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As frost approaches, many gardeners feel tempted to dig up their outdoor plants and bring them indoors for the winter. However, the results are often disappointing, according to University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein, who explained that plants thriving in gardens frequently lose leaves and stop blooming once placed inside.
Before moving plants indoors, several considerations should be weighed, Trinklein advised. These include whether a suitable location exists inside the home, whether the plant carries sentimental value, whether it is rare or costly, and whether it is free of insects or disease. If the answers are favorable, the effort may be worthwhile.
Conversely, some motivations may not justify the process, he noted. These include saving a plant simply because it looks too attractive to leave outside, wanting a splash of color indoors, planning to replant it outdoors next spring, or giving it as a gift.
Trinklein emphasized that most garden plants make poor houseplants. Common annuals such as marigolds, zinnias, celosias, and flowering vincas generally fail indoors due to inadequate light, overly warm nighttime conditions, and insufficient humidity.
Plants from gardens require bright light in winter, regardless of their tolerance outdoors. Short days combined with the limited natural light of indoor spaces prevent many annuals from performing well. Supplemental lighting can help, but it is most effective when placed above plants already receiving sunlight through a window.
Night temperatures near 60 degrees Fahrenheit are best for growth, but most homes are kept warmer.
For those determined to bring plants inside, Trinklein recommended the following steps:
Carefully lift the plant from the soil and transfer it into a large container, as the root system often requires more space than expected. Even small plants may need an 8-inch pot.
Preserve as much of the soil and roots as possible. Limited root pruning may be necessary, but excessive loss increases shock.
Place the plant in the pot at the same depth it grew outdoors, filling around the root ball with a peat-lite potting mix.
If frost has not yet arrived, allow the plant to adjust outdoors in shade for a week or two. In colder weather, move it into a cool room near a bright window. Covering it loosely with a plastic bag for several days can help increase humidity.
For gardeners who want to save plants with less effort, taking cuttings can be a practical alternative. Begonias, impatiens, and geraniums root easily from cuttings taken in the fall and require less space indoors.
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