How to Bring Plants Indoors for Winter

Bring potted houseplants inside when nighttime temperatures start dropping toward 50°F, well before frost. Rinse and inspect them outdoors, keep them apart from your other plants for a few weeks, then give them bright light, less water and no fertilizer through winter.

When to bring plants inside

Iowa State University Extension advises moving plants back indoors when nighttime temperatures dip consistently to around 50°F. University of Minnesota Extension notes that, depending on the species, temperatures below 45–50°F can cause damage.

Watch the overnight forecast rather than the calendar. Starting while nights are still mild gives you time to inspect each plant properly instead of rushing everything in ahead of a cold snap.

Inspect and clean before they come in

Do this outside, one plant at a time, in good light.

• Leaves: Check both sides for fine webbing, pale stippling, white cottony clusters and sticky residue.
• Stems and leaf joints: Look for small bumps or insects tucked into crevices.
• Soil surface: Look for tiny dark flies or larvae in damp mix, and remove fallen leaves and debris.
• Pot and saucer: Check the rim and drainage holes, where insects can hide, and wipe the outside clean.

Iowa State recommends thoroughly rinsing the foliage while the plant is still outside, then letting it dry completely before bringing it in. Prune off badly damaged or heavily infested growth at the same time.

If you find pests, identify them before treating. Use a product labeled for that pest and for indoor use, and follow the label.

Keep them separate for a few weeks

Iowa State suggests isolating returning plants from other houseplants for 3 to 4 weeks. Eggs and small pests are easy to miss on the first inspection, so check leaf undersides, stem joints and the soil each time you water. The new houseplant first-week guide uses the same inspection routine.

Pests that commonly ride inside

Pest	What to look for	Guide
Spider mites	Pale stippling on leaves, then fine webbing	Spider mites on houseplants
Mealybugs	White, cottony masses on stems and leaf undersides	How to deal with mealybugs
Fungus gnats	Small dark flies; larvae live in damp potting mix	Fungus gnat control
Aphids and whiteflies	Clusters on new growth or tiny white insects; sticky honeydew	Isolate and identify before treating

Ease the drop in light

Even a sunny window provides far less light than a summer spot outdoors. Iowa State recommends bright, indirect light for returning plants and notes that some will drop leaves in response to the change; new foliage should replace them.

University of Minnesota Extension suggests easing the transition by starting a plant in a very sunny window, then gradually reducing its sun exposure before moving it to a less sunny spot. If your brightest position is still dim, measure the light where the plant will sit and consider supplemental lighting.

Adjust watering and feeding

Indoor plants in cooler, dimmer conditions use less water. Nebraska Extension advises watering when the soil is beginning to dry out rather than on a regular schedule. Check the mix below the surface before every watering, because a pot that dried quickly on the patio may stay moist much longer indoors.

Stop fertilizing through fall and winter, as Iowa State advises. Growth slows indoors, so the plant cannot use the extra nutrients.

Heating, drafts and dry air

University of Vermont Extension recommends keeping plants away from drafty spots and from heat sources such as vents and wood stoves, and not placing them too close to windows. Keep leaves from touching cold glass.

Indoor humidity also drops in winter, which matters most for humidity-loving tropical plants. Measure before you add equipment; the houseplant humidity guide covers what actually helps.

Bringing plants in: a checklist

1. Watch the forecast and start as nights approach 50°F.
2. Inspect leaves, stems, soil and pot outdoors.
3. Rinse the foliage and let it dry; clean the pot and saucer.
4. Isolate returning plants for 3 to 4 weeks and check them at every watering.
5. Place them in bright, indirect light and expect some leaf drop.
6. Water only when the mix has started to dry, and stop fertilizing.
7. Keep them away from heating vents, drafts and cold windows.

Sources and further reading

• How and when do I bring my houseplants back indoors before winter? — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
• When to bring houseplants inside for the winter — University of Minnesota Extension
• Bringing Houseplants Indoors — Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County
• Houseplant Care During the Winter Months — University of Vermont Extension