Transitioning plants indoors for the winter

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s cold temperatures are here to stay, and if you haven’t done so yet, you need to start bringing some plants indoors for protection.

On the latest episode of the KSL Greenhouse Show, hosts Maria Shilaos and Taun Beddes discuss the best way to transfer plants indoors slowly for better acclamation.

Transition period

If you have plants out on a porch or patio in the summer, when transitioning inside you need to get them accustomed to lower light levels.

According to Taun, “that involves moving them to a shaded area for a half day, then a full day… and then bringing them inside for an hour or two.” Taun says the transition time should go for a week, especially if the room you are bringing the plants in has little light.

Inspecting plants for pests

Before bringing your plants indoors, Taun recommends to thoroughly check and clean the plants to ensure you don’t bring any pests inside that can ruin other plants.

“You almost need a magnifying glass, you need to go over every leaf… if you can… get some soapy water and a gentle sponge and wash the foilage,” says Taun. He says this might not work for every plant, he recommends isolating the plants until you are confident they are safe.

Other things to know

Watering can be reduced to once a week in the winter while the plants are indoors.

It is important to have the plants facing the south or west windows, “light levels inside a bright room can be 100 times less intense” according to Taun. He recommends glow light over the top, they can be beneficial for many plants like tomatoes.

Listen to our latest podcast for more tips on bringing your plants indoors for the winter.

The KSL Greenhouse is on every Saturday from 8-11 a.m. You can follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.