🌿 How I Brought My Houseplants Back Indoors This Fall

How I transitioned my houseplants to being indoors again
Now that my houseplants are happily settled inside, I wanted to share the process I used this year — it made the whole transition so much easier!🌱

After a summer spent soaking up sun and rain on the porch and patio, my houseplants come back home for the winter. There’s something comforting about being surrounded by greenery again when the days grow shorter — it’s like creating my own indoor conservatory. Over the years I’ve fine-tuned a system that makes this big transition smooth and (mostly) mess-free.

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Step 1: Give everyone a good rinse

Each plant gets a trip to the patio table for a thorough hosing. This washes off dust, pollen, and any hitchhiking bugs that might have taken up residence outdoors.

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Step 2: Set up an indoor staging area

I cover a folding card table with old towels and bring plants in one at a time for inspection. This keeps dirt off the floor and gives me space to work.

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Step 3: Let go of stragglers

I compost anything that’s struggling, covered in webs, or just not bringing me joy anymore. There’s no point in overwintering a plant that’s half-dead or likely to spread pests.

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Step 4: Remove debris

You’d be surprised how many maple spinners and little leaves hide between stems. A pair of kitchen tongs works perfectly for fishing those out!

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Step 5: Prune and propagate

By fall, my tradescantias and hostas are often leggy and overgrown. I trim them back and take cuttings to root new plants for gifts or spring swaps.

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Step 6: Choose winter homes wisely

Once everyone’s tidy, I place plants according to their light needs — sunny windows for succulents, bright indirect light for tropicals, and lower shelves for shade lovers. I rearrange my stands and hanging planters to make sure everyone fits.

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Step 7: Treat for pests naturally

To prevent fungus gnats, I inoculate the soil with beneficial nematodes. I use Pot Poppers — little pouches you dissolve in water and pour into the pots.

👉 Nema Globe Pot Poppers on Amazon

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Step 8: Establish a watering rhythm

I like to water on Mondays — the same day I do housecleaning — so it becomes part of my routine. I fill six jugs of water and leave the caps off for the chlorine to evaporate. When I refill the watering can, I add a little liquid plant food to keep the greenery thriving.

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Why I Love My Indoor Jungle 🌿

Bringing the plants back inside always feels like the perfect bridge between summer and winter. 🌞➡️🏡🌿

The rooms instantly feel more alive, the air smells fresher, and I even sleep better with plants in my bedroom. When the snow is falling outside, I can still look around and feel surrounded by life and growth — my own tiny greenhouse in the middle of winter.