on using balconies or garage space if they have it. With a little luck, and a mild winter, your perennial will survive the ravages of the months that await us.

Houseplants that have spent the summer outside should be sprayed down with a hose and treated with a granular systemic insecticide which acts as a preventive. Some would also spray with insecticidal soap. Your plants will look like they’re in shock for the first month they’re in the house, and why shouldn’t they—so are you. Hibiscus, geranium, and mandevilla plants should go in a sunny west or south window. If no such windows are available, the plants can spend the winter in your basement in a state of semi-dormancy. Cut them back about half-way and water sparingly—about once a month.

Amaryllis are happiest if allowed to grow outside all summer in the full sun. In September, reduce water to encourage the plants to wilt and become dormant. Place in a dimly-lit basement, removing leaves once they have wilted and turned brown. Store in the pots for 12 weeks, watering very lightly every 5 to 6 weeks to prevent the bulbs from completely drying out. After 12 weeks, repot bulbs in fresh soil and water. Usually you can use the same pots the bulbs were in, and if by chance your amaryllis fails to bloom, do not discard it, for it will usually bloom the next year.