#ProPlantTips: Moving Houseplants Indoors for the Winter

Charlotte Weidner | February 14, 2026

Springtime and summer are a great time for growing your houseplants outside, and most of us gardeners like to move some of our more tropical and exotic plants outside to enjoy the brighter light and longer days.

As summer comes to a close…it is time to prepare your houseplants and tropicals for the lower light situations (like the front porch, screened-in porches, pergola, or patios) where they have enjoyed a vigorous spa-like vacation outdoors - to get them ready to come inside!

Acclimating and Overwintering Houseplants and Tropicals
Houseplant Moving Day Is Approaching!

Acclimating and Overwintering Houseplants and Tropicals

There are a few important steps to take now before bringing the plants indoors before that first forecasted frost.

Acclimating Full Sun Plants

Move the plants into a slightly more shaded location. Do this right now. Moving the plant out of any direct exposure from the sun slowly will help to acclimate it to the indoor environment. Even if your plants will winter near a sunny indoor location, it is still a good idea to get them used to the lower light indoors as the windows will block some of the UV light from the direct light they were receiving outside.

Stop Fertilizing

Once moved to a shaded interim spot, stop fertilizing! The transition from outside to indoors with the shorter days of fall and winter is a time when you will not want to push any new growth. They will coast for a while on the fertility they have in the pot.

Bug Check!

The bug check is next! With a garden hose with a soft spray nozzle, carefully lay the plant on its side and spray from the bottom up to remove any bugs hiding in the leaves. Carefully spray the undersides and tops of all of the leaves. Any brown leaves, broken branches, or weak growth can be pruned off now too. It is much easier to do this outside too. Remove any debris on top of the soil. You can even knock the root ball out of the pot and inspect for any insects or worms that have taken up residence in the soil.

An easy quick way to simply pick them out and give the root ball a watering to see if any others emerge. Clean the inside of the pot and rinse it too. Once the soil has fully drained, put the root ball back into the pot in the shade. You can not cut back on watering a bit too now that the plant is in the shade. If you see any insects, you can use Neem Oil on the leaves and soil, or an insecticidal soap, or if you so desire, an insecticide labeled for use on the plant you are treating.

Treat now before bringing the plants indoors.

When the time comes for the move indoors, you will need to do another quick check to be sure you are not seeing any critters hitchhiking to the warm indoors.

You can also treat the soil with a systemic insecticide if you are so inclined, to help the plant fight off any critters or eggs that were missed.

Keep An Eye On The Weather

When the weatherman begins warnings of upcoming frost, be ready and get your plants inside. It is always a great idea to isolate these outdoor plants from your regular houseplants for a week or so just to see that there are not any insects or troubles that might affect your regular cast of characters inside.

Many tropical plants can also overwinter as houseplants. Use the same process as noted above. You may take something like a Hibiscus or Mandevilla and cut it way back before bringing it indoors to eliminate the heavy drop of leaves and allow the new growth to develop in the new indoor light situation.

Light It Up

You will find that most plants prefer being near sunny windows. But indoor full sun isn’t the same as outdoor summer full sun. For indoor Citrus and other Tropicals, some extra light may be necessary.

Supplemental light from an LED broad-spectrum plant light can be used to keep your favorite Lemon tree or other plants happier when indoors.

When placing houseplants near windows, ensure they are not touching the windows where they may be blanched or freeze due to contact with a cold window. Keep them from drafty windows as well as this will cause leaf drop and stress to your plant.

When leaves turn yellow and drop, be sure to remove them from the top of the soil and discard them as they drop. Sanitation is important to prevent disease.

Reduce Watering

Plants that are no longer outdoors in the elements will not need as much moisture as the conditions and temperatures do not fluctuate indoors as they do outside. With no hot sun Use the Finger Test throughout the winter to know when to water your plants.

Check Your Drainage

Plants indoors will not only need a dribble tray to keep your carpets clean, but you will also need to ensure your pots have adequate drainage. This keeps your plants from sitting in water and getting root rot. Once plants have finished draining after you water them, remove the collected water to keep it from also rotting the roots and drawing fungus flies.

Final Tips

Remember when bringing in plants from outside, keep them from drafts and heaters.
Give them some space so you are not bumping into them when walking past
Keep them from being clustered too tightly together so they have good air circulation
Trim back excessive growth so your plants won’t have as much to support during this transition and increase branching and fullness once they begin growing again in the spring.
Avoid repotting your plants in the fall, but wait until the longer days of spring when most plants will add plenty of new growth.

4 Tips For Moving House plants Indoors for the Winter

Houseplant Moving Day Is Approaching!

Get your plants ready now for the winter move! Taking some time to ensure your plants are ready for the change in location from outdoors to a more pampered indoor environment is essential for their survival and longevity.

You’ll reduce leaf drop, prevent root rot, and keep your Exotic lovelies happy through the winter until warm weather returns once again next year.

Are you looking for a new indoor tropical plant to improve your indoor environment? Nature Hills is here to help you add greenery to your home - indoors and out!

Have some Coleus or other annuals that you can bring in as potted houseplants or cuttings? Now is a great time to start gathering these for next spring!

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I bring my houseplants indoors before the first frost?

Begin moving your houseplants indoors a few weeks before your area's first forecasted frost, using that forecast as your firm deadline. Start the transition early by shifting full-sun plants into a shadier outdoor spot first, which helps them acclimate to the lower light levels they will experience inside. Once relocated to that shaded interim spot, stop fertilizing and take the opportunity to inspect and clean the plants thoroughly before they come through the door.

How do I inspect houseplants for pests before bringing them inside for winter?

Before bringing houseplants indoors, lay each plant on its side and use a garden hose with a soft spray nozzle to thoroughly rinse the foliage, spraying from the bottom up and hitting both the tops and undersides of all leaves to dislodge any hiding insects. Remove any debris from the soil surface, then knock the root ball out of the pot to check for insects or worms that may have moved into the soil during the summer. If you spot any pests, treat the leaves and soil with Neem oil or insecticidal soap before bringing the plant inside. Clean and rinse the inside of the pot as well, and allow the soil to fully drain before repotting and moving the plant to a shaded transition spot.

How do I get rid of mosquitoes on houseplants before moving them indoors?

Mosquitoes are rarely a direct pest on houseplants themselves, but their larvae can live in standing water or overly moist soil in your pots. Before bringing plants indoors, lay them on their side and use a garden hose with a soft spray nozzle to flush the foliage and soil surface thoroughly, and knock out the root ball to inspect for any larvae or unwanted guests in the soil. Treat the soil and leaves with Neem Oil or insecticidal soap to address any lingering pests, and make sure pots have proper drainage so water never pools and attracts mosquitoes indoors.

Do aphids overwinter in soil and can they spread to other houseplants indoors?

Aphids typically do not overwinter in soil, but they can lay eggs on plant stems and leaf debris that hitch a ride indoors with your houseplants in fall. Once inside, the warm temperatures of your home can allow aphid populations to remain active year-round and spread quickly to neighboring plants. Before bringing any plant indoors, thoroughly spray the entire plant including leaf undersides with a garden hose, inspect the root ball, and treat with insecticidal soap or Neem Oil at the first sign of infestation to prevent a full-blown indoor outbreak.

How do I care for a mandevilla that has been moved indoors for the winter?

Mandevilla is a tropical vine that should be brought indoors before the first frost, ideally when nighttime temperatures consistently drop below 50 degrees F. Once inside, place it in the brightest location available, reduce watering significantly, and stop fertilizing entirely until spring. Inspect the plant thoroughly for pests before bringing it in, treating any issues with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Cut the plant back by about one-third to manage its size indoors, and resume regular watering and fertilizing in late winter or early spring as you prepare to transition it back outside.

How do I care for a china doll plant kept indoors during winter?

China doll plants (Radermachera sinica) thrive indoors during winter when placed in a bright location with indirect light, ideally near a south or east-facing window. Keep temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and maintain consistent moisture without overwatering, as soggy soil will cause rapid leaf drop. Stop fertilizing once you bring the plant inside for the season and resume feeding in early spring when daylight hours increase. Inspect leaves regularly for spider mites, which love dry indoor air, and treat promptly with neem oil or insecticidal soap at the first sign of infestation.

Which houseplants can tolerate cold temperatures when transitioning indoors?

Some tropical houseplants are more cold-sensitive than others, but as a general rule, most tropicals should be brought indoors before nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Hardy plants like snake plants, cast iron plants, and some succulents can tolerate brief dips into the mid-40s, while true tropicals such as hibiscus, mandevilla, and ficus need to come in well before that threshold. Watch your local forecast closely in early fall and begin acclimating plants to lower light conditions indoors before that first frost warning appears.

How do I safely move large or heavy houseplants inside without damaging them?

Moving large or heavy houseplants indoors requires a dolly or plant caddy with locking wheels, which makes transport much easier and protects both your floors and the plant. Before moving day, prune off any dead or weak growth and spray the entire plant, including leaf undersides, with a garden hose to remove pests so you are not bringing insects inside. Begin transitioning the plant to a shadier outdoor spot at least a week or two before your first forecasted frost date so it can acclimate to lower light levels before the move. Enlist a second person for very heavy specimens, support the base of the pot rather than the trunk or stems, and have your indoor spot prepared in advance so the plant spends as little time in transit as possible.

How do I help houseplants adjust to lower indoor light levels after moving them inside?

Before bringing houseplants indoors, gradually move them to a shadier outdoor spot first, such as a covered porch or area with filtered light, to begin the transition away from direct sun exposure. Even plants destined for a sunny windowsill benefit from this step, since glass blocks a significant amount of the UV light they received outdoors. At the same time, stop fertilizing entirely, as you want to avoid pushing new growth during the lower-light days of fall and winter. Allow the plant to settle into its shaded outdoor spot for at least one to two weeks before moving it fully indoors.

How often should I water houseplants after bringing them indoors for the winter?

When houseplants move indoors for winter, their water needs drop significantly due to lower light levels and slower growth. Check the soil every 7 to 10 days by inserting your finger an inch or two into the soil, and only water when it feels dry at that depth. Most tropical houseplants do best with thorough but infrequent watering during the winter months, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. Always empty saucers after watering to prevent root rot, and err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering during this low-light season.